There’s lower than a month till we’ll be galloping out of the beginning field once more, so now’s the time to make these important pre-season checks, with assist from our eventing examine record.
1. Stud holes — sure, all of us hate them. In case your horse wears studs, be sure to bear in mind to get the holes put in at his final shoeing earlier than your first occasion. And take the time to search out your studs and clear and grease them if needed.
2. In case you are going affiliated, have you ever registered your horse and is your personal British Eventing membership updated? Equally, for worldwide rivals, is your FEI paperwork so as?
3. Verify that your lorry or trailer is clear, in protected working order and that your insurance coverage and breakdown cowl are updated.
4. Have you ever changed or mended something you broke or misplaced on the finish of final season? It’s simple to place package away and promise you’ll purchase one “subsequent time I’m in a tack store” or that you just’ll sew up that gap in your cross-country shirt on a protracted winter night… after which neglect about it totally. Take a couple of moments to undergo your package and guarantee nothing has fallen prey to moth holes, damp or rot and provides the whole lot a mud off if needed.
5. Have you ever learn the 2025 rule e book?
6. Ensure that your horse’s vaccinations are updated and adjust to the foundations beneath which you might be competing, whether or not unaffiliated, BE or FEI.
7. Have you ever put the poll dates of the occasions you wish to compete at in your diary, so that you’re not caught out having missed making that important entry?
8. Verify your plaiting package. It’s unlucky to exit to plait at 8pm after work the evening earlier than your first occasion to discover a mouse has eaten all of the cotton… much more so if you happen to solely realise while you stand up at 3am if you happen to somebody who prefers to plait on the day.
9. Lastly on our eventing examine record, be sure that your horse insurance coverage covers you for the extent of competitors you might be aiming for, notably in case you are shifting up a stage.
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H&H journal editor and eventing editor
Pippa is a real eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand expertise of competing as much as British Eventing intermediate and worldwide CCI2*-L stage, and has labored within the trade on a prime occasion yard. Pippa enjoys nothing greater than immersing herself within the sport on the highest stage, reporting from the five-stars and worldwide championships, together with the Olympics.
