Do I really need to jump 1m at home....

[{97702}]

if I want to compete at BE90? I'm meaning the idea that you should be schooling at a level above the one you are competing at, but 1m seems so high....

 

[Michen]

Ha well that’s the theory but I definitely wasn’t really jumping a metre at Home when I went out and did BE90. In fact I’d never even showjumped at 90 away from Home until the day of the event. I jump better and braver when out though.

 

[Rowreach]

1m at home is a lot smaller than 90cm at a competition.

 

[Orangehorse]

Yes afraid so. For cross country it isn't just the height of the fence, it is where it is sited, uphill, downhill, on top of a bank, etc. You and your horse must be confident so that the fences look comparatively small at the competition. Or it could turn out to be an expensive schooling session. Why not go to some show jumping competitions, even clear round, and build up the height gradually.

Although like Michen, I remember driving into an event (back in the days when it was Novice) and thinking that the show jumps were the biggest I had ever seen. I think they were 3' 6" with a couple even larger.

 

[claracanter]

I'm with you Michen. I'm much braver when I'm at a competition and the thought of having to school xc/sj at 1m would put me off doing a BE90

 

[Michen]

I'm with you Michen. I'm much braver when I'm at a competition and the thought of having to school xc/sj at 1m would put me off doing a BE90

Yep and to be honest bar two fences in the SJ, none of the fences will be above 90. Especially at BE where it’s regulated. I don’t think I ever jumped a metre xc jump in my life but had plenty of super rounds at BE90

 

[Mule]

I know that competing below what your training at makes sense. I don't do it though. I should as I get nervous competing. When I feel ready to go up a level I just go for it.

 

[Rowreach]

Yes afraid so. For cross country it isn't just the height of the fence, it is where it is sited, uphill, downhill, on top of a bank, etc. You and your horse must be confident so that the fences look comparatively small at the competition. Or it could turn out to be an expensive schooling session. Why not go to some show jumping competitions, even clear round, and build up the height gradually.

Although like Michen, I remember driving into an event (back in the days when it was Novice) and thinking that the show jumps were the biggest I had ever seen. I think they were 3' 6" with a couple even larger.

I have to agree with this. I'd far rather be confident at a bigger height (and my horse be confident too) so that when you get to the competition and the nerves and adrenaline start up, the courses you are jumping aren't fazing you.

And I also agree, Novice courses in the olden days really were big, rider frighteny things, but at least you could gallop at them and they weren't so technical

 

[Shay]

Yep and to be honest bar two fences in the SJ, none of the fences will be above 90. Especially at BE where it’s regulated. I don’t think I ever jumped a metre xc jump in my life but had plenty of super rounds at BE90

I don't think that is true any more - or at least not affiliated. If you want a softer XC round go for BE80. With fences so technical these days you really should not be competing at 90 unless you re schooling XC at 1m. It isn't the height of the show jumps - 10cm makes very little difference to the horse unless they are at the max of what they can do. But the technicality of the XC is very different.

Why not try BE80 - or go for a BE schooling day. These days BE 90 will be very centimeter of that.

 

[be positive]

if I want to compete at BE90? I'm meaning the idea that you should be schooling at a level above the one you are competing at, but 1m seems so high....

I don't think you need to be jumping a full course of 1m but do think you should be happily jumping out of a grid or combination over 1m or so to give you confidence, the other thing to bear in mind is the oxers will be wider at BE/ BS which in unaff is not always the case, a full 95 cm oxer, which can be over 1m wide will look big if you are not jumping that at home, some people do raise their game at competitions but going underprepared is not ideal and do no good to the confidence of horse or rider, that said you have not done your first BE80 yet so once a few of those are under your belt you may be feeling more ready to jump higher in training anyway.

 

[Michen]

I have just checked rule book. It’s still 90cm for the XC as max height though can have brush on top of this but the solid part certainly wouldn’t be higher than 90cm. SJ has, as said, a 5cm tolerance.
Edited to say I can’t honestly say I found BE90 much more technical than BE80. I think the only real questions are you are likely to have a jump a few strides out from a water or a corner etc.

I don't think that is true any more - or at least not affiliated. If you want a softer XC round go for BE80. With fences so technical these days you really should not be competing at 90 unless you re schooling XC at 1m. It isn't the height of the show jumps - 10cm makes very little difference to the horse unless they are at the max of what they can do. But the technicality of the XC is very different.

Why not try BE80 - or go for a BE schooling day. These days BE 90 will be very centimeter of that.

 

[be positive]

I don't think that is true any more - or at least not affiliated. If you want a softer XC round go for BE80. With fences so technical these days you really should not be competing at 90 unless you re schooling XC at 1m. It isn't the height of the show jumps - 10cm makes very little difference to the horse unless they are at the max of what they can do. But the technicality of the XC is very different.

Why not try BE80 - or go for a BE schooling day. These days BE 90 will be very centimeter of that.

Michen was doing BE just a couple of years ago not much has changed since then, I don't think you need to school xc at 1m as you can mock up so much with poles to get the technical stuff right with less risk, most of the horses I have produced will have done a minimum of xc schooling but loads of work in an arena to prepare for the xc, the last one we took out at 90 had only xc schooled once and done an 80 yet was well prepared and jumped clear xc, he did have a very experienced jockey on which makes a huge difference.

 

[PaddyMonty]

BE 90 SJ will be much lower the jumping a BS course of same height
Having built SJ courses for BE90 I can confirm the courses are built to the standard stated below taken from 2018 rules book:

Only 2 fences at max height no others should exceed 0.80m.
It is recommended that the first 3 fences are lower

So no you don't need to be jumping a full up 1mtr oxer at home.

 

[be positive]

BE 90 SJ will be much lower the jumping a BS course of same height
Having built SJ courses for BE90 I can confirm the courses are built to the standard stated below taken from 2018 rules book:

Only 2 fences at max height no others should exceed 0.80m.
It is recommended that the first 3 fences are lower

So no you don't need to be jumping a full up 1mtr oxer at home.

BE90 will potentially have 2 fences at 95, the rest at no more than 90 with the first 3 to be smaller, so it helps to jump at least 95 at home and in reality if you cannot jump the odd 1m fence with everything set up to suit you are you ready to jump a course probably on grass with ground conditions to hinder things.
Most of the events I have been to build up to height and while they are not as technical as BS they are usually bigger than than unaff at the same height.

 

[TGM]

I think it would be a good idea, yes. Whilst the SJs might not be above 95cm, in the cross country phase the brush allowance is 20cm, so you could, in fact, be jumping XC fences of up to 1.10m so you want to be happy approaching fences of at least a metre. Worth checking out the course photos of the events you are thinking of entering as some courses seem to feature a lot of up to height brush fences which I know intimidate a lot of people.

 

[{97702}]

Some really interesting and helpful comments, thanks all!

Obviously we are nowhere near trying BE90 at the moment but I’m thinking we might possibly try one at the end of the season if we continue to progress well. I’m quite experienced at picking out the easier courses by now

 

[Ample Prosecco]

This was on a BE80 course. It was flipping massive! A good 10cm of brush to make it look 90+. And a ditch in front. I would not want to be seeing that for the first time on a course walk if I had not jumped similar before.

I think the SJ phases are fairly easy tbh compared to pure SJ at the 'same' height. I've popped round BE 80 SJ and it felt small whereas full up 80cm SJ courses still feel pretty intimidating.

But OP, you jumped that metre oxer so you are training higher than you are competing so you'll be fine. I find I am much braver in competition than in training. Once I start I just point and pray and somehow we get round! In training I am far more cautious.

 

[{97702}]

Which course was that AE? Just so I can add it my list of events to avoid

Funnily enough, everyone is so right - the height never makes a difference to Jensen, it will all be about technicality in the XC (SJ will be fine)

Other of course than Jensen feels amazing jumping slightly bigger fences Jensen gives me wings

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Eland Lodge near Ashbourne. It is known for being one of the hardest courses at each level but it is local to me so we do it.
At least we get a chance to train over it too!

 

[moodymare1987]

This was on a BE80 course. It was flipping massive! A good 10cm of brush to make it look 90+. And a ditch in front. I would not want to be seeing that for the first time on a course walk if I had not jumped similar before.

I think the SJ phases are fairly easy tbh compared to pure SJ at the 'same' height. I've popped round BE 80 SJ and it felt small whereas full up 80cm SJ courses still feel pretty intimidating.

But OP, you jumped that metre oxer so you are training higher than you are competing so you'll be fine. I find I am much braver in competition than in training. Once I start I just point and pray and somehow we get round! In training I am far more cautious.

Jesus that is a big fence. Not what I would be expecting either for a be80 haha.

 

[moodymare1987]

I tend to be over cautious and not as brave when I am at home so don't generally jump above the height I compete at.
I do tend to get brave pants on when I go anywhere and I just point and aim, very reliable my horse so i let him do his job.
Last year I had bags of confidence I had done a few bits and bobs but what got me on a roll I had done a cross country comp and my horse ate it up and finished in the placings. Then went and did a derby day which is set out like the hickstead derby and again he ate it up. out of over 100 horses we was one of only 25 to go clear. And I am not a showjumper by any means. I just do odd bits and bobs of things.

I am grateful though the places where I started showjumping have always been well up to height fences when showjumping so nothing has ever been a shock as yet.

Hoping to get back on a roll this year, got xc lesson booked 1st april. Then comp the following week and hopefully will get cracking for rest of the season. My horse is fab it is me that isnt, I always say if he had a good rider on him he would win a lot.

 

[MissGee]

This was on a BE80 course. It was flipping massive! A good 10cm of brush to make it look 90+. And a ditch in front. I would not want to be seeing that for the first time on a course walk if I had not jumped similar before.

I think the SJ phases are fairly easy tbh compared to pure SJ at the 'same' height. I've popped round BE 80 SJ and it felt small whereas full up 80cm SJ courses still feel pretty intimidating.

But OP, you jumped that metre oxer so you are training higher than you are competing so you'll be fine. I find I am much braver in competition than in training. Once I start I just point and pray and somehow we get round! In training I am far more cautious.

But that's Eland Lodge, their courses are testing. Having said that, that fence was far worse when you used to jump it the other way lol ;-)

 

[Embo]

I guess it depends on your own temperament, as much as the horse and how reliable he is.

I am a huge bag of nerves when competing so the height of the jumps is the LAST thing I want to be worried about. Therefore it's essential for me to be jumping bigger at home so I won't feel over faced or out of my depth on competition day (and SJ ALWAYS looks bigger with the fences dressed, fillers and proper spreads!).

My horse is great, but a little bit gutless... He can lose his bottle if I do, unless the jumps are a height which he finds easy. So again, training up is essential.

XC is a different beast entirely, and B is a bit more reliable as he loves it. He can be spooky though, so for us it's important to school around bigger scary things, as he will then be more likely to jump smaller scary things when out and about

 

[DabDab]

Also, the relative size and technicality of the individual fences has to be considered in the context of the whole course. There are some venues where the fences are meaty but the course rides very easily, and there are other where the fences themselves are a little more generous but the course is icky, particularly on a young horse. Sapey for example has comparatively quite nice fences, but the course is almost all on the side of a hill, and there are usually some pretty tight turns that have to be made in open space with nothing to help guide the horse. I personally would prefer a meatier course that has a very easy flow to it with a youngster.

 

[ihatework]

Also, the relative size and technicality of the individual fences has to be considered in the context of the whole course. There are some venues where the fences are meaty but the course rides very easily, and there are other where the fences themselves are a little more generous but the course is icky, particularly on a young horse. Sapey for example has comparatively quite nice fences, but the course is almost all on the side of a hill, and there are usually some pretty tight turns that have to be made in open space with nothing to help guide the horse. I personally would prefer a meatier course that has a very easy flow to it with a youngster.

Too true!

OP I know you say it in jest a bit, about crossing courses off your list, but I do think you need to feel comfortable with whatever a course might throw at you. Courses change all the time so you might encounter a shock!

I remember last season (I think), going to WW, one of our locals and with a reputation for being soft. One of the earlier ones that year was a fair test and pretty consistent but certainly not soft. Went later in the year and it started off piddly. Then 3/4 of the way round, wham ... big solid questions. I didn’t like that as the horses weren’t quite in the groove. This was at 100 but it can happen at any of the lower levels.

I do think you need to be confident jumping 1m at home and XC schooling over the more straightforwards PN fences before going out at 90

 

[JFTDWS]

Crikey, I'd be jumping over a metre at home before I went around a BE80 :eek3: Or rather, I was jumping over a metre at home and didn't feel the pony was ready for BE yet. But I am an absolute coward who would only actually go to a competition if I am absolutely, completely sure I can handle the very worst it might throw at me!

 

[Goldenstar]

I am aiming to get out to BE again this year for a swan song .
I will start at 80 I am completely confident at a metre atm and are jumping some much bigger fences as well .
I want BE 90 to look small when I start .
When I competed more when I was younger I always wanted my eye in at the level above the one I was competing at not that I was always jumping the horses that high I just did enough to keep my eye in .

 

[Grey.mare]

would suggest atleast being happy jumping a single fence as on the xc course brush fences can be up to 15cm higher than the maxium height jumping bigger at home does make it feel smaller when you are out and about!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

But that's Eland Lodge, their courses are testing. Having said that, that fence was far worse when you used to jump it the other way lol ;-)

Haha NO WAY! I didn't know you ever jumped it backwards. The broken bridge at Eland is pretty horrible too. Luckily not on their BE course!

 

[MissGee]

Haha NO WAY! I didn't know you ever jumped it backwards. The broken bridge at Eland is pretty horrible too. Luckily not on their BE course!

Yeah the course used to run the other way years ago! The broken bridge rides easy compared to this one backwards ��