I Just Don't Think I Can Do This Anymore

I'd love times for sj classes, I know it means planning a few days in advance but I'm sure most of us could manage that??
 
To be honest pre entry and drawn order doesn't make a lot of difference in my experience the biggest difference is running every class as a either a single or two phase. If there are loads of entries you still have to hang around
 
What about horse world near Market Rasen, or Elms Farm? EMDG do various training events over winter. BEDE unaff events at Brackenhurst?
 
Having two phase automatically for classes with more than 20 should be compulsory I think, unless its a qualifier. It's annoying to go in early, wait two hours to go and have the first fence in the sodding JO!
 
Mavis007 said:
I think there should be a general rule that if there are over 20 entries in a class then it should be run 2 phase or single phase NOT A7 as waiting for 25+ to go in a separate jump off before your class starts is not funny. I have to admit I think it is easier for the baby horses (and me!) to continue straight into the jump off section over bigger fences than going back in.
Also certain classes (maybe 1/3rd and 2/3 point through the day) should state "not to start before" so at least you have a better idea when to turn up.
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Agree entirely
 
Come and live with me here in California.. the local place here that holds unaffilliated jumping got excited because they had 30 competitiors....the whole day. Their most popular class had 7 entries. The class I would have entered had 2. They were really pleased that they were so busy :o.
I have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous!!!
 
At least you didn't enter your baby in a dressage test, then have an allergic reaction to a flu jab and waste your entry fees! Now I'm praying that when she comes off the bute there was no other reason for the huge swelling in her legs!! Arghhhh.

I once drove to my local sj, it was so rammed we couldn't get in the car park. Went to see what classes they were on, there were 3 before my class with 80 plus entries in each. Decided to go home and it took 1 hr to reverse out the car park due to so many lorries being stuck! Baby didn't get off the lorry!

Lesson learned, if I'm not in the first class I now ring the venues to get an idea of entries. (and if space in car park).
 
Haven't read the replies, can see where you are coming from I couldn't cope with all that waiting around. We are lucky enough around here to have a cracking venue which occasionally runs show jumping comps, all classes 2 phase, pre entered and they then give times just like dressage. First class is 45cms going up to 95, lovely set of brand new jumps and very well built courses in a large indoor school with a fab surface, very low key, friendly and encouraging, the only down side is parking is a little tight and its not run often enough:)
 
That is very frustrating, I'd forgotten all the waiting around for SJ in the UK. Everything is pre-entry here in Hong Kong so all classes have allocated times and a couple of spare slots for late entries, it's so nice to be able to plan your day accurately. However I wouldn't recommend that you make a dramatic decision to emigrate as we only have 2 ODEs per year, no team chasing and no hunting! ;)
 
dieseldog said:
Single or 2 phase only works if the arena is big enough, there are a couple I jump at where it just would not all fit in.
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Two phase is a good idea, it really does speed the class up. Single phase is not my favourite having been treated to a single phase NC on a horse doing his first NC. The first 6 fences were fine at 1.10 then the rest were the 'JO' (which in single phase you do whether you've been clear or not) and were 1.20, which was just too big a track for the horse at the time.
 
alwaysbroke said:
Haven't read the replies, can see where you are coming from I couldn't cope with all that waiting around. We are lucky enough around here to have a cracking venue which occasionally runs show jumping comps, all classes 2 phase, pre entered and they then give times just like dressage. First class is 45cms going up to 95, lovely set of brand new jumps and very well built courses in a large indoor school with a fab surface, very low key, friendly and encouraging, the only down side is parking is a little tight and its not run often enough:)
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OK AB, spill the beans!
 
One of the reasons I do the clear round training sessions. Having said that last time I went to one of those there were so many waiting I got back in the lorry and drove straight home!

The arena eventing at Weston Lawns is always a good bet when they start in January, but I suspect a bit of a trek for you?
 
Is it sad that I often quite enjoy the hanging around at SJ?! We usually seem to find at least one lot of friends/acquaintances to hang out with, who are similarly trapped... We always seem to be so busy amd stressed at events amd the lorry park is so big you can miss seeing people. We have been out SJ four times this autumn (I know, dedicated!!) and I've rather enjoyed it, although we have done an awful lot of waiting around. The worst was the Area 35 show at Hartpury, which was unbelievably busy because the prize money was so good.

It does seem to me that everywhere is particularly busy this autumn/winter - we were at Hartpury on Saturday and I thought it would be quiet as the smallest class was 1.05m and that was pre-entry, drawn order. However, when we arrived they were only halfway through a huge NC (which was being run A7) and the subsequent classes had big entries too with over 40 in the Foxhuner/1.20m Open.

I like Single Phase best as you feel you get your money's worth and I agree that it is nice for a young horse to jump the smaller fences and then go straight on to the bigger ones. Two phase is bl@@dy annoying if you've waited 2 hours for your class and have the first fence down so only get to jump five or six more! I must admit I preferit if they take the trouble to change the course between classes as we are usuallly doing more than one and one feels a bit cheated if they just shove everything up two holes...

I still belong to the group which says I will accept the unpredictability and chaos of SJ as an acceptable and inevitable cost of the flexibility of not having to pre-enter, and being able to change plans on the day...
 
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TableDancer said:
Is it sad that I often quite enjoy the hanging around at SJ?! We usually seem to find at least one lot of friends/acquaintances to hang out with, who are similarly trapped... We always seem to be so busy amd stressed at events amd the lorry park is so big you can miss seeing people. We have been out SJ four times this autumn (I know, dedicated!!) and I've rather enjoyed it, although we have done an awful lot of waiting around. The worst was the Area 35 show at Hartpury, which was unbelievably busy because the prize money was so good.

It does seem to me that everywhere is particularly busy this autumn/winter - we were at Hartpury on Saturday and I thought it would be quiet as the smallest class was 1.05m and that was pre-entry, drawn order. However, when we arrived they were only halfway through a huge NC (which was being run A7) and the subsequent classes had big entries too with over 40 in the Foxhuner/1.20m Open.

I like Single Phase best as you feel you get your money's worth and I agree that it is nice for a young horse to jump the smaller fences and then go straight on to the bigger ones. Two phase is bl@@dy annoying if you've waited 2 hours for your class and have the first fence down so only get to jump five or six more! I must admit I preferit if they take the trouble to change the course between classes as we are usuallly doing more than one and one feels a bit cheated if they just shove everything up two holes...

I still belong to the group which says I will accept the unpredictability and chaos of SJ as an acceptable and inevitable cost of the flexibility of not having to pre-enter, and being able to change plans on the day...
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I think there's a big divide between BS and the lower unaff levels and with the greatest respect I suspect you haven't trawled the depths of unaff 80cm Trailblazers recently ;). I don't have too much of an issue with BS. There are generally people there that I know for a natter (or mutual whinge!) and things do tend to run more efficiently, especially once the jumps get bigger and you get more organised/experienced competitors. This is going to sound horribly snobby but people jumping 1.10+ BS classes (especially eventers!) are quite used to getting in, getting their number down, keeping an eye on the people before them, adjusting their warm-up accordingly and being ready to go in on their slot. The people that managed to drag a 65cm TB class out to 2hrs didn't really seem to know what they were doing. Some had completely disappeared when it got to their number, others were panicking because they hadn't had enough practice fences and couldn't possibly go in yet.

It may be because I'm new to the area or because the people I know don't venture out to lower level Trailblazers stuff much but there was no-one out that I knew a fortnight ago and only a couple of clients yesterday. I do speak to random strangers but there is only so much polite conversation one can make for 4hrs!

Hopefully the young horse will get out and jump BS very shortly (and the BN is generally the first class on the card so at least I will know accurately when it starts!) as it's not really fair to him either. He is exceptionally good and patient but 4hrs standing waiting in a cold trailer is a long time for any horse!
 
After our last time out sj a couple of weeks ago I really can't be bothered anymore, we always get there early and end up waiting for hours so went later this time, the lights were broke in the car park so got tacked up in pitch black and pouring rain, got there to find our class almost over (we normally don't get away from that class til 9pm yet for some reason it was over by almost 7pm) so had to rush a warm up, go in, then didn't hang around for results just untacked in again the rain and pitch black, freezing cold, went home feeling like it was the most pointless outing ever.

Gonna stick to hiring arenas with courses up over winter until the summer jumping I think!
 
quizzie said:
I totally agree....think we probably go to the same place (Felbridge?). And even better....if you want to do an extra sj round, they are very happy for you to do so.
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FWIW, if you call Felbridge and say you accidentally left the lorry keys at home (in London) and only discovered as you were about to load the horses (in Surrey) and that you had to do a 1.5hr round trip to get said keys, then load said horses and get to said venue (Sussex), they will be eminently understanding about missing your test time, slot you in two hours later and let you jump a clear round for the next class because you weren't happy with first round :p

Lots of love for Felbridge, in case you hadn't guessed :D
 
Doesn't it go to the unaff vs BD conversation a bit though, too? The 'cost' of it being unaffiliated is there isn't the same sort of control and organisation. People complain about the 'dumbing' down of affiliated competition but I wonder how much of that is pressure from busy people in our busy modern, unhorsey world to not have to put up with such disorganisation?
 
TarrSteps said:
Doesn't it go to the unaff vs BD conversation a bit though, too? The 'cost' of it being unaffiliated is there isn't the same sort of control and organisation. People complain about the 'dumbing' down of affiliated competition but I wonder how much of that is pressure from busy people in our busy modern, unhorsey world to not have to put up with such disorganisation?
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You may well be right. In fact my next outing will probably be to jump an 85cm BS Open, a class which I'd probably have dismissed as 'dumbed down' in the past ;)
 
TarrSteps said:
Doesn't it go to the unaff vs BD conversation a bit though, too? The 'cost' of it being unaffiliated is there isn't the same sort of control and organisation. People complain about the 'dumbing' down of affiliated competition but I wonder how much of that is pressure from busy people in our busy modern, unhorsey world to not have to put up with such disorganisation?
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Not really as it is being run by the same people. With the same judges. same course builders and same collecting ring staff only thing different are the competitors
 
I know how you feel, I always have good intentions of going showjumping as it is my weak phase but I go, it is awful and it takes me a year to forget how bad it was waiting in the FREEZING cold to jump a 2'6/2'9 because the smaller classes have loads of entries and the ones that get eliminated don't get eliminated and carry on which is nice for them but not for everyone else waiting and then they do the same in the next class.................. I am gearing up to go again but I feel the dread already! There are a couple of venues that do arena eventing now so I can tolerate that with having set times otherwise I would be in trouble :)
 
I think the problem is that most show centres are relying on volunteers to run the doors at events now, and with everyones busy lives these days, you often get young people who don't actually compete themselves on the door as they are only ones willing to give up their time for free (or for very little money).

I say bring back the 'old battleaxes' who always used to keep things moving!! :)
 
I feel your pain. Had a similar experince 2 weeks ago, it was a nice bright day and the whole world desended on the place I went to. I think there was around 50+ entries in the 75cm so despite efficent door staff, it took hours. Added to which they do a mounted prize giving so you need to stay with your horse tacked up if you want your prize.....
I just don't have the time or temperment to wait round in the cold. Will be sticking to hiring the arena the day after in future. Alternatively there is a place that has limited parking/warm up so runs jump and go - basically limited pre-entries, go at allocated time then leave and rosettes are posted. Its 40mins drive compared to 15mins but I think I would prefer it.
 
Having been at a very busy east midlands venue on Saturday (am for ponies) have to say what a flippin' long day we had! Got there at 9.30am (being organised and not wanting to rush), to be told that clear round still on,not a problem thought we could get both ponies ready and not have to panic. But the world and its mother arrived and the classes were huge, kept hearing from people that usually go there they couldn't believe the amount that had turned up. Got home at 4pm, yard owner called to see if we were OK as we had been gone that long! Felt so sorry for those with horses who had to jump afterwards. What did annoy me, was the fact that ponies were warming up and people clearly fed up of waiting (understandable) decided to get their horses out and do some schooling in the warm up, not on really. We have a very young inexperienced jockey on her little 138 and to keep meeting with a lady on a very large spooky horse wasn't pleasant. I know you had to wait but at least have the decency to let the warm up be clear of ponies before you start allowing your horse to prance around, or even the good manners to ask if we had finished!! Warm ups are lethal enough at is without making things worse!
 
It can be similar with BS at weekends, I find. I just ring up every 45 mins on the day, asking for updates on how many they have in each class. That way, if I want to do two classes and there are gallons in each, I turn up half way through the first class I want to do, jump in that and then get my number down at the start of the second!

Or take a trashy book and hit the hot chocolate in the cafe. "I'm stuck here now, no choose but to devour some more chick-lit rubbish that I'd otherwise feel far too guilty to read…"
 
Move up to NE Scotland. We never have 48 in a BS class ;) Generally we have maybe 20 in a class and if its a cold winters day, well not many at all turn up!

I don't see why venues don't simply have a live online system with a page on their website which shows how many are in each class. Won't help I guess if you're in the first couple of classes as you'll already be there but would help later ones. Don't think any BS people would tend to enter in advance... considering half of them refuse to go in the ring for their round until the class is pretty much closing!
 
kp31 said:
Having been at a very busy east midlands venue on Saturday (am for ponies) have to say what a flippin' long day we had! Got there at 9.30am (being organised and not wanting to rush), to be told that clear round still on,not a problem thought we could get both ponies ready and not have to panic. But the world and its mother arrived and the classes were huge, kept hearing from people that usually go there they couldn't believe the amount that had turned up. Got home at 4pm, yard owner called to see if we were OK as we had been gone that long! Felt so sorry for those with horses who had to jump afterwards. What did annoy me, was the fact that ponies were warming up and people clearly fed up of waiting (understandable) decided to get their horses out and do some schooling in the warm up, not on really. We have a very young inexperienced jockey on her little 138 and to keep meeting with a lady on a very large spooky horse wasn't pleasant. I know you had to wait but at least have the decency to let the warm up be clear of ponies before you start allowing your horse to prance around, or even the good manners to ask if we had finished!! Warm ups are lethal enough at is without making things worse!
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Ah, that was my other option for this weekend but I remembered that jumping ponies then horses usually results in the classes I want being on about midnight so I opted out. Good choice by the sounds of it!

HotToTrot said:
It can be similar with BS at weekends, I find. I just ring up every 45 mins on the day, asking for updates on how many they have in each class. That way, if I want to do two classes and there are gallons in each, I turn up half way through the first class I want to do, jump in that and then get my number down at the start of the second!

Or take a trashy book and hit the hot chocolate in the cafe. "I'm stuck here now, no choose but to devour some more chick-lit rubbish that I'd otherwise feel far too guilty to read…"
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That's all very well but when you want to jump the second class of a competition starting at 10am you have to leave home before they know how things are running. I thought that turning up at 11am for the second class was reasonable. BIG mistake!

Unfortunately their burger van couldn't make it and the only refreshment was vending machine 'coffee'. Also unfortunately I hadn't enough change to buy a 'coffee' and the venue couldn't change a fiver. No-where to sit except in my car either. It was a loooooooong 4 hours...
 
I rarely comment on this forum but as I'm slightly connected to the centre I feel I could perhaps shed some light on some of the issues raised. As a relatively new centre they are trying very hard to please the majority of local customers, who when faced with single phase shouted loudly it was too difficult to remember, they then moved to two phase and again got a lot of complaints it wasn't value for money so stuck with A7 as this is what the majority preferred. I think you were unfortunate that you chose their first ever trailblazer show they rarely have that number of competitors in a normal show day. They are trying very hard to provide a good venue and a good days sport. I wasn't in attendance on Sunday as I was competing at a qualifier but I will certainly pass on all your comments so hopefully the service can be improved. They do run clear round jumping on a Friday afternoon at all heights maybe this could be a better option for your babies at this stage.
 
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