BE90 versus BE100 - straight in at 100?

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Broomsticks

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Hi guys,

I'm looking for a bit of advice really as I'm ready to take my 6yr/old eventing but struggling to see why I would want to spend £70 ish pounds going BE90. The SJ looks tiny on photo's on the forum as we are used to BSJA, and we have done quite a few unaffilated HT & ODE's at 2'6 - 3'0 level.

What I really want to know is how much difference there is between the XC courses?

Do you have to jump into water at BE100? .. as this may be our downfall!! We are ok with a splash or a jump before, but still a bit green if we have to step down or jump in.

Thanks in advance! :)
 
I've not done any BE100, but I would say there is a fair difference between BE90 XC and BE100 in terms of the size/spread of the fences. My little horse isn't really scopey enough to confidently tackle the width of some BE 100 fences but then is only 14.2hh and an arab....
Also I would say most BE90 courses are as big or slightly bigger to actually jump than a local 3'0 hunter trial....
But thats just my personal experience
 
Its also not just the jumping - a BE100 test is a little bit more involved than a BE90 test. OK, its all fairly straightforward, but you dont mention doing any dressage, and the standard is pretty high. From recollection I dont think you jump down into water until Novice level and above. Also, BE90 fences are really that tiny! I dont event, my daughter does, but I hunt and some of those fences are a dam sight bigger than hunt jumps. Mini TX has showjumped and she started at BE90 and is now tackling JRN and Novice. Why dont you go xc schooling around a BE course a day or so after a local event, as I know most of them are available for that purpose. See what you think about it and take it from there.
 
HI there can be a step jump down into the water but not jump over a fence in,if that makes sense, well i havent seen any with a jump in at BE 100. The sj courses can be small as this is the starting level for eventing but BE events the XC can look much more substaintial than unaffialited XC which the standard can vary dramatically. Really depends on your horse as BE did used to started at novice level and the pros dont hang around the lower levels for long. If your horse is green XC it might be an idea just to have a go and see how you get on but you wil know your horse best and some events are more difficult than others at each level. There are also the technical questions like skinnies and ditches and angles which some intros have but not all. probably better having a look in your area, check out eventing worldwide and see what you think. hope that was some use.
 
Thanks guys, i think going schooling after a BE event is a really good idea! We do dressage, but it's the boring bit so didn't bother to mention, usually high 60's at prelim so should be ok, my pony is a bit of a poser! Will probably do one or 2 intro's and then move up, but most of the unaffilated stuff we've done is at good venues like Pontispool and stockland lovell so we should be well prepared! :)
 
Well I have only just started BE (at 90!) so can't overly comment. What I would say though is I did the ODE at Stockland Lovell last year and I actually thought that course was more of an ask than the intro I did there last week. In the unaffil 80cm we had the sunken road, coffin and a more complex water jump. In the intro had no steps and no ditches although was very up to height! Several people have told me that the Stockland Lovell intro is about the hardest you will find in the area, so current plan is 2 more runs at intro and if dc (or close enough ;) ) in those will move up to PN.

I think it depends where you have been doing your unaffil, the likes of Stockland Lovell will be to a far higher standard than others as they will mostly use BE fence for the 3ft classes and above.
 
If you've done enough intro sized/standard courses unaff confidently
I would go in straight at BE100 tbh! However, I would walk some courses at BE events first... nothing worst than turning up and wishing you'd done the smaller class ;)
 
If it helps: my son started BE eventing on his 14.2 rising 7 year old when he was 13 himself and jumped double clear from first event. They were an inexperienced comb. on paper but the pony was scopey and this was on the advice of our pony club DC and after quite a few unaff. hunter trials etc. at 3' or so. I agree BE90 showjumping can be truly tiny and in many ways BE XC is easier cos it is standardised and you shouldn't get anything daft or trappy. So, I'd say if you are up to it, going straight into BE100 is fine. However, I think you may have to jump into water down a step at BE100. At BE90 there has to be a run-in to water.
 
Oh and yes, you can have a jump into water at PN. It is normally just a small step, but have seen some beefy drops in, and roll tops that land you in the water.... Shelford last year for example had a really decent drop into water in the PN!!
 
i would say why not do a 90 and have an easy time of it!!! Not sure i would want to upset my horse any by going straight in at 100,,,, would rather have a nice time for both at 90!! From the 90 and 100's that ive done i would say they can vary soooo very much and once you have got use to all the elements of 90 ie making the be90 time ect then pn is up a gear again, with more tech fences and whilst i havnt jumped into water at 90 ihave jumped off a large step in and at stockland one year in the 100 we had roll tops straight into water!! If it was me i would want to be jumping into water well before i felt my horse was ready to do a 100!! PS if you do decide to do a 100 straight away i would choose carefully where you went as these vary alot, for eg longleat pn is alot different from west wilts imho!!!
 
I went straight in at PN and had no problems :) i had done a few Unaff 2 phases at 3f3 and didn't see the point in stepping down a level!
 
I would rather have an easy run at BE90 and think "God that was too easy" than go in at BE100 and think "****, this is bigger than I thought it would be!"
 
I think if you going to spend £70 plus on a BE and it's your first BE event i would defo do a BE90. As there's nothing worst than ending up with really bad run of even E on your ponys' record.
Reading your OP i would defo sign up for a couple of Intro and if going very well pop up to PN or try quailifing for Grassroots championship???
Have you been to an BE whilst they're running, if not why not pop over bridge this weekend to see Mount Ballen and see what you think??? They are defo more professional than unaffillated ODE in area
I think you could be shocked with how good the standard of is at Intro and it just get's harder the higher you go.
Do you have a venue in mind???
 
millitiger said:
I would rather have an easy run at BE90 and think "God that was too easy" than go in at BE100 and think "****, this is bigger than I thought it would be!"
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I agree. If you've only done max 3ft hunter trials then BE100 xc might come as a bit of a shock! (Well im comparing BE events that I know to unaff ones) Then again if you've jumped round BE courses schooling then probably not so much :) Personally, I think if you do an event or two at BE90, you'll be able to get a feel as to how you'd both cope at BE100. I only did 2 intros before moving up to PN and my horse had done very little so im sure you'd move up very quickly :)
 
There is usually step into the water and often there is a jump then one stride then a drop into the water. But I know lots of people that have gone straight to PN, just depends if you want to play it safe or not :p
 
Wow, thanks everyone, lots to think about here and lots to learn, I think we will def have a crack at one or two BE90 first, rather than risk an E as you say! and as mount ballan is just down the road I will be popping over for a look! wil let you all know how the first attempt goes! amd thanks for the link to the BE website on each level, very interesting reading :)
 
Standard can vary, some BE100s are like a big BE90, some are like a small novice.

As you create a "permanent" record with BE results, I would go for a nice experience, go 90 first time, if you get a double clear (or a silly pole) move up.

You can get a step in to water without alternative (certainly last year), and on a BE day you will be walking home if you are not in the water after 3rd disobedience.

Find some courses that do schooling after the event, walk the affiliated course and jump it rather than schooling it (jump every fence in order at XC pace). If this is OK at BE100 go straight in if you really want to
 
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