Following on from the 'Pot Hunters' question - a poll?
- Thread starter SpruceRI
- Start date
SpruceRI
Well-Known Member
Whoops - tis the first time I've done a poll !!
Question is meant to also state that you're competing within the class guidelines / winnings spec.....
Question is meant to also state that you're competing within the class guidelines / winnings spec.....
AutumnRose
Well-Known Member
I haven't voted as not quite sure which one to tick. Think it very much depends on the situation.
I jumped intros this season on my mare, having done well at PN with her before and jumped a few 1.05/1.10 sj courses. On a good day she is easily placed but incredibly inconsistent and some days she just would not play xc, so i decided it was dangerous to jump her higher.
I think it's fine to consistently jump at 1m if your happy doing that and going higher scares you/horse isn't up for more etc, even if you do well everytime. BUT if you are doing this you should not also be doing the 2'6....does that make sense?
I jumped intros this season on my mare, having done well at PN with her before and jumped a few 1.05/1.10 sj courses. On a good day she is easily placed but incredibly inconsistent and some days she just would not play xc, so i decided it was dangerous to jump her higher.
I think it's fine to consistently jump at 1m if your happy doing that and going higher scares you/horse isn't up for more etc, even if you do well everytime. BUT if you are doing this you should not also be doing the 2'6....does that make sense?
Zebedee
Well-Known Member
I voted no. Progression is fine & to be encouraged, but there are riders out there who have a very distinct 'comfort zone', & who should not feel forced out of that.
stencilface
High upon a hillside
Oops! Think this maybe came off my post?!
I would say no, if its an open class, although that obviously disagrees with my other post.
Think I am just jealous really, as would loved to have ridden the horse I posted about
Must remember, jealousy gets you nowhere......
I would say no, if its an open class, although that obviously disagrees with my other post.
Must remember, jealousy gets you nowhere......
Libbyn1982
Well-Known Member
I think if you always winning at that level then yes it is pot hunting and maybe you should try the next level up. You would have thought though that someone who was confident enough to constently win at 1m would be confident enough to try 105m or 110m and would want to??? I agree though that if you maybe have an inconsitent horse then there is no problem.
One thing that does annoy me is when I was younger you used to get these kids on super jumping machine ponies that did BSJA coming to our riding club shows and winning everything - that I didn't think was fair and defo pot hunting. Or good riders with good horses swapping to do the novice classes and winning. I think sometimes the novice rule that as long as you haven't won a class you can compete. I try and avoid doing novice classes even before me and B won as I know that really neither of us are true novices - unless of course I know that the WH fences are going to be much bigger and scarier than normal and chicken out of the open!!!!
One thing that does annoy me is when I was younger you used to get these kids on super jumping machine ponies that did BSJA coming to our riding club shows and winning everything - that I didn't think was fair and defo pot hunting. Or good riders with good horses swapping to do the novice classes and winning. I think sometimes the novice rule that as long as you haven't won a class you can compete. I try and avoid doing novice classes even before me and B won as I know that really neither of us are true novices - unless of course I know that the WH fences are going to be much bigger and scarier than normal and chicken out of the open!!!!
HammieHamlet
Well-Known Member
I think that if you are scared of jumping higher, then you shouldnt be made to - it will take the fun away from it all.
If you win too many times though, wont you be restricted from entering at that level? In which case, you could still ride HC and stay in the comort zone, but just without any of the prizes?
If you win too many times though, wont you be restricted from entering at that level? In which case, you could still ride HC and stay in the comort zone, but just without any of the prizes?
dieseldog
Well-Known Member
I had a horse that would win 1ms all day long. However he couldn't jump 1.10s. He could go clear in the first round but would never make it round the JO. 1.20 was out of his scope.
So I used to jump him in 1m classes and then I sold him as a RC horse with a limit. Do you think it would have been fair to push him to do 1.10s when he wasn't happy doing it?
I would never enter a class HC that I am eligible to enter why should I?
The other thing is that unaffliated rarely gets bigger than 1.05, normally 90cm. So if the clases aren't there you can only jump smaller stuff. And these bigger classes only normally have a few in them anyway - so if you didn't enter them they probably wouldn't run them.
So I used to jump him in 1m classes and then I sold him as a RC horse with a limit. Do you think it would have been fair to push him to do 1.10s when he wasn't happy doing it?
I would never enter a class HC that I am eligible to enter why should I?
The other thing is that unaffliated rarely gets bigger than 1.05, normally 90cm. So if the clases aren't there you can only jump smaller stuff. And these bigger classes only normally have a few in them anyway - so if you didn't enter them they probably wouldn't run them.
MissDeMeena
Well-Known Member
If you'd worded the answers to your poll differently, then i would have voted yes!!
If you're winning week in and week out at 1m level then yes, you are a pot hunter, but i don't think you should give up cos of it!! As has been said, some horses and riders have their limit, and if they happen to be succesfull at that level, then good for them!!!
Call them a pot hunter if you want, cos i guess that's what they are, but it shouldn't matter that much!!
It's nice winning pots
If you're winning week in and week out at 1m level then yes, you are a pot hunter, but i don't think you should give up cos of it!! As has been said, some horses and riders have their limit, and if they happen to be succesfull at that level, then good for them!!!
It's nice winning pots
SpruceRI
Well-Known Member
Yes, that makes sense to me.....
IMO PH's are people that are comfortable jumping, for instance, 3ft 3", but also go and compete in the 2ft 3" classes and stand there proudly to receive their prize.
IMO PH's are people that are comfortable jumping, for instance, 3ft 3", but also go and compete in the 2ft 3" classes and stand there proudly to receive their prize.
SpruceRI
Well-Known Member
Zebedee: Yep, I agree with that one
Stencilface: Yes, this came to mind from your post, but not meant to be in a bad way! Tis always more tricky or badly thought of when people buy a super duper horse and then do Novice classes, but I feel it's all down to the combination..... everyone has to start somewhere. People tend to keep upping the challenge until eventually they find they've reached their limit or the horses'....
KH1: Agree with that one. Most of us are amateur/hobby riders. Why scare / injur yourself just because other people think you should do more?
Tis very interesting what people's opionions are on this.
I suppose it depends at this point in time whether you have a horse who has more scope to go on, or whether you've had the horse for ever and know you've reached your limit?
Stencilface: Yes, this came to mind from your post, but not meant to be in a bad way! Tis always more tricky or badly thought of when people buy a super duper horse and then do Novice classes, but I feel it's all down to the combination..... everyone has to start somewhere. People tend to keep upping the challenge until eventually they find they've reached their limit or the horses'....
KH1: Agree with that one. Most of us are amateur/hobby riders. Why scare / injur yourself just because other people think you should do more?
Tis very interesting what people's opionions are on this.
I suppose it depends at this point in time whether you have a horse who has more scope to go on, or whether you've had the horse for ever and know you've reached your limit?
SO1
Well-Known Member
If it is because you are nervous then don't see why you should not carry on within your comfort zone.
I would consider pot hunting to be entering a novice class when you are not a novice or doing the 2ft class, 2,3ft 2.6ft and 3ft and winning them all!
It would therefore be pot hunting if you entered the 75cm class as you would be confident and capable of jumping higher.
Besides you may find you become less nervous in time and after a couple of years want a challenge and move up to the next level.
If you are entering the class because you are scared to do the higher classes it is different from entering them because you know you will win!
I would consider pot hunting to be entering a novice class when you are not a novice or doing the 2ft class, 2,3ft 2.6ft and 3ft and winning them all!
It would therefore be pot hunting if you entered the 75cm class as you would be confident and capable of jumping higher.
Besides you may find you become less nervous in time and after a couple of years want a challenge and move up to the next level.
If you are entering the class because you are scared to do the higher classes it is different from entering them because you know you will win!
Rambo
Well-Known Member
The BSJA has a whole series of 90cms and 1m Amateur classes for just these sort of people. They can alos earn ranking points at regional level which count towards leagues at the end of the year. What makes that any different to Michael Whitaker and Co jumping the World Cup Qualifiers for points every year...albeit over bigger tracks. Their horses, and they, are comfortable competing at 1.60m level....many amateurs are not but still want the thrill of competition and the adrenaline rush it brings, and the smaller leagues cater for these people and their horses.
At the end of the day *most* of the horses jumping local BSJA *could* at a push jump a 1.20m...possibly even a 1.30m track...with the right rider. Most of them will never get beyond a Newcomers though
At the end of the day *most* of the horses jumping local BSJA *could* at a push jump a 1.20m...possibly even a 1.30m track...with the right rider. Most of them will never get beyond a Newcomers though
SpruceRI
Well-Known Member
Rambo you're right.... that professionals in effect do the same as us hobby riders: Compete their horses upto the level that the horse is capable of.
i.e some horses contest the Speed classes as they're not so capable at the power/top height classes.
And these professionals are doing it to win, and rightly so, as that's their job after all.
So it's a shame that the attitude in Unaff competition is often that constant winning should be frowned upon, even if that rider is contesting the Open classes.
All very interesting
Thanks all
i.e some horses contest the Speed classes as they're not so capable at the power/top height classes.
And these professionals are doing it to win, and rightly so, as that's their job after all.
So it's a shame that the attitude in Unaff competition is often that constant winning should be frowned upon, even if that rider is contesting the Open classes.
All very interesting
Thanks all