Beginner Jumping Classes :(

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tubby1

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Took my daughter to a show today, she was entered into a novice ,novice class as this was her first proper show. She rode really well & pony was super but I was so surprised at the number of obviously very experienced ponies & riders in the class. Obviously these people won the class and then went on to jump in more experienced classes and win these. Is this common experience ? Surely people should enter classes to match there ability & not be allowed in classes for less experienced riders. It was quite disheartening for the less experienced kids . Now I don't expect my daughter to win everything just to be able to compete against kids of similar abilities :confused:
 
When the riding club I'm involved in has jumping shows, we let people do three consecutive classes at most, so theoretically they could do 55,65 and 75 cm. Most people only do the first two though if they're at that level, and if we think people should be moving up to bigger classes to keep it fair, we do try to suggest it tactfully. As a club we do have a points per class system though, so someone might stick at a certain level for a season to get their points and end of season trophy, even if they've improved dramatically since he beginning.
 
The place where we usually go starts off with a small clear round course priced cheaply. This tends to prevent people using the smaller classes as a warm up for the bigger one they really want to do. Also the littlest classes tend to specify that horse/rider combination must never have won a class.
 
nosenseofdirection said:
The place where we usually go starts off with a small clear round course priced cheaply. This tends to prevent people using the smaller classes as a warm up for the bigger one they really want to do. Also the littlest classes tend to specify that horse/rider combination must never have won a class.
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We used to get it at my show, but we trailed a clear round class and it pretty much stopped that!
 
Don't get me started on this! It's a pet hate of mine. I understand that people might want to warm up but lots of smaller shows have clear round rings where they can have a practice. Try looking for classes where it clearly states on the schedule that the class is meant for those who have not been placed 1st, 2nd or 3 rd before - not that everybody is honest about that either.:mad:
 
You will find this goes on at most unaffiliated shows. It's not fair I just saw them as a stepping stone to affiliated where it is more fair
 
We have a couple of shows round here that actually state on there schedule that pony/rider combinations that do the complete novice classes cannot then enter later classes.
 
I agree to a certain extent. There are alot of people that jump classes that they really shouldnt and they are more than capable of jumping the more advanced classes.
But for example theres cases where this isnt always possible.
My daughter is 8 shes been jumping a while and is doing quite well and getting placed often, but although she may look like shes flying round a novice classes she could no way go up out into intermediate classes shes 8 on a 12.2 they are just not ready for that yet. And i dont want to scare them by making them do it.
What there should be is 2 sections to classes a restricted section and an open section then it would solve these problems.
 
At our local show the rules are you can compete in beginner and novice classes all season, but you can't do anything else. The first time you jump in the intermediate class you are not allowed back into the beginner or novice class.

Not sure it is adhered too though.
 
Lots of shows I've seen don't allow the same horse/rider combination to enter the larger classes if they've entered the littlies. I prefer this idea to having a rider age or pony height limit as being a nervous adult means most kids are far better than me!
 
I think not being allowed to go in a class when you've won it before makes sense, but then sometimes people just aren't comfortable moving up yet or the horse isn't ready and needs more experience (if you have a lucky fluke of 3rd in a class at your first show it would be a bit scary to have to move up straight away) so I think it would be fair to at least say if you've placed 1st 2nd or 3rd in an intermediate, then you cant go back and do a novice.

Using them to warm up and then winning is a bit sad for people who are entering to do the best they can! Some shows allow you to enter but not compete so not take any prizes don't they, I forget what that is called now.
 
All of our local shows have restrictions to stop people doing smaller classes - but not sure how well they are adhered to.

There needs to be some flexibility to make it fair for everyone.
 
This has happened for years at local shows & is virtually impossible to stop, we used to call these people 'pot hunters'. Firstly who decides if someone is a novice or not? When does someone stop being a novice? Records have to be kept of the rider & horse's record of achievement to make decisions regarding this? Is the class for novice horse or novice rider or both?

This is why it is fairer to jump at affiliated shows, all riders are registered, all horses are registered & there is a full record of horse achievement & so horses can only enter classes they are qualified to. Additionally if a horse is entered in a class they should not have entered action can be taken against the rider/owner & they can be fined etc.
 
Perhaps you were at the same place as me yesterday !!
One girl entered everything from bottom hole up to the mini open at a childrens show. She bought two ponies and won most of the classes.
I felt it was a bit discouraging for some of the novice kids who tried so hard but in the end it was mainly her parents who clapped when she won.
It is hard to tell sometimes though what classes are most appropriate, one of the kids was not even off the lead rein last year but her new pony has given her bags of confidence and she flew round quite a few classes, if you hadnt known what she had been through people might have wondered what she was doing in the smaller classes . There were no restrictions on any of the classes though .
 
tubby1 said:
Took my daughter to a show today, she was entered into a novice ,novice class as this was her first proper show. She rode really well & pony was super but I was so surprised at the number of obviously very experienced ponies & riders in the class. Obviously these people won the class and then went on to jump in more experienced classes and win these. Is this common experience ? Surely people should enter classes to match there ability & not be allowed in classes for less experienced riders. It was quite disheartening for the less experienced kids . Now I don't expect my daughter to win everything just to be able to compete against kids of similar abilities :confused:
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sadly this happens across the board, some clubs do not monitor this while others say combination of horse and rider not to have won. This is one reason i gave up jumping , showing is the same. Its who who you know.

You need to read the schedule when entering to check the criteria.

My late mare won the beginners jumping first time out never having done a course so had to move up unless i go en concour. So it can be tough which ever way you do it.
 
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Yes, this happens at lots and lots of riding clubs and it's just a case of finding one where things aren't quite as bad. And it's not just showjumping - I used to go to an RC where they ran a 'beginners' prelim' class in the dressage to try and get people involved. You would get people who normally competed at Novice and Elementary taking so-called 'new' horses in the class, spurs and all. Of course they always wiped the board.
And then there was the intro class, where lead rein kids were bundled in with everyone else. The class was always won by an LR competitor, probably on 'cuteness' factor.
I was so disheartened by it all I stopped going and found another riding club where things are much better. I'd recommend the RC committee feedback about your experiences - if they are losing people they need to know why.
A
 
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