Eventing age lowered

12 year olds can do FEI, Novice tracks as well if they are good enough. If they can do it and are competant then why shouldn't they.

They still have to be reg with the Area JRN co ord who will advise and help them where necessary.

Ponies still have to be over 142 cm (14hh) so they are not that little.

Go to any PC event and you will see no end of littlies quite competantly going round a 3ft track and beating any adults in the class.

At least this way they will ahve to work on their dressage as well.

Our 14.2 SJ's to 120cm and events at Novice on a regular basis, with a 15 year old jockey.
 
I know a little girl who is 12(or 13, not sure) and very cross she can't compete. She'll be delighted if it ever extends to over here.As long as, like ponies and juniors currently, they are assessed, I think it's fine!
 
Not before time, I think, it's only the same size as the Novice Challenge!! Problem will be the kids beating the grown ups!
 
Apologies for using quick reply, my internet is being horrendous, I cant face replying to these properly!

Thistle: I do think 14hh is very little, my pony is very talented and can clear intro jumps with ease, but it is nasty if he hits them!

But like you say as long as the combination is competent it is not a problem & I suppose as its monitored, there is little chance of uncompetent combinations competing...

TSH: I suppose they'll extend it over to you, when they've trialled it a bit more over here! It must be frustrating for these littlies desperate to get out there!

SM: I think NC always seems to be littler (if it 2ft9) and you get intensive PC training. But your right in, there isnt a significant difference & the training is available at BE. And Im sure some kids will be giving the adults a run, like you say!
 
the problem is now that there is no accreditation system any more - its been chucked out of the window in favour of anyone from 12 being able to go round an intro and then 2 intro with less than 12 SJing faults and clear XC can go PN (i think dont quote me on this
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)

i remember being 12 (that was only 3 years ago for me) and longing to go BE - the fact i had to wait 2 years meant it was more special to me when i did get to go and it felt like id achieved something (petty i know but thats how i felt
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) lowering the age limit would be fine if there was a proper assessment system - its all a bit scary now there isnt
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Dont get me wrong, there are plenty of VERY talented 12 year olds with very talented ponies out there BUT that is what the Pony Club system with Championships to aim for is all about - BE should be the next stage up, it should not be competing against the Pony club for members. Also a kid doing BE and PC could theoretically be competing its pony twice as often as an adult doing just BE - therefore potentially knackering the pony (extreme example
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). Ive almost given up pony club now in favour of BE BUT 3 years ago i was happily cantering round PC courses enjoying bouncing about on a pony - isnt that what it should be about when you're 12??
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Can't comment on BE, but i think i was 13 when i first jumped BSJA seniors (as a Junior Associate member)...I jumped Foxhunter and Grade C / B&C classes then too
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There's nothing in my book that says you're too young
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I think this is a very stupid idea because we simply havent got the supply to meet the extra demand for yet more riders. I.E all the 12 to 14 year olds.
100's of people get balloted out of PN and Intro every month...so why are BE trying to make this problem worse...we simply cant accomadate these extra riders.
 
forrest you are so right, to say nothing of the fact that these courses are design for horses with their bigger strides....not all ponies are scopey anymore than horses are and these fences are solid if you hit one!!
more money spinning from BE i think.
 
I think its bad. No offence to them but we pay all this money to join and now find we will have little 12 yr olds galloping about. This is the main reason I was thinking about registering my other horse who is a youngster to get away from this at unaffiliated shows!

I think lots of 12 yr olds and ponies are perfectly capable of intro's. But its affiliated, there should be a level. I looked forward to affiliating when I was young, I would have been able to go round an intro easily enough as a 12 yr old I think but I knew that BE was a "grown up sport" so never would have expected to join at that point. Now there will be nothing for children to really look forward to! Pony Club is for 12 yr olds. Riding Club too when they're old enough (cant remember the age limit for RC). I think the vast majority are still learning at this stage where it should be kept fun.

Also, as others have said - these events are already packed, why on earth make them even more so??
 
I agree events are always packed and there seems to be a hell of alot more balloting. I think we need more events if an influx of people are going to join
 
You and me both Rambo, we could have a very boring 'old farts' conversation probably. I evented on ponies over 3,6 tracks at 12 & 13 yrs old. Do think good kids are more than capable, even now.
The other issue which we will face with Will is that at 12 he will be on horses, as are many friend's children, (they are so much bigger these days) I would much rather he were competing round nice safe Intro courses than unaff.
 
i presonnel think it's dumbing down getting affilated and IMO it's a money making exercise.
I think you need to be able to learn the craft before being moved up to quickly. IMO this sort of moved will effect the PC/RC and unafflilated events and make them even more rarer.........
I sure there is lots of talent BUT make them even keener by making BE more exclusive......
 
I was capable at 12 but also nieve and probably very cocky! I would have placed a lot of reliance on having a very good horse to solve any mistakes I would have made. I make mistakes now despite another 14 years of experience from when I was 12. I think the old methods worked so why this sudden rush without thinking about it?
 
Once upon a time getting to affiliated level in any discipline meant having a basic talent, a reasonably capable mount and working dam hard to make the grade.
Now we have 70cm in BSJA, intro training level BE plus allowing kids to compete without a check on their ability.
Just need BD to introduce a few walk/trot only tests (it will happen) and we will seal the fate of future British riding at international level.
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And when we have another death ridden season like 2000 we will see the XC get dumbed down even further with knock down fences.

Why bother working to reach affiliated level, just wait a while and the powers that be will lower the standard sufficient for all capabilities.

****breath****
 
[ QUOTE ]
Once upon a time getting to affiliated level in any discipline meant having a basic talent, a reasonably capable mount and working dam hard to make the grade.
Now we have 70cm in BSJA, intro training level BE plus allowing kids to compete without a check on their ability.
Just need BD to introduce a few walk/trot only tests (it will happen) and we will seal the fate of future British riding at international level.
mad.gif


And when we have another death ridden season like 2000 we will see the XC get dumbed down even further with knock down fences.

Why bother working to reach affiliated level, just wait a while and the powers that be will lower the standard sufficient for all capabilities.

****breath****

[/ QUOTE ]

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Breath!!!
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I totally agree though
 
[ QUOTE ]
Once upon a time getting to affiliated level in any discipline meant having a basic talent, a reasonably capable mount and working dam hard to make the grade.
Now we have 70cm in BSJA, intro training level BE plus allowing kids to compete without a check on their ability.
Just need BD to introduce a few walk/trot only tests (it will happen) and we will seal the fate of future British riding at international level.
mad.gif


And when we have another death ridden season like 2000 we will see the XC get dumbed down even further with knock down fences.

Why bother working to reach affiliated level, just wait a while and the powers that be will lower the standard sufficient for all capabilities.

****breath****

[/ QUOTE ]

Harsh ? Maybe.....
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But unfortunately VERY true
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QR - not aimed at anyone

Is BE the only affliated organisation that doesn't let children compete? About time they caught up.

The Pony Club novice class is .90m, being run over the same courses as BE uses and no one complains about kids and ponies doing these competions, just because it is BE (even though it is exactly the same course) do ponies suddenly start struggling to make the distance?

With events not continuing to run due to not making enough money don't you think it is a good idea that BE has increased the client base for events? They now may be able to run over 2 days instead of one etc, which everyone says means they make more money. You can't see this as a good thing for the sport? It's not dumbing down as all you lot will stick with your PN/Novice/intermediate classes etc, Soon intro will be looked down on as much as RC and unaffliated is by people who do intro.

It also sounds like a bit of snobbery creeping in as well. Oh no my £14k eventer has been beaten by a pony..... so what?
 
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