British Eventing 105 class???

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Indigoice45

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In a recent edition on letters page there was a request for a BE 105 class to make the step up from Pre Novice to Novice easier! Or in new terms 100 to Novice! This was answered by: BE provide a 100 plus class which was to be the stepping stone thus being; Novice dressage, SJ max height 1.05 and XC as normal 100 classes!
Really I think it unessary as do the majority obviously as generally underscribed and cancelled as in the case of Aske (2) 2015.
I appreciate there is a requirement for and they are very well supported the 80/90/100 classes ! But lower level BE is becoming a glorified dressage competition and this kind of attitude is not helping!
I wholeheartedly agree there is a need for these classes n has got more people involved but if you want to move on you must have the horsepower and ability, not request more stepping stones! As an amateur rider yes I have previously produced and competed to Intermediate ** star level but no Olympic contender! Just enjoy my horses!
But now if you have a promising youngster doing a decent dressage and double clear in its first events! Is it not an incentive to move up the ranks? When horses in yr 90/100 section are on 16 after the dressage! N they are never going to move on! No competition against a green youngster!
We have lost so many of our Intermediate tracks in the North East and decent Novices may be next! and yes 80/90/100 are the bread and butter of BE I understand that but let's strive to get on the real competitive ladder n not be whinging about 5 cm's. Rant over!!
 
I always understood the big step from 100 to Nov to be in the cross-country, not least because it's perfectly doable to practice larger tracks and harder dressage doing BS or BD, and cross-country is where people are most likely to get hurt. So I see why there could be little demand for 100+ classes.

I saw an article about an event running a "true" 100+ class, which was described as novice technicality at BE100 height - that seems like a great idea, both for stepping horses up and for horses that maybe don't have the ability to jump higher but whos riders want a good challenge.
 
Don't people go XC schooling nowadays??? If not, why not? And if so, and sufficient prep is done, why do you need a 105 class?

When I was eventing novice was the first available class to enter! Yes courses are different nowadays, but you prepped your horse by hiring courses, taking it hunting, doing hunter trials and having lessons.
 
I totally agree! I think this is where a lot of the lower levels fall down, sometimes there are no technical questions! And yes this does increase the step up!
Although at Richmond 90/100 last month, it was super! Exactly that! combinations some on angles and turns! The introduction of skinnies and a wee corner, but still inviting and educational for the babies or inexperienced! Like a mini Novice!
I think as mentioned the key is looking for the courses that suit us and if courses are tougher or doing first Novice look for a course that provides alternatives!
 
My young ex racer was getting a bit sticky n stuffy on the XC and relying on me too much to keep him right! So he went hound exercise locally where we knew there were going to be good hunt jumps, hedges and walls! He was super n learnt his independence and found his male mojo! Hunting is a great way of educating them XC although it was a lot different in my youth than it is now. Also nearly all the BE events provide schooling days after the event and this with good instruction as you say is invaluable. Preparation to move up, solve a hiccup or blip and you get to pick n choose your own levels!
 
gunnergundog said:
Don't people go XC schooling nowadays??? If not, why not? And if so, and sufficient prep is done, why do you need a 105 class?

When I was eventing novice was the first available class to enter! Yes courses are different nowadays, but you prepped your horse by hiring courses, taking it hunting, doing hunter trials and having lessons.
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Gosh n Foxhunter was the first level of show jumping! It looks huge now! SJ not my best discipline. So winters spent torturing myself!!
 
Garmstrong said:
I totally agree! I think this is where a lot of the lower levels fall down, sometimes there are no technical questions! And yes this does increase the step up!
Although at Richmond 90/100 last month, it was super! Exactly that! combinations some on angles and turns! The introduction of skinnies and a wee corner, but still inviting and educational for the babies or inexperienced! Like a mini Novice!
I think as mentioned the key is looking for the courses that suit us and if courses are tougher or doing first Novice look for a course that provides alternatives!
Click to expand...


Completely agree with you. There is no need for a stepping stone ! What difference is 5cm ! The big difference with novice is the width & technicality for me. But i agree go xc schooling! I've schooled novice fences & am not going novice (she's for sale) but its good experience.
I agree Richmonds 90 & 100 were great. I walked it & thought oh wow but it rode fantastically! Quite a few were having glance offs at the skinny in the double. I liked the hanging log down the hill as well, really encouraged forward thinking, in the horses even if not the riders ( i didnt have any choice!)

I think there needs to be more technicality at the lower levels then when stepping up to novice it will only seem a bit more beefy not beefier & so much harder!
 
Our grades over here are slightly different... We have a 80, 95 and then 105 before stepping up to 1* (which I think is your novice?). I completely agree with kassieg, and I know that over here, the courses need to be more technical (with in reason) and feature more of the jumps that you see at higher levels. It would make it an actual test over all 3 phases, not just a dressage competition.

Only a few courses over here have actual coffins, there are no owl holes until you get above 105... Stepping up grades would be less intimidating if riders and horses were able to jump more than hanging logs or fallen logs. Literally, one XC course at a competition is 90% made up of fallen logs, walking the course was like - jump 1 Log, jump 2 log, jump 3 log, jump 4ab pair of logs, jump 5 log pile... and so on. Not very challenging, but the next height was flower box, trakehner, bank... with a whole lot of logs. We also only have 2-3 venues that will hire out their venues to go XC training. It does make it hard to get horses used to the harder jumps if there are no opportunities to expose them to the harder questions. I know the committees do their best, but at times it seems like all the effort goes into the higher grades because they are more thrilling to watch...

I don't know what it it like in the UK, you guys seem to have multiple events on the same weekend... something that is nearly unheard of over here, and lovely looking courses. I love looking at the comp reports and reading about the events. Makes me a little envious. :)
 
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