Do I affiliate?

P

PrimaVera

New User
Joined
20 July 2010
Messages
5
Visit site
Hi,

I have an ex-racehorse I have been training for 3 years and competed in unaffiliated competitions. I want to push her on now and was told I should affiliate her (and me) but I'm not sure what the advantages are (apart from the prizes of course). Can anyone tell me the benefits of joining the BSJA and jumping affiliated as I don't really know any other members?

Many thanks,

PV.
 
Hmm, thats a tricky one, benefits from the BSJA!!!!!!!!

I spose you get better built courses, although on recent experiences thats not always the case!
Of course theres the prize money ;0)

Cant really think of much else to be honest!!!

Oh and you dont get annoying kids cutting you up in the warm up (you get fully grown men instead!!!)
 
I would ask the same question as Farma, if you are jumping comfortably and conifdently at 90cm/1m unaff, then you would be fine in the aff courses. (but bare in mind that the bsja courses tend to be more up to height and challenging than unaff, so if you jump 1m unaff, do 90cm aff and so on... just slightly smaller so you don't over phase yourself/your horse).

BSJA has a lot of benefits, you get properly built courses by qualified course designers, and fences are built to strict rules and safety standards. The prizes are much better, and you have your bsja record which obviously as you get placed/progress through the levels your accomplishments are recorded and you can qualify for such things as BN/Disc/Newc/Fox second rounds and finals, the Amateur 2nd rounds and finals, and then big shows like SCOPE and Bluechip. It is great for someone who wants to have fun and move on through the levels over properly built courses controlled by a over ruling body.

go on www.britishshowjumping.co.uk and there will be more info there :) xx
 
To be honest the courses at unaffiliated competitions (near us!) tend to be **** - bad courses, dodgey distances and bad ground! BSJA will offer you properly built fences and the lines and distances in lower level classes ae all very kind to encourage novices - the spreads tend to be quite square so at first can seem a bit daunting but they actually get the horses jumping better!

there are also qualifiers and championships etc you can aim for.

plus, it will increase your horses value!

Im going to be getting autumns sent off as soon as ive got the spare cash! much nicer courses for a bold young horse.

why not go along to one and have a watch? you can also buy tickets at 6 pounds each to allow you to compete in a class without registering to get a taster for it although you wont win any prize money if competing on a ticket.

alternatively, try and look out for unaff competitions at bsja venues in your area, these will tend to have the same course builders and be of similar standard

good luck!
 
Ditto what these guys have said about well built courses, there is a lot to be said for setting a standard and knowing what to expect.

You dont need to go straight into BN (90cm), you can always try a few intro shows first to get a play (you can do these on a ticket to ride and most places offer free tickets to ride at intro shows). It will give you a taste of it and you can take it from there. The intro shows usually start at 70cm and then 80,90 open then BN and Discovery (i think?).

Give it a go :)
 
Thanks everyone, I'm going to go along to a BSJA show this weekend and maybe enter someing on a ticket in a couple of weeks or so, good advise about steppping down a level, I wouldn't want to look like a complete novice on the first aff outing! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top