Biggest tip - if you've never before started your own horse, get a trusted coach or trainer to hep you through it - sort of as your mentor. It's very rewarding (I trained my 6 YO appy from scratch myself) but it's something that folks on the internet are going to have a very hard time giving you "tips" on!

my mare used to be alot stiffer at canter and trot and my friends horse used to be really stiff too. with my mare i really had to work on me not getting stiff and staying loose, although with more work my friends horse just kinda worked out of it. Sorry I dont have too much actual advice but try just properly giving her a nice long warm up. You could also try some suppleness exercises with her neck and back, i also do that with my lovely mare :) good luck

work on lateral movements in all gates

Work on lateral, flexion, and collection. Get her built and flexible all over. Also try a chiropracter. My horse was moving really stiffly too, and then we went to our chiropracter and acupuncturist, and he ended up needing both. My horse was having spasms in his hips. Thats what his problem was. Thats my main suggestion.

My friends horse does that sometimes two , And strech out her legs alot before you ride , that Might help alittle . I would put some like nice and icey on her legs two , mabey shes just a little sore .. mabey rub down her legs after work outs and give her massages , good luck !-meg

It doesnt really matter what age . as long as the horse is in good shape and can event easily , I have a 21 year old horse names echo hes a quater horse arabian and I am probably going to show him . He still has A LOT of get up in go in him , Under his lazyness . I am going to take it easy on him if i do show again this year , so age doesnt really matter as long as your horse can do it hope this helps ! - meg

The best thing to do is be very very accurate. Also at BN it is a matter of being balanced, accepting of the bit, and keeping a nice even tempo. Also a very big thing in eventing is that even in your horse is round a deep they need to keep their shoulders up and balanced back. Most event dressage judges dislike seeing a horse on the forehand.

Also read the comments on the dressage tests! It helps a lot and lets you know where you are going wrong.

Yeah... it's definitely is crazy. I think a pole should be (a lot) less.

Yeah, it really shouldn't be.

I am back after a long move we moved to the A NICE 20 ACERS
and I am happy to be close to horses and my hubby and kids are good!!!! im sooorry i havent been around!!!! im back

OR it is crazy good that a stop is equal to a pole :] just thought I would inject a little optimism into everyone's day! :]