Anybody else against small pony jumping?

martlin said:
LOL, it's in Poland and yes, it is really gutting when you don't make the grade:)
The style courses are not difficult thou, distances are true, there are only 8 fences (9 jumps) and any half decent jockey who is competing at the right height should be able to obtain the relevant licence easily.
Just to add, licence I is not judged on style, I think the system assumes that if you don't ride in a rhythm and good balance over 1.40 (not to mention right lead in canter;)), you won't be able to get through the course anyway:D
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I wanna move to Poland! That system sounds really fun and you must be so proud once you get it! If I ever opened up my own show centre (in my dreams *cough cough*) I would love to hold like a summer/ winter series on this system! :)
 
Kokopelli said:
I wanna move to Poland! That system sounds really fun and you must be so proud once you get it! If I ever opened up my own show centre (in my dreams *cough cough*) I would love to hold like a summer/ winter series on this system! :)
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The downside for me was the absolute shock I had upon arrival at a UK show with a 5 yo:eek: I realised that I have absolutely no chance whatsoever for any prize money as I am not prepared to race around a jump off track at a break neck speed at a BN level:eek:
I was used to a system that puts emphasis on young horse's (and rider's) development with balance, scope and trust in mind. There are no speed classes below 1.10, which means that if not judged on style, everything up to and including 1m is sort of a clear round...
 
Sorry - haven't read all the replies... too long, too late, too much wine etc!

But, I know one of these showjumping kids now and was on the scene myself (many, many moons ago) but I can tell you right now that none of these kids get to where they are without dedication.

Whether they have lessons, pushy parents or whatever, these kids live and breathe competing. To be at that level, it has to be your whole life. So, when you say that they rarely do well in horses - it is probably because they are burnt out, had enough, become independent from the pushy parents or many other reasons.

But, give them justice. I think these kids are amazingly brave, the ponies are fantastic and its a joy to watch.
 
martlin said:
The downside for me was the absolute shock I had upon arrival at a UK show with a 5 yo:eek: I realised that I have absolutely no chance whatsoever for any prize money as I am not prepared to race around a jump off track at a break neck speed at a BN level:eek:
I was used to a system that puts emphasis on young horse's (and rider's) development with balance, scope and trust in mind. There are no speed classes below 1.10, which means that if not judged on style, everything up to and including 1m is sort of a clear round...
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Thats my problem! I got a 5yo but I won't race him just to get some money as I've spent months teaching him not to rush fences! The only young horse classes here you have to be excepted into (basically your horse has to have amazing breeding or you can't enter) We got rejected and my boys grandsire is Spottie Dot Com! If you ever find a class which is good for a youngster please tell me as I'm dieing to do some BS with him without ramping him :p
 
martlin said:
The downside for me was the absolute shock I had upon arrival at a UK show with a 5 yo:eek: I realised that I have absolutely no chance whatsoever for any prize money as I am not prepared to race around a jump off track at a break neck speed at a BN level:eek:
I was used to a system that puts emphasis on young horse's (and rider's) development with balance, scope and trust in mind. There are no speed classes below 1.10, which means that if not judged on style, everything up to and including 1m is sort of a clear round...
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Theres no compulsion to race round British Novice. I win prize money and I don't race round, I cut corners. Anyway, the function of British Novice and Discovery is simply for getting your horse out and used to shows, so you can get onto Newcomers and above. Its not a means to an end, except maybe for the riding club types who will not progress and can race round.

Not meaning to be rude, but Poland doesn't produce all that many top riders...

As for an imperfect lower leg position, fortunately it isn't a showing class. Is it perhaps something to do with the conformation of some of the showjumping riders? A lot of them are not that tall and have relatively short legs. I also know that sometimes when I'm jumping, I have to sort of lift my lower leg up to let the horse clear the jump. I can only describe it as a sort of wiggle.
 
Mithras said:
Theres no compulsion to race round British Novice. I win prize money and I don't race round, I cut corners. Anyway, the function of British Novice and Discovery is simply for getting your horse out and used to shows, so you can get onto Newcomers and above. Its not a means to an end, except maybe for the riding club types who will not progress and can race round.
Good for you, but I'm not prepared to jump a 5 yo at angles and cut corners either.

Not meaning to be rude, but Poland doesn't produce all that many top riders...
Not quite sure what that has to do with anything I've said. Poland does produce quite a few very decent horses that several 'top riders' buy - it might have something to do with not racing at low levels...

As for an imperfect lower leg position, fortunately it isn't a showing class. Is it perhaps something to do with the conformation of some of the showjumping riders? A lot of them are not that tall and have relatively short legs. I also know that sometimes when I'm jumping, I have to sort of lift my lower leg up to let the horse clear the jump. I can only describe it as a sort of wiggle.
Lower leg position has quite a lot to do with general balance. Wiggle away though, if it helps you win prize money;)
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and some extra words to make up a post...
 
I haven't read all the replies - far 2 many!

As a mother of a child who is now competing, I struggle to see the point the OP is trying to make.
Yes when I see some kids jump, they are maybe not as perfect as the adults who have had the benefit of years more experience - but they are kids still learning! They have to go up the height at some point if they want to progress and if they can get round the courses at that height still on board, they deserve to be given the chance to jump at those heights and have the opportunity to improve.
I dont believe for one mintute that a child with an unbalanced seat can jump a whole course of 120 and survive it, without balance they'd be jumped out of their seat, be left behind or come off head first on landing.

I know this as my yard is full of kids who show jump, as soon as they jump bigger than they can handle you see these 3 things happening, they just cant stay on board even on push button ponies.

My daughter is not yet jumping such height, but considering she can comfortably jump a course of 80/90 at age 8 on her 13hh Irish sports pony, I dont think it will be too many years into the future. She does get training and is a member of Pony Club, does camp the lot which provides good tuition and good grounding with ponies.
I think she should be given every chance when she feels she's ready to jump higher heights!
 
BN etc is a means to an end - I think there are two types of folk who go out to classes, those who are trying to progress, and those who want to win the class - sometimes, happily, the two magically come together, but often not. With the youngsters, we took our time, nice lines, praise etc. If we made it to the jump off, we would judge how to jump based on the course, the competition and the horse on the day - if there were only a few through, and the horse had a good chance, we might right the course slightly more aggressively, a bit faster, and some tighter lines, but not jumping on 45 degree angles unless we had already got there with at home schooling. A bit of 'sense of urgency' isn't a bad thing in a SJer, provided you are not pushing for too much, too soon. On other days I might take a 'been there, done that' for a hoon around a local open class, and then we did jump very fast, very tight and very sweary! It is nice to win once in a while!
 
natalia said:
The american hunter/jumper classes look like a poor mans excuse for working hunter! I've watched a few videos on you tube and can only describe them as painful to watch.
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There's nothing at all "poor" about showing hunters. The dressage riders or eventers start complaining about fees....until the hunter riders chime in.
 
SophieRIDSH I don't think you understand the expression! It basically means its a bad excuse for an English working hunter class! (which is judged on conformation, way of going, clean jump and style but fences are up to height and horses don't go round looking like hoovers with no impulsion)
 
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