Help with my goals?

Question

I have very well thought out dreams, & really want to achieve them someday.

I have been riding horses all of my life. the past 3 years ive been riding western & before that i rode english for about 8 years (i'm 15)

Western is fun, but ive decided that eventing, dressage & jumping are where my interest is.

Im saving up to buy some nice english tack for my horse by this winter & either keeping or selling my western tack. Ill ride english without lessons for the next 3 years before college. I won't be having lessons because my barn is western & im not allowed to move my horse, ive tried many times. I am in 4-H though, so i have a 2-day clinic that i can choose to ride english in once a year.

Anyways, once i graduate high school i plan to attend a college with an equestrian team & bring my horse. I plan to major in business & minor in equine studies to hopefully someday open my own tack shop & ride in A rated shows (& hopefully ride in the rolex one day)

So any advice/opinions?

Thanks!

Answer 1

be dedicated, & motivated.

with that you can get anywhere

Answer 2

there are a lot of trainers that will go to your barn for a lesson... try to find one... why can't you move your horse?

Answer 3

Go to some dressage and jumping shows in your area. Sometimes you can pick stuff up just by watching.

Talk to your local english stables and see if you can get lessons on one of there lesson horses. You can always go home and practise what you've learned with your horse. Or find a trainer that will come to you.

If your looking for some prep conditioning for your horse, as western has a different head and hind end carriage than english. For dressage and jumping you really need your horses hind end engaged. All the power comes from behind. If you have hills, use them. Its a great way to get your horse to really use the hind quarter with little or no help from you. Basically, once you get to those lessons, you don't want to spend it fighting your horses learned body carriage. if you do the prep you can just get right down to business.

Good Luck :)

Answer 4

maybe if you cant move your horse, you could find someone that did english at one point to come help you. im sure that even in a small town there is someone nearby who rode english or dressage at one point.

also, you dont need super expensive tack for english, i got a fabulous bridle for $80 and more people like it than the super expensive ones

i know people who take their horses to college and even on the equestrian team it is almost impossible to keep up with cost, but if you can find a way, then do it

Answer 5

it sounds okay for a plan, at least its well thought out and your thinking ahead.

i just thought i'd ask that why arent you allowed to ride english (even if it's not jumping but just dressage) at a barn? and why cant you change barns? if it's cause of money/your parents like it there, then i suggest working on dressage and investing in an all purpose english saddle. i have one and i used it for dressage and jumping and it worked well for me.

i've rode on the rolex corse before, it is an amazing place to even be let alone compete in, from what i gather it takes riders a few years to get close to the rolex, but i'm sure if you've put this much thought into it you'll be able to with training and time.

is it possible at all to go to another barn just for riding lessons? like go get a dressage lesson at an english barn and then take what you learn back to your horse? it's just a suggestion.

good luck