Comparing SJ with XC ...

[spotty_pony]

I am currently doing an assignment for College and I am stuck on this question:

The question is:

Compare the techniques for Course Design of SJ and Cross Country. Evaluate the consequences of fence design

Any help much appreciated

 

[kerilli]

for xc, you have the important effect of stamina, i.e. the later in the course, the stronger its effect, c.f. sj, when (apart from the Hickstead Derby or maybe the Olympics), stamina doesn't come into consideration. a very difficult fence or accuracy question towards the end of a long course can have a lot more effect than if it was used earlier on.
terrain differences in xc - using hollows, rises, undulations - e.g. Burghley is famous for this, e.g. the simple single rail in amongst the hollows caused a lot of probs at the Dairy Mound (i think it was) due to clever siting, a few years ago.
again, Hickstead Derby is the only sj course i can think of that uses a slope (in the Devil's Dyke).
more variation in xc - skinnies, angles. testing the lateral accuracy and honesty of the horse, not just the direct straight-line accuracy of horse and rider. e.g. last Burghley's Leaf Pit - huge drop, curving line to big skinny. no way could any rider have total control of the steering and stride after that big a drop onto a steep slope, so it was a huge test of honesty of the horse.
sj is testing extreme carefulness more than bravery. apart from the odd top horse that has an aversion to water ditches (wasn't that Next Amanda?), they all happily jump the same fences at more or less every show. xc, even at top level, tests bravery too, and top horses can start bottling it. both Shear horses started looking a bit windy towards the ends of their careers, first ones i can think of offhand.
xc isn't testing carefulness, obv, it's fine for the horse to tap (or even in some cases bank) the fences.
that's got to give you something to go on with!

 

[spotty_pony]

Thank you!