United States Eventing Association

with Amber Heintzberger

* Talking with coach to make sure the plan is appropriate; i.e. limited back-to-back shows, with at least a weekend or two off before the big event

* Meeting with the vet to get a baseline of soundness and possible issues

* Dr. Keith Brady of Old Dominion Equine www.olddominionequine.com explains why this is important. “You want to see your horse at the best he/she can feel physically and start from there. Often times, after a break when the horse’s body has recovered from the past season or event is the best time to do this. In other words, you do not want to be reactive to a situation that comes up– you want to be proactive to help your horse stay comfortable and perform to his/her optimal level.”

(Left: Vaunted (“Vaughn”) listens patiently to Ashley’s fitness plan for the week ahead: trot, flat, jump, trot, gallop, flat.)

* With Vaunted in mind, Dr. Brady and I went over when it would be an appropriate time to treat anything that he sees now or I may feel or see arise after he has competed once or twice this year.

* Then I spoke with my farrier Doug Neilson. We touched base on how Vaunted’s feet were doing from the vacation and what needed to happen in order to make any issues I had last year not prevalent. I know that I am going to need Vaunted shod 10 days out from Rolex so we looked at the schedule to make sure that we can make that happen on time. You shave one day off this shoeing, two days off that shoeing, etc. to make that work. Doug says that doing this is “really all about continuity.”

(Right: Doug Neilson crafting shoes for the big season ahead!)

* While doing all this planning I am entering events and also taking lessons that I have budgeted in for the weeks ahead.

* I am also re-evaluating my equipment (tack and horse boots etc.) and re-stocking for the year.

* The next thing that is on the list is my fitness. I plan out my horse’s so why not mine, too? I know I need to get my wind and lower body strength up for me personally. So if I do not ride enough horses in a day I try and do something else like go for a run or so some kind of strength work.

* Then comes starting to do the fitness work on the horse–starting the gallops! And trot sets…here is a good time to pay attention so you know exactly how much you are going to need to push him. For example, if they are very winded after one three-minute canter, then you know that you are going to have to re-evaluate how many times you canter in a week. Typically I do every five days for the first three or four canters then bump it up to every four days. And I alternated it all with trots and dressage schools and jump schools. My horse’s school is in session six days a week! I recommend investing in an iPod or a blue tooth cause nothing is more tedious than doing a big trot set!

* I am also thinking about my eventing equipment–making sure my vest is in good condition, my armband is up-to-date, and getting my coat dry cleaned because who knows when that was done last! And then packing the trailer for that first event….it is inevitable you will not have half the stuff you thought you still had, and you will spend more money for that first show than at any other one all year!

(Left: Don’t forget to get your truck and trailer serviced early in the season – nothing worse than getting stranded!)

* Getting a new Coggins and getting or updating your horse’s passport is key now because it usually takes three months or so unless you want to pay a boatload at the last minute and no one likes that!

* Also, don’t forget about the renewal of all of your dues….money money money! Both you and your horse need all the numbers. And if it is the first year that you are thinking about doing a three-day, you also have to have an FEI number for you and your horse. While looking at these websites I also double check the rules for the qualifications. I have already chatted with my coach about that topic but it never hurts to double check.

* The final research activity that I am doing before the first show is printing out all the new dressage tests, reading them over, complaining and being nervous, and then putting copies of them in my truck.

* Then comes the fun stuff….clipping! It is a lot easier for the horse to cool down and for you to get an better read on their true respiration if they are not sweltering under that nice winter coat they grow out during those pesky holidays! If you do have to drug your horse just make sure it is not to close to your first event. I always call Dr. Brady to make sure that whatever I am using is going to be out of Vaunted’s system by the appropriate time before my event.

(Right: Vaunted transforms from a wooly mammoth into a four-star event horse. Who knew a Throughbred could have so much fuzz?)

* I go through my stud kit, vet box in the trailer, show pads, cross-country boots, buckets, sweat scrapers, etc, give the tires on the trailer a little kick and check my horse product bag!

* Having won Best Turned-Out at Jersey Fresh (left) and best dressed at Rolex, all without a groom, I tend to pride myself on what my horse and myself look like! That’s the great thing about three-days–you can go all out and I cant help but tell you that I am already thinking about my jog outfit!

* I am also talking to my “team”–these are the people that I will want to ask to help me at the three-day. In my case, most of the people that I ask have real life jobs and need to ask for time off. Therefore, they have to get a heads up! I usually will have four people on the weekend and one or two people on Thursday and Friday of the event.

* Next stop, the first event of the year! Hang on tight!