Can anyone please explain......?

[avthechav]

I have just been to the Berkshire show and we were watching the warm up for some HUGE showjumping class. warm up arena was about the size of half a dressage arena. As it was the jump off grooms were holding the next horses down one side. There was eight riders cantering over 2 jumps which were pretty much up to the top of the wings and no-one crashed into each other, went the wrong way, got in the way of the practice jumo e.t.c.

Given this why is it that when I go to my local arena there are prob 5 at a maximum warming up over 2 HUGE jumps (2ft 9 absolute max!!)with warm-up police shouting at people to walk on inside track and pass left to left e.t.c. and everone- me included has to majorly concentrate not to crash?? I honestly feel quite ridiculous getting into such a stress about 2ft 6 after watching the profs casually pop 4ft!

*totally pointless post but Im genuinely amazed*

 

[helenhorse]

I know what you mean. I also find it amazing how the top riders can ride into a 5ft fence, and create a great gentle shape, like it was 3ft 6! amazing, great talent.

 

[avthechav]

My practice jump usually goes as follows
1.Point horse and pray
2.Horse pretends she has never seen a jump before and Im obviously mad for expecting her to go anyway near
3.fanny around for a bit and then give horse a good pnly club kick whereby horse takes off strides before jump with head between legs snorting at fence
4.Horse gets wildly over excited and trys to disapear off into the middle distance

Prof practice jump:
1.Calmly walk and trot around tiny arena effortlessly avoiding everyone
2.Calmly canter a balanced 10 metre circle canter 2 perfect even strides and pop over the over that is resting on top of the wings
3.Calmly canter 2 more perfect even strides and turn another balnced 10 metre circle!!

...Id say its not fair but I guess thats what you get if you actually work hard and spend years perfecting the art...one day...(goes off into dreamland)

 

[helenhorse]

[ QUOTE ]
My practice jump usually goes as follows
1.Point horse and pray
2.Horse pretends she has never seen a jump before and Im obviously mad for expecting her to go anyway near
3.fanny around for a bit and then give horse a good pnly club kick whereby horse takes off strides before jump with head between legs snorting at fence
4.Horse gets wildly over excited and trys to disapear off into the middle distance

Prof practice jump:
1.Calmly walk and trot around tiny arena effortlessly avoiding everyone
2.Calmly canter a balanced 10 metre circle canter 2 perfect even strides and pop over the over that is resting on top of the wings
3.Calmly canter 2 more perfect even strides and turn another balnced 10 metre circle!!

...Id say its not fair but I guess thats what you get if you actually work hard and spend years perfecting the art...one day...(goes off into dreamland)

[/ QUOTE ]

ditto.!!

...what it is to have money eii?!?

 

[Jane_Lou]

You forgot the need for draw reins and several flying changes!

 

[avthechav]

oooo yes and a blonde girl groom in a sponsers jacket with a fleece rug casually draped over one elegant (and not at all st*t covered) arm. On second thoughts I wonder if I could get a tall, dark yummy man shaped one instead?

 

[MagicMelon]

Thats why they are professionals...!

 

[kizzywiz]

I was at the Berkshire show too helping my friend, I too am amazed at the miniscule size of the warm up & lack of crashes in it. One of her horses is with a pro, in the 6 bar he was casually sending a text while waiting to jump down a row of humumgous fences, the last I think was maybe 1.70m, correct me if I am wrong, OMG!! Could you send a text if you were waiting to jump 2'9"??? PMSL at the description above of practice fence "styles", mine is more like the first I am afraid.

 

[avthechav]

Hi Kizzywiz, I struggle to send a text and walk along on the flat without horse spooking or something and so i think that professional showjumpers are actually a new breed of human. OMG I have just converted 1.70 into feet (dont really understand CMs, despite being a science teacher!) thats 5 and a half foot!! That has convinced my that they are not normal!

 

[kizzywiz]

I agree that they are abnormal, I have lessons with the 1.70m jumping pro on my 14hh pony, luckily he does not quite set the fences at this height, but he doesn't really understand the concept of being scared, one lesson I had to remove my glove to show him my shaking hand after jumping what was to me as humungous as the 6 bar yesterday & he didn't believe I was frightened, his response "so what is it you've just done then?" "a big achievement" I squeaked. "Yes" he replied, & walked off. So I assume that was some sort of praise then!! He does however think its very strange that I'm scared of painted wood (fillers) but that water, drops, ditches (XC) don't phase me at all.