BSJA Juniors - Peoples views + opinions

[Frazer]

I have read a lot in BSJA posts, about the BSJA Juniors and even Seniors.. That they are becoming chavy, spoilt children. With horses and ponies very spoilt and with the top of the range JW bridle. I am a BSJA junior and I am also probably all of the above. But would wonder what other people thought, Do you think this helps BSJA or creates the right impression. I personally think it makes the horses look smarter, and better turned out. Whats everyone elses views.

 

[dieseldog]

I imagine most of the comments about 'Chavness' come from people who are jealous.

 

[Rambo]

There are a lot of image conscious people (aka chavs

) on the BSJA circuit, and many of them take their lead from the people at the top of the sport. There are also a good number of 'ordinary' folk who jump too. You get all sorts in life, and money doesn't necessarily buy you taste so just go with the flow and do / wear what you like.

For info, my horses go in £19.99 Olympian bridles (on special offer from a well-known web retailer atm)

 

[juliehannah58]

[ QUOTE ]
For info, my horses go in £19.99 Olympian bridles (on special offer from a well-known web retailer atm)

[/ QUOTE ]
What? And no bling browbands?! You call yourself a BSJA competitior?!! LOL!

Seriously though, in my experience,in juniors and seniors, you come across a whole range of people / horses. Yes, you get some that are geared up to the eyeballs but to be honest, I've recently done a few local shows and it's much worse there!! I like to look the part but I'm not about to dress my horse up like a 70's shiney disco queen just for a minority to think I'm 'cool'! Smart and comfortable should be the aim

 

[Frazer]

Yes, thankyou you two.. its just on a few posts I have seen that teenager chavs are taking over BSJA Juniors, and just wanted to prove that we aren't and there are a varitey of people, who like all different things.

 

[RunToEarth]

You cant just tag that to BSJA though. I can justify everything I put on my horse, and have peace of mind knowing that R has ridden him and also justifys them. But you can only ride your horses at the end of the day, therefor you can only dress them. If people want to dress their horses up, in BSJA, or any other organisation for that matter, then let them, if they think that a JW numnah will win them WEG, then go for it

 

[spooks]

oh dear... my daughter (14) is hoping to affiliate next year...her horse will as usual on show days be dragged out of field thrown on 30 yr old lorry and dressed in usual cheap bridle (bought of ebay i believe) and wintec synthetic saddle! ...nothing chav about that....is there?? lol

 

[fizz-tally]

my 7 year old wants to do under 10's next year, pony will not be in jw stuff as its too big

[my horse however is

]

 

[MagicMelon]

I think it creates the entirely wrong impression of BSJA. The aim nowadays (it seems) in the main disiplines is to try to make it far LESS elitist, ie. trying to encourage more amateur riders to affiliate. But all the glamoury crap that comes with it doesn't help! The odd poncy saddlecloth etc. is fine, my pet hate is the "fashion" to totally over-bit horses (in seniors & juniors). My boy competes in a plain Myler snaffle...... he even events in one.

But overall, I dont think it matters how people are decked out. Sure, you see the ones looking amazing on fabulously expensive horses but more often than not they are easily beated by the RC type rider!!

 

[jess_asterix]

i am a BSJA Junior and i have JW saddlecloths for my ponies but all my other tack is standard and what my ponies need, nothing because it 'looks good!'

 

[Santa_Claus]

i think there is a fine line, I don't think there is anything wrong with using top quality tack if you can afford it I know I would if I could BUT then you cross the line adding bits of unecessary tack (eg flashes/elasticated breastplates etc) and colour co-ordinating everything. There is one girl I see who has matching burgandy tendon/fetlock boots, show jacket, blouson jacket, saddle cloth, fly veil, rug and elasticated breastplate it was soo OTT its not true!!

I personally use whatever I have whats safe, if it matches fantastic but more often than not it doesn't. Last year I was the only one in the class in the style and performance in a wintec so was very easy to spot!! ha ha

Currently Fleur wears a brown saddle (i love my second hand bargin of the year Albion which means i can finally stop using the wintec!!), black martingale, black bridle with brown reins oww yes and black tendon/fetlock and brown over reach boots!!

Dan has the same saddle (very conveinant!!!) and by chance a brown bridle, although his dressage saddle is black (as it was cheap) and both dressage bridles (double and snaffle) are brown!

Its the same with me though my main jacket is a green caldene tweed which is older than I am and was given to my mum for £0 about 20 years ago (but its sooooo beautiful). And my navy jacket is marginally younger and cost about £5 from a second hand sale. No co-ordinating collars but it looks smart and its safe. Owww yes and my lorry is older than me as well but it goes 90% of the time between A and B!!!!

There are a lot of people that obviously spend too much on what they are wearing rather than putting it to good use on lessons which is sad, if you have enough for both so be it, but as long as your equipment is safe and money available to do so should go on lessons and so hopefully improving performance.

 

[RunToEarth]

I just think that some children enjoy the novalty of dressing ponies up. I know they arnt dolls, but if the pony needs boots, there is no harm in them being pink, with a matching saddle cloth. I drew the line at hats if they arnt needed. I think they are horrible but Oshk needs one.When I sj willow or murphy I always feel underdressed, but I am confident looks mean nothing.

 

[evsj]

There IS alot of 'bling' at BSJA - alot of riders tend to look like they are trying to emulate the top riders which is natural when you aspire to something. However, I love the fact that my ISH jumps disco in a loose-ring fleximouth, cavesson and a running martingale (nuumed sheepskin numnah being my only concession to wannabe SJ!). It is so much quicker to get ready, if nothing else. And I hope that it shows off my horse as being well-mannered and easy to control (even if she's not!!) I'd rather have her over any of the nutcases I regularly see belting round a course with all the gear and no idea!

 

[dieseldog]

[ QUOTE ]
IMy boy competes in a plain Myler snaffle...... he even events in one.



[/ QUOTE ]

Just so you know Myler = Chav.

Why have you got a £50 myler snaffle when you could have a normal £10 one?

 

[FRESHMAN]

I never see bling on the top showjumpers, just nicely fitted clean tack. OK some have 'big bits'. I do see it though on lots of the juniors. & always on girls ponies, never boys! Sparkly numnahs & browbands etc. Surely they dont believe they will get a better round out of there pony? I am sure it is simply that girls like to look more glamorous & colour coded. Don't think there is anything wrong with it at all.

 

[MrsMagoo]

I mentioned about this a few weeks ago - how at a little local event in intro/BN/Disc classes they have soo many gadgets, bits, matching etc...

We jump all the heights in just a loose ring snaffle, saddle and stud guard

I feel proud that I dont need to add loads of gadgets just to get my girly round a course of jumps....although I have to confess I am a sucker for the sheepskin pads/numnuhs but simply because they offer padding while still looking smart

lol

 

[SpruceRI]

I think for young kids it's perfectly normal for them to want to 'dress' their ponies in all the coloured stuff. After all, most of them are at an age where their friends are playing with dolls and toy cars! But once kids get to 13+ it starts to look a bit naff.

I hate seeing ponies in breastplates, elasticated or otherwise that could fit a cart horse in front, and those awful ear cover things - in the middle of winter I ask you?

It's the same at Unaffiliated and general shows too. Great if you can afford smart stuff, but don't go over the top. Clean plain tack looks so much smarter than tacky sparkly stuff I think!