45% primary skill
30% first secondary skill
25% second secondary skill
5% age - the older, the better until 30.

Keep in mind that morale and health play a part in comp placement as well. You can have a far superior horse but if morale, health or both are not at 100%, placement will be affected.

companions will effect as to the wins achieved / goals ..so choose wisely on the companion

( if someone disagrees with this method, this is how I win in my competitions ) ..

Companions are just a bonus for skills when competing. Other items give bonuses as well, you don't need a companion to win and a specific companion won't make you win, unless the skill bonus it gives pertains to the comp you're entering.

Example: Cat-siths give +13 to speed, but if you enter a cross country comp - they don't help you at all.

The way you worded your answer was that the companion itself is the reason you win, when there are many more bonus items that do better than a companion alone. The golden spurs alone, gives +9 to all skills not just to one like a companion.

Thank you for reminding me I did however forget about the bonuses with the added bonuses to my post...I solely remembered after I posted my statement

Thank you everyone!

Is the age to 30, or is it 25? As I've heard somewhere that 25 is the cut-off.