Only Six Weeks Til The Waredaca Classic Three Day Event!

Last week's post discussed choosing the right studs for any situation. This week let's talk about nailing the dressage test.

As we all know practice makes perfect so don't underestimate the power of preparation! Familiarize yourself with the test you will be performing at The Classic so you can start practicing movements. You can find the dressage tests for each level of the classic three day here. Next month in The Classic, Beginner Novice will compete in the small 20x40m arena whereas the Novice, Training, and Modified divisions will be riding in the larger 20x60m arena. If you are competing above BN and have not ridden in a large ring before, you may be quite surprised to feel that the diagonals and long sides feel much, MUCH longer. Finding a large ring to practice in or creating one at home with poles for the corners and cones (or other markers) for letters can really help you be more comfortable in the ring. Remember that a huge part of dressage is accuracy, so making sure that your transitions are timed perfectly and your geometry is accurate can definitely improve your score regardless of your horse's natural affinity for dressage.

Using a dressage ring diagram you can visualize your test to map out your movements. This makes it much easier to be accurate when you are practicing your test while actually riding your horse. For example, in the Novice Three Day test, the second and third movements are 20m working trot circles performed in each direction at X. The first circle is to the right and since it is being ridden in a large ring, the four points of the circle you should touch are X, 2 meters before S, 4 meters before G, and 2 meters after R. For the second circle to the left, the four points are X, 2 meters before V, 4 meters before D, and 2 meters after P. Being able to visualize this on paper by literally drawing out the shapes first can really help with accuracy under saddle. Other things to consider when mapping are the leg yields at Training and Modified and the serpentines found at Modified. Knowing exactly where you should be crossing the quarter line mid way through your leg yields to space out the movement evenly or where you should cross the centerline and touch in the loop of your serpentines can make you look like a pro. Another consideration is centering movements over a letter. For example in the BN test, the first movement has a trot-walk-trot transition over X with 4-6 walk steps. This means you should walk 2-3 steps before you get to X and trot 2-3 steps after. Many people make the mistake of walking when they get to X. Impress the judges by nailing this first movement and you are off to a great start.

Having someone watch your test and give you feedback is also invaluable. Your coach, a clinician, or barn buddy can help be your eyes on the ground to help you improve your movements and accuracy. Another great option is finding an opportunity to do a fix a test at a local schooling show. Sign up to do your test at least twice and the judge can give you feedback in between your rides. If you are local, you can sign up to do this at our last Taproom Thursday of the year on September 18th.

We hope you found this post helpful as we countdown to The Classic. Please comment if you would like any other topics covered in the future. Up next week, an overview of endurance day!  

Only Seven Weeks Til The Waredaca Classic Three Day Event!

Last week's post discussed starting to think about packing and recruiting help for at least endurance day. This week's post is all about studs!

Whenever you feel like there is a likelihood your horse may slip, either on the flat or jumping, you may want to consider using studs. However, choosing studs is a very personal thing. There are three factors to consider when choosing studs: the footing conditions, the level of competition, and the individual horse.

Not to oversimplify footing conditions, but smaller and sharper studs are used on hard ground, larger and chunkier ones are used on soft ground, and on sandy soil you may find you don't need studs at all even if the ground is wet. If you use large blocks on hard, dry ground, the studs will not be able to easily penetrate the surface and could cause bruising to the foot, and if you use tiny points or road studs on wet, muddy, soft footing, they will not provide much grip at all. In general, you want to use the smallest studs possible to achieve the desired result. You don't want to interfere with the horse's natural footfall, and it is better to under-stud rather than over-stud, especially at the lower levels. There is such a thing as too much traction and you don't want the studs to grip so much that the horse can't get its feet off the ground quickly. It is common to have smaller studs in the front feet than the hinds, and some prefer to only use studs behind especially at the lower levels. The horse's jumping power comes from the hind end so that is where the traction is important. You want to minimize jarring and torque on the front limbs and know that horses' front feet should slide just a bit on landing for shock absorption. When pointy studs are necessary it is wise to put a duller/blunter stud on the inside compared to the outside. You can use different studs on the inside and outside of the hoof for the hind feet as long as the difference in the height of the studs is minimal (taller/larger stud on the outside). It is common to use studs of the same height for the front feet.

The level of competition will greatly impact stud selection. The faster you ride and the bigger the jumps, the more control you need and the larger the studs you might use. On any given day, under the same footing conditions, experienced riders will probably not be using the same studs for their training level horses as for their advanced horses. Using studs at the lower levels (N and below) is often not necessary, or perhaps you only use studs behind. However, this can be affected by our last factor, the individual horse. 

Some horses hate to slip at any level and could lose confidence, or perhaps they have bar shoes with or without pads which can feel like ice skating on even relatively perfect footing. Other horses may overreact to studs and hate the feeling and prefer smaller ones. This is where knowing and listening to your horse is vital to making the right decision.

Always put on protective boots before putting studs in and the boots stay on til the studs have come back out. It takes only a split second for a horse to accidentally strike themselves causing injury. An ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure.

Lastly, this article on EN by AJ Dyer is a great resource so go check it out!  As is this article with input from long time grooms Stephanie Simpson and Emma Ford.

We hope you found this post helpful, please comment if you would like any other topics covered in the future! Up next week is dressage test practice tips so you can nail your test at The Classic!

 

Only Eight Weeks Until The Waredaca Classic Three Day Event!

The kids are going back to school and before you know it The Classic will be upon us! Last we talked about footing considerations and how to help keep your horse comfortable as you prepare. This week we cover some planning and packing considerations.

This USEA article has great information about the importance of hoof care and shoeing cycles. Mentioned in the article is talking to your farrier about making you a spare set of shoes (drilled and tapped if you use studs). Having a spare set of shoes ready to go in case one is lost on endurance day is invaluable. Hopefully you won't ever need to use them but you'll be so happy you were prepared if you do. 

Another thing to start considering is enlisting help on endurance day (Saturday 10/25/25). The rider will want to spend their time in the 10 minute box mentally preparing for their XC course, so having at least 1 helper, preferably 2, to cool down the horse and assist with getting the rider to the start box on time is invaluable. So riders, start thinking about who you want there helping you. Additionally there will be a grooms briefing Friday evening (10/24/25) with an overview of the 10 minute and vet box so making sure your grooms are available to attend will help ensure smooth sailing on endurance day.

Lastly, let's talk about packing. Of course you will not be packing NOW for a competition two months away BUT it is helpful to start making your list and see if anything needs to be gotten or updated.  Perhaps your XC watch needs a new battery or your pinny holder's elastic is so stretched out you look like you are waving a flag as you go around the course. Maybe you haven't considered your jog outfits yet and now you have a great excuse to go shopping! In all seriousness, taking the time now to consider the things you will need will make packing a breeze when the time comes. The USEA shares this packing list to help you get started but please remember that each horse and rider are individuals so your list may vary from this one. This article is a good resource for packing for The Classic and includes items to consider having on endurance day in the steeplechase assistance area and 10 minute/vet box. The incomparable Max Corcoran also has some suggestions for packing you may find useful. 

We hope you found this post helpful.  Next week we cover stud selection!  Please comment if you would like any specific topics discussed as we countdown to the most fun weekend of the year!

 

Only Nine Weeks Until The Waredaca Classic Three Day Event!

Who's getting excited? We know we are! Last week's post covered conditioning, this week's post covers keeping your horse comfortable as their workload increases.

The footing on which you choose to exercise your horse plays a huge role in your horse's soundness. Use common sense to keep the pounding on your horses legs and feet to a minimum as you build fitness for your destination event. Remember, if the ground is rock hard, you can always modify your fitness regime to protect your horses soundness. Sometimes doing a conditioning set (or at least part of it) in the ring on good footing one week while you pray for rain the next is the best option. Talk to your coach to come up with the best plan that works for you and your horse. 

Commonly seen, especially at the upper levels, is the utilization of cryotherapy on the horse's legs and feet after strenuous exercise (conditioning/jumping) to reduce heat and inflammation. There are many versions of cold therapy (whirlpool boots, ice boots, compression wraps with freezable gel inserts, etc), each with pros and cons, so pick whichever works best for you and your horse. The footing, horses age, conformation, hoof quality, known issues, etc, will all factor into when and how often you may consider icing. A common rule when utilizing ice is 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off as there is research showing that standing a horse in ice water for longer than 20 minutes can cause damage. 

You can also use hoof packing for horses without pads as working on the dry, hard, summer ground in our area can cause a lot of concussion. Check your horse's legs and feet (for heat and pulses) daily and know what is normal for them. Additionally, checking your horse's back and hind end daily for soreness can also be useful to alert you to any issues that may need to be managed. Lastly, generally, if you notice heat or filling in the legs that is not usually there and there is no obvious cause, such as a small cut which responds to treatment, you are better off stopping work immediately and involving your vet. Catching small strains early is paramount to preventing a serious problem.

We hope you found this post helpful, comment below if you would like any other topics covered as we enter the fall season. In the coming weeks look for posts on packing for The Classic, what to expect on endurance day, and how to prepare your horse for the jog! 

                  

Only Ten Weeks Until The Waredaca Classic Three Day Event!

Last week we discussed planning your competitions and schoolings to arrive at The Classic in top form. This week's post is about conditioning!

There are many ways to arrive at The Classic with a fit horse (and rider!), so work with your coach to develop a plan that works best for you and your horse. Remember that every horse is an individual and there is no one size fits all schedule. Last week we mentioned Jimmy Wofford's book "Training the Three-Day-Event Horse and Rider" as a great resource. Following Jimmy’s guidance, he suggests working back from The Classic about 8 weeks out, planning a conditioning day roughly every 5 days (a one day event or XC school counts as a conditioning day). A paper calendar can be helpful while you map things out, we suggest writing in pencil so edits are easily made. He suggests a 5 day schedule of dressage, jump, dressage, condition, walk hack, and repeat. Obviously this can be altered to suit the needs of your horse, riding schedule, and planned (or unplanned!) days off, but it is a great place to start. His conditioning days always started with a warm up at the walk, followed by three 5 minute trot sets with 2 minutes of walk in between each set. He would then do three slow canter sets (350-400mpm), with 2 minutes of walk in between each set with a walk cool down after the last canter set. Most horses aiming at a fall Classic 3 Day are currently minimally fit enough to be able to start with three 3 minute (BN/N) or 4 minute (T/M/P) canters. He would then gradually increase the length of the canters as he neared the event so he could arrive at the event able to canter the length of the XC course (phase D) three times (roughly BN/N 5-6 min and T/M/P 7-8 min, see here for classic guidelines). If you are able to do that and your horse recovers easily, most likely you and your horse are prepared. See a sample novice level conditioning schedule here.

These long slow aerobic canters build the base fitness so that you can add some anaerobic fitness as you near to the event. Jimmy had been known to say “speed kills”, so ideally you would have a nice hill you can utilize but if that's not possible you can increase your speed the last minute or two of your second and third canter sets. When conditioning, set your stirrups at xc length (or even shorter) to build your fitness in two point as well. A tired rider is less able to help their horse when they need it on endurance day so don't neglect your own fitness. You are half of the team! The type of horse, age, baseline fitness, soundness, and competition level will dictate the lengths and speeds of these canters over the 8 week period as well as the number of times you repeat a length of canter set before adding another minute to each set. A seasoned TB will naturally have a better baseline fitness compared to a draft cross, so know your horse and tailor your conditioning program as needed.

Develop a close relationship with your horse's legs and body so you can notice any changes and be proactive at managing their health and addressing concerns should they develop. Soundness is of course paramount so consider the footing you are training on. You are better off conditioning in the ring if the ground where you live is hard as a rock. You can even add trot and canter poles to help keep it interesting!

Finally, don't underestimate the power of adding more walking to your rides. Building up to walking an additional 30-60 minutes each day (in addition to your normal riding amount) will add fitness without risking injury.

We hope you found this post helpful, comment below if you would like any other topics covered as we enter the fall season. Next week icing and aftercare!