1m to 1.15m is it too big a jump?

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Flight

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Pardon the pun in the title :-) My horse is 12, confident and a very capable show jumper. She hasn't done an awful lot of jumping more than 1m though (although def has talent too). We did a couple of 1.05m classes a couple of years ago (not done much for past couple of years due to lack of money). I am hoping to get on with it this year now finances allow and get to some more shows. Do you think it would be too much to expect that with a few weeks practice I could take her in a 1.10m/1.15m class in 3 weeks time? I would get her out before then and do a couple of 1m/1.05m classes. I keep telling myself its only 15cm bigger than she used to. Also if I do enter these classes what kind of challenges will the course builder include as I presume they will make it more difficult than discovery?
Thanks very much for reading.
 
I think it depends on what you school over? If you are jumping 1.15/1.20 courses at home it could be fine but if you are only doing 1.05/1.10 at home I would be worried.
 
Thats what I was thinking but I am going to have to do it at some point, she is nearly out of money for lower classes so I was thinking that by giving the bigger classes a go sooner rather than later I can always drop back down if we have any issues. She has such a big jump and is very clever (gets me out of trouble) so I really don't think the height/width will be a problem to her, just me lol.
 
What kind of technical things do they put in? Will it just be distances slightly off or will there be dog legs etc? Sorry probably sound like stupid questions but I have never competed at these heights so don't really know what to expect. Will lake myself off to watch on Thursday and maybe walk a bigger course to see what it looks like.
 
Don't do much over 1m when schooling at the moment but will be getting them up from now on. May practise with some bigger ones this week and see how she gets on.
 
Flight said:
What kind of technical things do they put in? Will it just be distances slightly off or will there be dog legs etc? Sorry probably sound like stupid questions but I have never competed at these heights so don't really know what to expect. Will lake myself off to watch on Thursday and maybe walk a bigger course to see what it looks like.
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Dog legs will often be thrown in like they're going out of fashion! What you have to remember is if you are slightly off a fence and get a bum stride or lacking power at 1m then it often won't matter and the horses just carry on but at 115etc it becomes a lot more difficult for them keep helping IYKWIM? And that's where the wheels can fall off but as you say whilst you're still in the money for smaller classes you can always drop down again :)

Santa_Claus said:
agree with above. if you school over 1m10+ regularly you should be ok but if you dont it may well be a shock to your system. bsja wise the jumps will generally be as wide as they are big so it will be a big step up.
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Agree with this. You need to be schooling above the height you're aiming to jump or at least comfortably the desired height.
 
I am hoping to go to Bolesworth at start of June and have to do entries this week. There seems to be BN and discov then 1.10 and 1.15 classes so was just trying to decide whether to just go for it and enter bigger classes as she finds smaller ones so easy. It is Fri-mon so thought I would do Discov on first day then try to build up over the weekend. The more she jumps the better she gets so she would have chance to get used to the idea before being faced with course of bigger fences.
 
Do you have a regular trainer? If so, discuss it with him/her and incorporate the pertinent questions and exercises for bigger classes into your lessons. There is quite a big gap between the classes you're doing and the ones you're contemplating and you want to make sure your trainer understands your goals and how quickly you'd like to achieve them.

If you don't get tuition, perhaps book a lesson with a good upper level sj trainer, attend a clinic, or attend a training day and ask for input on your plans. Confidence is essential and somewhat fragile - it's great to want to 'have a go' but there's no harm in being prepared.

It's impossible to tell without seeing your horse how scopey and confident she is - has she jumped 1.15 + in the past. There is a line around 1.10 where most horses have to start trying a bit and the margins narrow, so your ride has to be more exact. You might be playing with 1m or you might be just on the wire - the reality wouldn't necessarily be reflected by your results at that level.
 
Agreed with above completely. You can get away with murder at 1m....at 1.15myou will be looking at jump offs of 1.25m....and that's a decent sized track. I would also pick and choose my venues amd as far as i know Bolesworth is a high profile show so expect the courses to be built stronger.
 
Good point about jump off I hadn't thought of that. Thanks for all the good advice. I will get jumping her more over next few weeks and see how I get on. I do have regular lessons but only with local riding club hence why jumps only about 1m. I will try and book a couple of private ones to tackle some bigger fences. She really is a fantastic jumper, had some lessons with Joe Whitaker a couple of years ago and he thought she was fantastic (wasted with me really but I love her to bits). Still got his number somewhere he may be able to fit me in for some tough training.
 
That sounds like an excellent idea, especially since he's already been positive about the horse. Best would be someone like that, used to jumping and teaching over bigger tracks. He can also probably give you some advice about better shows to move up at and maybe even be on hand on the day if you go the same places, on case you have any questions.

Jumping a big jump is really not the crux of it, it's being able to jump big jump after big jump and handle the complexities of a more technical course which tax the rider's ability and the horse's scope, not to mention everyone's confidence. A good trainer can also advise you on a whole program, things like when it might be an idea to drop back and jump a few confidence givers to what shows to go to, to what sort of management tweaks might benefit the horse as you progress.

Good luck. :)
 
Not trying to be the voice of doom and I'm sure you know this, but to the general discussion . . re comments about dropping down, while that's true (and many people alternate initially when they move up) if you really get in trouble it's not always that easy to fix. If a horse is ready and confident for a step up a glitch or two can usually be ironed out relatively easily, but if the horse goes in unprepared or stretched it sometimes doesn't take much of a problem to administer a real confidence knock or even an injury. As above, it isn't just about the height. It's quite common for horses when they move up, in any discipline, to go through the course (or test) the first time a bit surprised at the increased effort but, because it's not used to the higher demands, willing enough. Then, after a class or two, or if something goes wrong, the horse starts thinking it's all quite a bit of effort and maybe not so much fun. In some ways, the talented ones need more care, as they'll keep leaving the ground, whereas horses at the end of their ability will choose to opt out.
 
Why run before you can walk?
Confidence is a delicate thing and easily shattered and hard to
Repair.
Speaking from experience I would only step up when I am sure I was ready, and the fact you are questioning it suggests you are not.
What is the rush?
 
I agree with Llanerch. Also even the small ring at Bolesworth will be full up and as technical as they can get it. The Discovery Jump off section looked like a full up newcomers track last time I went!
 
^^^^ as above!
Bolesworth is big bold and spooky. Everything will look 2 holes bigger than it should be and dont forget the atmosphere is electric too and can sharpen a lot of horses up.
The 1.15 will be big enough, my mare has double clears at newcomers but she wont be jumping the 1.15 as its too big an ask, i think they are scope qualifiers too?
You would want to be jumping foxes confidently to go to Bolesworth for the 1.15!
Id stick with the Nov, Disco and Kathryn james and maybe try and pick yourself a scope ticket up :) and have some fun!
 
Would agree with Tarrsteps. I'd edge up slowly, and do a lot of tooing and froing between heights to keep it easy for her, and fun! My mare is pretty consistant at 1m/1.05m anm has jumped a few 1.10m classes, but I always drop back for a couple of shows, and if we're not out regularly go back to our comfortable height, as Id rather have a confident competitive round than a "skin of teeth x height round" just so I can say we're jumping that height!

As said, have some lessons to see where you're at and go from there! :)
 
Obviously agree with the above comments regarding when to step up and the reasons to be cautious. However just to address the point you made about soon having too much money on your card sometimes you just need to swallow that and jump HC in the interest of long term goals, but also bear in mind quite a lot of the bigger centres do trailblazers and unaffiliated to much higher courses due to so many adult riders now buying older graded horses to learn to jump. These courses can also be good for going up in height as they tend to give you the extra height without the extra technicalities so these type of classes are good to throw in the mix as you move upwards.
 
Am i the only one that thinks this is crazy?

In my opinion and with the information you've given, yes, i'd say its too big a jump. If you're jumping 1m/1.05m whats wrong with NC's? Its a smaller step up but will be more technical than a Disco. Once you've jumped a few DC's then i'd consider stepping up to 1.15m.

I think to jump from 1m to 1.15m on a horse that hasnt jumped bigger that 1m in the ring, with a jockey that hasnt the experience either is a HUGE ask. Just my opinion.
 
NewHeights_SJ said:
Am i the only one that thinks this is crazy?

In my opinion and with the information you've given, yes, i'd say its too big a jump. If you're jumping 1m/1.05m whats wrong with NC's? Its a smaller step up but will be more technical than a Disco. Once you've jumped a few DC's then i'd consider stepping up to 1.15m.

I think to jump from 1m to 1.15m on a horse that hasnt jumped bigger that 1m in the ring, with a jockey that hasnt the experience either is a HUGE ask. Just my opinion.
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Nadia we have missed you how is the gorgeous Arctic? Do you still have him? Update please!
 
I've jumped some 1.15 opens over the winter (2-phase and the JO's 1.25) and it's a BIG class with no room for error. They're often more technical than the following Foxhunter class. There will be a lot of related distances. As they're usually an open class there's a decent class of horse competing which can be a bit offputting!

I'd happily have a bash at a 1m Am/Disco on virtually anything but I'd want to be on a proper 'un for a 1.15. They take some jumping!
 
NewHeights_SJ said:
Am i the only one that thinks this is crazy?

In my opinion and with the information you've given, yes, i'd say its too big a jump. If you're jumping 1m/1.05m whats wrong with NC's? Its a smaller step up but will be more technical than a Disco. Once you've jumped a few DC's then i'd consider stepping up to 1.15m.

I think to jump from 1m to 1.15m on a horse that hasnt jumped bigger that 1m in the ring, with a jockey that hasnt the experience either is a HUGE ask. Just my opinion.
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To be fair, I think we are all saying the same thing. ;) To be blunt we're all pretty sure if the OP actually takes a look at those classes and/or goes to someone in the know for help, it will not seem such an easy step up as just jumping a few jumps 6" higher.

Not that it's relevant and I can see the wisdom of being blunt but there is always the problem on the internet of not knowing who you're talking to. I kind of assume anyone thinking of jumping 1.15 is in regular training. Or I assume any intelligent but unprepared horse will, if presented with the question prematurely, simply say "no thanks". ;)

It's always tricky on the internet, too, to know if, by being blunt, you're going to cause someone to get the hump and go off to "show them all" so there is a tendency, with questions that seem to genuinely come for ignorance (rather than people who clearly want to be told they're wonderful) to tread lightly. :)

But yes, a 6" step up and a big increase in complexity is not a jump even a very experienced trainer would make in one go. ;)
 
I wasn't taking you to task at all - I think you're right (for what that's worth and it's not the point!) and I certainly wasn't saying you were rude! But was just pointing out that everyone on the thread has suggested caution and gathering further information, and no one has said (or clearly believes) it will all be fine on a wing and a prayer.

Anyway, I think the OP has taken the hint. :)

I do think these threads are always a bit for the people out there who DON'T ask but may be thinking the same thing. I sort of figure people who do ask are already considering the situation - the ones that really scare me are the ones who don't know enough to ask! ;)
 
TarrSteps said:
I do think these threads are always a bit for the people out there who DON'T ask but may be thinking the same thing. I sort of figure people who do ask are already considering the situation - the ones that really scare me are the ones who don't know enough to ask! ;)
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This :).
 
Hi, Thanks very much for your replies, you have confirmed what I was thinking really. Thought maybe I was being a bit of a wuss thinking it was too big :-) To put some of your minds at ease although I haven't jumped a lot of big tracks I am a very experienced rider with many years of practice jumping very difficult horses around 1m sort of height fences. Never got any higher due to the very difficult horses not really giving me the confidence. This horse however is completely different. She is amazing at everything. She will jump anything you ask of any stride (and clear it most of the time). I schooled her tonight and tried some bigger fences. She flew over everything (between 1.10 and 1.15). Gave me lots of confidence that we could do it however I am not in a rush but equally don't want to be jumping British Novice for next 5 years. I have done BN and discov at Bolesworth before and got placed in both so atmosphere etc is no problem to us. I am going to give the Newcomers a go but if at any point she doesn't feel happy or as confident I will retire. Thanks for all your advice, I haven't been offended at all by people being blunt, think its the best way to be. :-)
 
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