How good should you be before Affiliating SJ

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beaconhorse

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Just wondering how good you need to be before bothering to Affl.

do you need to be regularly winning classes

Just wondered because some of the unaffl classes I do are huge ie 44+ last time out we came 3rd, do the affli classes tend to be as big?

But we are only just starting to get double clears so maybe it is too early. With him it is not so much the height of the jump but the technical stuff that gets him. Having said that he is getting there.

Also thought the quality of courses might be better in affli

looking thro the schedules most have heights on so I know how big they are, except the Sue Carson one, how big is this class as I just don't have a clue lol

TY
 
You'll probably find the quality of the courses more standardised in BSJA, but don't expect the clases to be smaller - round this way you never get less than 30 in the lower heights and it can be up towards 100 on a bad day! The Sue Carson class in British Novice which is 90cms in the first round.
 
It really depends where you are in the country and which venues you go to as to how many entries you will get. Don't be put off by large entries though. With affiliated SJ'ing they pay one prize (minimum is your entry fee back) per 5 starters, so you need to be looking at being in the top 20% to get placed most times out. In real terms what this means is a Double Clear will normally get you a place. Don't worry about racing against the clock...this doesn't do the young horse any good at all, and you also don't need to be winning to qualify for the 2nd Rounds of a lot of competitions. Four double clears within the qualifying period will suffice
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The Sue Carson / Alruba class you refer to is the British Novice which is 90cm (3') in the first round. There are also some smaller classes if you can find Amateur schedules on offer at venues near you. This does depend on the standard in your area though as the stronger areas seem to run less of the Amateur classes than others
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You will find affiliated courses more consistent and better built, and if you want to improve you and your horse you should definitely affialiate.

To give you an example, I jumped a British Novice on saturday with 23 starters. They paid out prizes to 4th place and the winner was the only Double Clear in the class. Third and fourth places went to people with 4 faults in the first round
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I think you need to be confidently jumping courses at least 3" bigger than the affiliated version you plan to try as they do tend to be up to height and wider then unaffiliated classes. I found I actually got placed more affiliated and even won the class at my first 2 goes at Discovery as you don't get the fast ponies and kids in senior affiliated! However you do tend to get a lot more entries than unaffiliated same height, certainly around here.
 
I depends on your horse and their ability. I have been concentrating on Dressage. Did first SJ show yesterday and plan to do a few U?A classes and if we get DC then we will Affiliate
 
Yep agree with jess_sj, try day tickets first, rather than commit to affiliated fees. But don't expect smaller classes my local BSJA classes have around 40/50 in them!!
 
Agree with the point about needing to be jumping 3'' higher unaff first.

We have been happy at BE Pre-Novice 105cm for ages but nearly went home when I saw my first Discovery (only 100cm).

BSJA jumps seem much more imposing somehow - perhaps because they are indoors and most events are outside, but the fences are also very wide. There was also a treble in our first Disco - the first time Lex had seen one of those!

I have only just started BSJA (2 competitions so far) and have been surprised at how easy and relaxed it has all been. Think I had preconceptions about lots of really scary professional show jumpery types.
 
You could do one of the smaller "intro" shows which are a new idea. They've recently started in my area - so there are "intro" shows which start at like 70cm and go up to only 1m, then you have the normal progressive/advanced shows which go from BN up to Foxhunter.

Ive found the intro shows are far less busy than the usual ones. They're good schoolers for babies so Id say less competitive as this is what a lot of people take. The Sue Carson one - is that the british novice? If so, its 90cm. I would normally have my horses happily (and successfully) jumping unaffiliated intermediates before doing their first BN. BSJA courses are better built but that means they tend to have more related distances, dog-legs etc. and the fences often seem bigger as they are wider.

Maybe go and watch one or two BSJA's at different venues because some venues seem to build their classes bigger than others!
 
The Sue Carson class is British Novice which is 90cm (3').

It's more important that you're jumping double clears at 3'-3'3'' than winning.
It depends on the venue as to how big the class is but around here there are usually 20-30 in a British Novice and a double clear will usually get you placed.
The courses are usually inviting and well built. They tend to be more solid than unaff, the spreads are much wider and there are more related distances, dog legs, etc. but nothing too technical.
You could do a British Novice on a ticket to see if you're ready, there is often a clear round before the BN as well.
 
one of the venues I do Unaffl classes at also does affl and uses the same jumps including a huge wall. So hopefully a least at this venue it won't be too much of a shock
 
I was wondering about this a few weeks ago when I was offered the chance to affiliate on a ticket with a friend but previously I had only 3 attempts at 2'6" and one go at 2'9" out competing although I was jumping 3'3" happily at home.

I ended up going to a junior show (BN was 85cm rather than 90cm) and first had a go at the 75cm warm up round and then went straight in for the BN. TBH, the course was smaller than I was expecting although the fences are much wider as they use 12' poles rather than 10' so they look a lot more imposing. Having said that, it was over the same fnces as their unaff. shows which I'd done there so it didn't come as such a shock!

If you're confident, just go for it - try on a ticket and see what happens. I did and I haven't regretted it at all
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Good luck though - I'm sure you'll love it!
 
You should just register and go along to a few BSJA shows, most of them tend to have an unaffil first so you can go in that and then the british novice!!

Totally agree with silverfox, if you are already jumping at venues that hold BSJA shows, then there will be no difference in the fences and maybe not in the courses!! Go on, what you got to loose, you will never know unless you go for it!!
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One of the main things people mention is that BSJA fences appear bigger. Well invariably they are bigger than you jump at your local show, because they are built to the correct height & spread. Local shows may say it's qa 3' class but in reality it is oftemn alot lower. Also be aware that affiliated shows also have decent size spreads. If you haven't got enough momentum you may come down on the back pole.

If your horse is jumping 3'- 3'03" relatively easily then have a go at BSJA. Don't affiliate immediately, jump a few rounds on a ticket. This will costy you £6 on top of normal entry fee & arer available at the venue. You cannot however win any money when riding on a ticket.

Just take it easy, ride niocely & don't worry too much about racing against the clock immediately, just go for steady clear rounds.

Good Luck
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Yeah definately - when you first start its all about clear rounds!!

SO many people go in to BSJA and go as fast as they can win too much money which pushes them out of the classes and on to bigger fences before they are ready!!!

Just keep reminding yourself double clears!!!

Let us know what you decide to do and how you get on!!!
 
If you are regularly looking to jump at 90cms upward, it is time to affiliate!
You need to make sure you are confident at that level, as unaffiliated you are getting towards the end of the day / smaller classes at 95 - 105 cms; so if you have trouple you might be allowed that third stop / a chance to school at the end of the day. BSJA will be 2 stops and out, and not much time / opportunity to get problems sorted.

Assurance of course quality & ability to progress make it worthwhile, when you are ready
 
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