BSJA Dumbing Down?

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dieseldog

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I recently got a book - Foxhunter Champions and it all about the Foxhunter class. Anyway the original height of the class was 3'3" and the aim of the class was to bring new talent from racing and hunting into show jumping. So next time someone says the BSJA is dumbing down Foxhunter class started out very small compared to what it is now
 
thar must be a very old book as fox has been 1.20m (4ft) as long as i've been doing BSJA...and I started around 1982! Admittedly it is much more technical now than it was then though...
 
It was when the competion started in 1954. But they did use to jump as small as us - well me
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well now i dont feel so bad for not attempting!!! (wipes sweat from brow) i can understand peoples views of dumbin down, but serioulsy people need to start somewhere and i know i would rather jump bsja than go to my local unffiliated show. its enabled it to be more accessible to people and after all our sport needs a certain commercialisation to it.... ok yes i have had a drink and shouldnt be sat behind this keyboard!!
 
Was it Sue Clarkes Foxhunter Champions? I'm looking at the 1988 edition now. Yes classes were a lot smaller then, but look at the horses that came through, not necessarily winning the Foxhunter Championship, Marius, Vital, Psalm, this particular book ends in 1987 so these examples are quite old.
As for dumbing down, I have just rejoined the BSJA after years of being in the doldrums and as I will be competing my home bred 4 yr old and have limited access to poles, practice grounds etc a couple of idiot height classes will suit us fine.
 
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