How many classes do you do in a SJ competition

We normally do 3 but mainly because lots of places around here do by 2 get the 3rd one half price! They are normally single phase though, so you are only in the arena 3 times. I suspect that if it was on grass at this time of the year we would only do 2 as the ground is harder.
 
No more than two - I just think two classes are plenty - I want every stride to count iykwim I mean.

We have been known just to go and do one class - really warming up well to get the canter, do the class then back to the warm up to practise the canter again and pop a couple of bigger jumps. Would rather stop when they feel amazing :)
 
I would do 2 plus possibly a CR any more will usually mean the horse gets flat or is jumping either too small in the first or being pushed too much to do the 3rd, assuming that each class goes up a fair bit, single phase classes are easier in some ways but can be a lot of jumping efforts in one go but obviously less warming up required so it depends on the horse.
 
Really interesting to see what others do.

I've sat and watched people do 4/5 classes on their horses and some only do 2 and I've wondered what the majority do.

Most smaller venues run a 2nd phase round here.

Only the bigger ones don't.
 
EquestrianFairy said:
Really interesting to see what others do.

I've sat and watched people do 4/5 classes on their horses and some only do 2 and I've wondered what the majority do.

Most smaller venues run a 2nd phase round here.

Only the bigger ones don't.
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What height classes are they doing 4 or 5 of?
 
I only do 2 but our competitions are 2-phase so it can be a long time tacked up and waiting, especially if you are drawn near the end of the jump-off. I normally try to go near the end of the first class and very early in the next class so I can put my horse away for a rest before the second jump off. But we don't jump big, and I'm sure she would do a third class of I asked her to.
 
I normally do two. If we're talking unaffiliated the classes usually go up 10cm and imho a combination that is jumping a 70 or 75cm class should not be entering 90/95, that is not fair on the other competitors. I have seen at some shows they implement a rule so that a combination entering X class (say the 70cm) is not allowed to enter Y class (90cm) as well. Although that does not stop families with one pony and two kids from going and doing every single class with the poor pony.

I find affiliated (from my limited experience, I'm an eventer with a poor sj record :D so I have only gone affiliated SJ a couple of times) a bit better where people either bring multiple horses for more classes or just do what is within the capabilities of their horse. With class sizes being bigger you would be waiting for forever to do more than a couple of classes - Plus the system that rules horses out once they have X amount of winnings will help with people entering below the horses capabilities.
 
I usually do one - I don't like him tired and I always end in a good note. If he were to have a stop (hasn't happened yet) then I woulddo the next class. Also quite often the classes are big and I can't be bothered waiting!

However for riding club you often have to jump at least twice - 2 rounds and then if top places are tied, a 3rd against the clock. I don't mind doing this as classes are always one phase so not many jumps in a course.
 
I'd probably do 2, as we only jump unaff at a local venue & the arena is HUGE and can have up to 20 jumps in each class!
But then Bill jumps better with a very short warm up so its not too much work. And the heights we do (normally 1m, 1.10 or 1.20) wouldn't that much effort for him.

Considering eventing has 3 phases and you warm up for each of them I don't think 2 or 3 classes is much for a fit horse :)
 
I have done 3 when at full fitness and at a venue that runs single phase indoors so course not too long. If it was really busy though with lots of hanging around I would only do two.

I wouldn't go out in the lorry for one class as it wouldn't be worth it!
 
kzb said:
I normally do two. If we're talking unaffiliated the classes usually go up 10cm and imho a combination that is jumping a 70 or 75cm class should not be entering 90/95, that is not fair on the other competitors. I have seen at some shows they implement a rule so that a combination entering X class (say the 70cm) is not allowed to enter Y class (90cm) as well. Although that does not stop families with one pony and two kids from going and doing every single class with the poor pony.
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Agree with this wholeheartedly - we've recently run some unaffiliated where people have turned up and done all three heights - and sat on their horse for the two hours in between. If you want to sit down for hours bring an armchair with you!

Think we might apply a rule next year stating two classes only, or the first class has to be hc.

Mentally and physically two classes is enough in my book, although with single phase and clear rounds I can see situations where a third class might be acceptable.
 
Usually one or two. Horse needs to be really well warmed up and my daughter jumps the lower heights so it's a rush to get everything in. My horse is really fit tho and she would love to do more. Sadly I'm not and I'm also not rich lol
 
I normally do one 'proper' class as I'm too wussy to do any bigger than the smallest one! I wouldn't do any more than two classes if I was braver (or the jumps were particularly small!) but I might do more if I'm pottering round the clear round at the sort of height he could probably step over from a walk. There's a lovely local show near me where I can go round the titchy clear round a couple of times as a warm up and then do the 65cm class to finish - preferable to struggling round the tiny warm up area for an over-subscribed class
 
Normally do 2, have occasionally done 1 if the wait between classes is ridiculous. That's normally the factor that defines how much we do more than anything! But then I usually do 1 class at a height we're comfortable with and the other at the "step up" so to do the one after would be no point and anything below is pointless IYSWIM.
 
We just bs, main mare goes better with a 'warm up' class where she can be a divvy first. So she will do 1.05 warmup then either 1.10-1.20. Unless it's busy and we have more horses with us, they usually do 1 class each then.
 
Depends on what's available. A local ground raises up 5cm increments. I'd probably do 3-4 like this (sj and workers) but normally I'd do 2 plus a CR. Another local runs two 60cm classes, I tend to do the 50, and the 'big 60' as the 'mini 60' gets a bit tight and there's no fillers etc.
 
I just compete BS., and will jump the clear round (horse is very spooky) so needs this. Then jump in one classs. Around here, the classes are usually run as single phase, so are quite lengthy. I'm the one who is exhausted, after the round, rather than the horse .!!!
 
I do one or two, depends on my horse.
I only am jumping 70cms atm, as he is back into work and has lost a bit of confidence.

When he's moving up a height, he'll only do the one round at that height so he has more energy and I can do a few more jumps of height in the warmup to get his confidence up before he goes in.

Luckily he doesn't need a big warm up or psyched up before rounds, he can be warmed up and left to stand for 20 minutes as long as he gets a trot and a canter round the warm up before he goes in :)
 
Thankyou all.

This is really interesting to me, especially from the BS riders.
In Unaff classes (which I do at the moment) I've sat and watched people do 2'6/2'9/3' and 3'3 in one day on one horse.

Ive always done 3 at least but I think I'm going to bring it down a notch and stick to 2.
 
Normally two for me
Last year I did three one time because I was almost ready to go up a class size but not quite.
I jumped 55 clear round class and then 65cm class. He felt fantastic so I decided it was the right time to try bigger so we did the 75cm. Now I know we can do it we miss the 55cm out.
It's all single phase
 
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