How many show jumping classes do you enter in a day?

Cazzah

Cazzah

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Bit of a musing really. Went to an arena showcross event today with Baz and they were running a championship for the most points on the day. There were 5 classes and the winners inevitably had jumped all 5 classes.

Now, Baz has a two class 'limit' in so far as that he will literally jump out of his skin for a couple of classes and then he goes completely flat and either becomes unco-operative or flattens everything. I jumped three today - well two and half actually ;) :D - and then called it a day. It has confirmed my resolution to jump no more than 2 classes with him. He's plenty fit enough, he just seems to switch off.

How many classes do you guys jump on an average SJ outing? Are we just wierd or does this seem about right?!
 
Just the two for us, personally think that's enough per outing. We chose the two most appropriate height classes. Plus don't have a bottomless purse to enter more classes and can't realy see the point. Like to end the day on a good note, with a happy horse who has enjoyed their job, will come out next time nice and fresh and has plenty of life left in their legs for another day.
 
Will let the daughter do 2 then maybe a Chase me Charlie. It's a pet hate of mine when shows do a 'most points
of the day' thing - inevitablely get some doing every class & ponies/horses looking knackered by the 4th class!!
 
So it seems I'm not that wierd :D (always good to know!)

The points thing did seem to encourage people to enter lots of classes (can't fault the show centre's business sense I guess) but I don't think that as a rule most people who compete at 90cm would usually also enter a 65cm class which was happening lots today. It must have been disheartening for the competitors who only compete in the smaller classes.

I also was guilty of falling into the points collecting trap today with two good placings in the first two classes I entered I went against my gut instinct and entered a third. Note to self: do not be fooled by marketing ploys! :D
 
I prefer points systems that are done over a length of time instead of 1day. Only problem with them though is you darent miss a week if you are in the lead!!! Daughter did a series thing last winter-ended up winning but I had no Friday nights for 4 months!!! :D
 
i would do 2 but nothing rong with 3 at all but 5 seems a bit like a lot but if the horse jumps it all and enjoys it and there is a point to it, not just winning the championship at any cost then i dont see why not
 
2.

I personally wouldn't do more, but in all our affiliated shows you can only enter one level with a horse/rider combo. So they have 2 classes for each height, meaning you may only enter a maximum of two classes with the same horse anyway.
 
I run unaffiliated shows and have a two jumping classes per horse rule not including any 'novelty' type classes (topscore/pairs/bareback for eg). I do it for two reasons - firstly for the benefit of the horse and secondly to stop some clever s*** with a speedy pony (because it usually is a pony!) winning every class on the card.

However there is a show just up the road from us today running about 8 jumping classes with a points championship - no guesses as to what's going to happen there.....
 
I think the points championship can work, as long as there is also a limit on the number of classes entered per horse. A local show has a 5-class limit, only 2 (or 3, think you can enter pairs as well?) of which are allowed to be jumping classes, and one of which must be BTO. This seems to work well enough.
 
Maximum of 2 and possibly a clear round. Hate seeing people doing class after class at shows. Was shocked at one show to see one girl do at least 8 classes, jumping, dressage and showing, in space of few hours. Only saw her dismount for an inhand class.
 
This system is wrong on two levels - one in that it encourages horse abuse, because jumping 5 classes is plainly wrong, and second in that it encourages pot hunting - as you say, if someone is capable of jumping 3', they should not be in a 2' class.

A couple of our local shows run a points system based on two jumping classes, or a jump class and a showing class.

Anyone running a decent show should have the interests of the horse at heart, so I would write or email the organisers and point out that this system will discourage younger riders - the future of any venue.

If you don't, I will for you!
 
usually 2 but just at the weekend i was jumping a class that was 2 phase and i had a jump down in the first round so technically he only jumped 8 jumps so that day i done 3 classes.
 
When my horse was young, i used to do 3 classes. He was spooky and unsettled in the first, so used it as a warm up. Then did 2 classes. As he became more established i only ever did 2 classes. However, on the odd occasion if something went wrong then i'd do a 3rd. He was very fit as we evented since could easily cope.
Would never do more than 3 though. Do not think its fair on the horse.
 
I would only enter two. If we had a fence down in the first round of both classes i'd enter a third but that would be it.

I think if there are championship points it should be a max of 3 classes and your highest scoring wins count. then it would be fair for everyone.
 
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