JAS- Do you enjoy it/ would you recommend?

[LIL PJ]

Just wondering who does JAS and what your experiences of it are? Thanks xx

 

[Hattikins]

I absolutely loved doing the JAS last year with my 7yr old 15hher

He adored it and we had a wonderful time doing the intro and PN classes. We took on the judges comments but the main focus was on how he went and how much fun we had had regardless of the judge's comments

I would most certainly recommend it, its great fun and something different to do!- though its not really very good for inexperienced and green youngsters as there is an awful lot for them to take in and pretty spooky fences if they've seen nothing like it before

Its a really good start to the eventing season and gets you all hyped up for the first real event of the season

 

[Baggybreeches]

It is great fun, I have done it for the last three seasons, but I am not doing it this year because it is quite expensive and my horse would benefit from going out sj or xc schooling more than a JAS comp. Hope that makes sense.

 

[Petrie]

I think it's great fun, have been doing the Nov and Open with my 11 yr old.

I won't be taking my 5 yr old though - the Intro is tiny, but very spooky and the course is long and twisty. Not for really green horses, IMHO.

I def recommend it though - great fun, well built courses.

 

[icestationzebra]

You're obviously used to big fences Petrie

I didn't think the intro was tiny at all. It was bang up to height at Arena UK - although agree with you on the spooky twisty nature of the course. The fact that 17 horses were eliminated in the intro class says to me that it was very testing - perhaps unfairly so.

 

[H-J]

Especially as it says in the JAS bit on the BE website that it is used to introduce horses back into the event season.

I havent got round to doing one yet but will be taking Mac and Spider to the one at Towerlands on 16th Feb.

Mac should be fine just hope spidey is, she is only 4 1/2 but is very very bold and has jumped a 2 phase 90cms BSJA class at Norton Heath and coped fine, just had a couple down in the second round so fingers crossed she will be ok!!!

 

[icestationzebra]

HJ - I think that it is exactly aimed at horses coming back into an eventing season - not introducing a young horse for his first event season.... which is what I thought the intro section should be for.... The PN section should then be for PN horses or horses that intro'd last season and are ready for the move up.

 

[Heidi1]

I thought is was to encourage the young horse, not scare them. Was shocked to see how spooky and upto height the course was at Arena UK.

 

[SillyMare]

I wasn't impressed last year - it is a lot of money for what you actually get (essentially a 2 phase round of show jumps!) and the expert feedback I received just stated the absolute obvious (no amazing insights).

Plus the classes were massive.

In my opinion BSJA is better value for money (and at least you have a decent chance of winning your entry fee back).

 

[Bossanova]

I had good fun doing it last year, just entered my baby horse for PN at Hand so hoping she'll enjoy it too.
For me its better than sj as you have a fence down and not be disappointed that you went home having only jumped 9 jumps. Also I like being judged (some cruel perversion!) so getting that little bit of paper pleases me!!

 

[sw123]

I'm not convinced by it. Spent time with the judges last weekend and also we had 2 in the open and to be honest i don't think its a particularly great training aid. Yes on an experienced horse its an outing before you go eventing but these days i would hope that most had been out winter show jumping anyway and that would be more beneficial and cheaper (be it BSJA or unaff!) The courses aren't big but are spooky and twisty which makes the intro an eyeful for young horses and many got worse rather than better as they went round the course.

The older horses looked to enjoy it although not all took to it and not all went well even in the bigger classes. I won't take mine to do it he's experienced but spooky and don't think he'd particularly enjoy it!!

Have to say the majority of bad rounds were hindered by some really bad riding!!

 

[Thistle]

It's our event ponys speciality event. She struggles to make time Novice XC but turns really well and will jump angles and silly lines. She is spooky as hell to hack, but has never yet spooked in an arena now matter how leary the jumps. I just hope they never put pigeons in the arena, she hates them!!!!!!

 

[igglepiggle]

I really enjoyed it last year and would recommend it although with Medstead cancelled this weekend, I may not be able to fit one in myself this year! Think I prefer to do All Weather Eventing though as you get more for your money.