Jumping in France

[Smurf19]

Morning everyone! Would anyone have info on jumping in France at the lower levels , 1m and under, please? Affiliated or not, it doesn't matter. There's a possibility that I might get posted to the south of France the spring of 2017 or 2018, just for a few months but I'd like to bring my horse. I've checked out the FFE site but I'm afraid my French isn't the best and I can't find a link to what shows might have run this spring, just to get an idea what's on. Thanks a mil for any help!

 

[Casey76]

Hi.

First of all, unless you are doing an internal competition all shows are "affiliated," all shows, entrants and results are available for public consumption.

You will need the French Galop 5 exam to compete at Club 1 (1m), an FFE license and a medical certificate from a French doctor. You will also need to register with either a club or a generic club like ACF (association de cavaliers francaise).

You will need to "import" your horse, and register him/her with the Haras Nationaux to get a SIRE number (you can't compete without a SIRE number) (If I remember it may cost around 120€ for the registration, possibly more, if you have a specific breed you need to register under - for some reason Arabs are very expensive to register)

The "season" follows the academic year, from September to August, with championships normally being held in July.

The FFE site can be a bit of a mare to get around, but once you know it is fairly easy. As I said, asll competitions are affiliated, so you can access all of the information on them from the site:

(I used Alsace as an example as that is where I live lol - you can select any region or department though)

The when you click on an individual show, you get the further details from the venue, including how many are entered, class costs, links to the venue, contace numbers etc:

 

[Smurf19]

Wow, that's a super help, thanks a MIL!!

 

[Rollin]

I was told you could not jump at all in France without Gallop qualifications, then I was told you can jump 'club' with a Club licence. I don't know what age your horse is, but Preperatoire Classes of 95cm are for rider with Club or Amateur licence. Why not contact the BHS and see if they have got their heads around this yet. I am not happy that good BHS instructors have to re-qualify in France and BHS were (years ago) supposed to bring qualifications into line.

If you have a Gallop 7 qualification you can have an FFE Amateur Licence with opens up many more classes. I am told (again with lots of conflicting advice) if you jump Club you cannot jump Amateur.

 

[Smurf19]

I picked a show on this weekend and had a look- there seem to be both 'preparatoire ' classes and then Club classes, I'm not sure if one is just like clear round jumping and one is against the clock? There must not be many entries or else the club is super- efficient, they're running 18 classes in one ring on one day! I'll try the BHS for info too, thanks! Y.

 

[Michen]

That is super nice to go to all that effort!

Hi.

First of all, unless you are doing an internal competition all shows are "affiliated," all shows, entrants and results are available for public consumption.

You will need the French Galop 5 exam to compete at Club 1 (1m), an FFE license and a medical certificate from a French doctor. You will also need to register with either a club or a generic club like ACF (association de cavaliers francaise).

You will need to "import" your horse, and register him/her with the Haras Nationaux to get a SIRE number (you can't compete without a SIRE number) (If I remember it may cost around 120€ for the registration, possibly more, if you have a specific breed you need to register under - for some reason Arabs are very expensive to register)

The "season" follows the academic year, from September to August, with championships normally being held in July.

The FFE site can be a bit of a mare to get around, but once you know it is fairly easy. As I said, asll competitions are affiliated, so you can access all of the information on them from the site:

(I used Alsace as an example as that is where I live lol - you can select any region or department though)

The when you click on an individual show, you get the further details from the venue, including how many are entered, class costs, links to the venue, contace numbers etc:

 

[Casey76]

Hi Smurf, to build on what has already been said...

Prep classes are indeed "clear round", there is no winner, though you will get a plaque and rosette for going clear. As Rollin stated, you can have either a Club license or Amateur, for which ever license you have you can't enter the other classes. An amateur license is more expensive as ther is prize money involved rather than prizes in kind (and believe me, some of the prizes you get are doozies (socks, candles, buckets, horse treats...) some venues are better than others A friend once came home with two bridles and a saddle cloth.

"Vitesse" classes are speed classes timed from the offset, Grand Prix classes are normally timed only from fence 7 onwards. There are also "Spéciale" classes where the fences get progressively higher, with an optional joker (about 10cm above the stated height of the class); in these classes each fence is one point, and the joker is worth 20 (if you knock them down). Placings are based upon the number of points plus time.

It is more common to have a "barrage immediate" i.e. the jump off immediately after a clear round rather than waiting until all competitors have finished. the fince numbers are announced in advance of the class starting, and also after you have finished your round, so you can walk your jump off course at the same time as your normal course.

It depends on the club as to how efficient they are. If they only have one ring, then classes will probably start super early (about 7am), and the last classes could be as late as 8pm.

Again, depending on the venue, and how many course changes there are (sometimes only the poles go up, sometimes they will completely change the course, sometimes a double is added etc) prize giving may be after each class, after a group of classes or at the end of the day. If you get a prize, this may be presented on foot or à cheval. You are expected to be in full competition dress, with hat to collect - and some of our local judges can be very grumpy if you are not well presented, or late, to collect your prize.

If you need any more info, please let me know... I've been a groom/hand holder (both competitor and mums!)/ horse holder etc on our local circuit for 3 years, so while not vastly experienced, I know a few things lol! (SJ and CCE i.e. eventing I'm much more familiar with).

BTW, you can download the rules and regulations for any discipline from the FFE site. you may need a bit of a helping hand to make the most of the French, however the important things (what bits/bridles are allowed, height of the fences, number of fences, number of combinations, speed expected etc) are tabulated/picture format and are easy enough to understand.

 

[Casey76]

Sorry... more info for the rules:

The top box tells you what qualifications you need to compete at that level. I have yet to meet anyone who has been able to get their BHS quals converted - as an fyi.

I was mistaken before, you can compete in Club 1 (95cm) with Galop 4. Club elite 105cm, you can compete on a Galop 6 or a specific competition galop for SJ, eventing or for hunter classes (hunter is very similar the the hunter/equitation US classes, based very much upon style/turnout, very specific striding and pacing etc)

The second box tells you that at Club level you can compete a maximum of three horses per day, a total of three classes per day (one horse three times, three horses once, or a combination). For prep classes you are unlimited to the number of rounds (with up to 6 horses), and can compete, theoretically upto 1m50 on a Galop 2 - but no prizes.

All of your competitions will go on your permanent record, which is searchable by rider and by horse. If you have an Amateur license it will show your standing by discipline in department, region and national by age group.

Once you get to know your way around the site it can provide hours of entertainment... I love "stalking" horses see what they've been up to, where, what their record is like etc.

 

[Smurf19]

Thanks a million Casey76, all this info is super! I just found the links to the Gallop exams, if I understand it correctly I'd have to do the exams a bit like pony club or BHSAI- a riding part and a practical, probably at a recognised place that would provide the horses?

 

[Casey76]

Yes, riding and theory. As an adult you can go in directly for Galop 7 (you can be tested on anything from 1-7, so getting the books, with the approved Q&A is a good idea. The books are aimed at kids/young teenagers, so the language is straightforward - you should be fine with a little help).

Most clubs will allow you to do the test on your own horse, if suitable. Galop 7 is a Club 1 dressage test, SJ to 1m and XC to 1m. If you really don't want to do one of the elements, you can choose to do only one, but it means that you can only complete in that one discipline.

If you choose to start at Galop 4, you then have to do 5,6,7 sequentially.

 

[Casey76]

Quick translation of Galop 7:

Ground work: Lunge horse/pony enrêné (most likely side reins), use long reins in walk and trot

Ridden (general): To sit in a good posture in the sequence of movments
> With your horse in hand, correct bend in the three paces, including counter canter
> Transition canter-walk, rein back
> Shoulder in/ shoulder out in trot
> Dressage Club 2 (whoops sorry, mistake above!), SJ/hunter club 1
> Sequence of jumps outside and on varying terrain
> Cool down your horse on the flat with respect to the work expected

Ridden: Dressage
> Good dynamic posture adapting to the differnet movements and attitude of the horse
> Circles/serpentines 10m with correct being in trot
> Circles 10-15m in canter
> Transition canter/walk/canter
> Curve of 20m in counter canter
> SI/ SO in walk and trot on both reins
> Link the movements and maintaine one cagence
> Maintain a good speed for each gait in the linking of movements
> Work on the precise trace for the linking of movements (this will be the dressage test)

Ridden: SJ
> stability when jumping 1m10
> Stability and adaption when jumping a course
> Regular canter adapted to jumpin a course of 1m
> Adapt the amplitude of teh strides to adapt
> Maintain the trace over a course
> Change lead when necessary
> Complete a course of 1m with varying discances and combinations

Ridden: XC
> Stability and adaption when jumping a course on varying terrain (outside)
> Control, vary and adapt the speed as necessary for the jumps and ground
> Identify the directionality of the jump/ combinations and those jumps which require precise steering.
> Complete a course of 90cm with varying discances and combinations

Practical
> strip and put back together a double bridle
> Place the polos bandages

theory:
> Describe shoulder in, the correct aids and potential faults of execution
> Know the role and effect of the double bridle
> Explain the "rectitude"
> Identify faults of the legs
> Able to read the passport and verify the markings
> Explain and identify the impact of transporting on the health and well being of the horse/pony
> Understand and explain the different denominations and commercial products for feed and supplements
> Understand the principal enrênments ("gadgets!") for lunging, and the effect.

 

[Smurf19]

My gosh, there really is a lot involved! It's a pity there's not an agreement between countries or a visitors ticket you can buy daily, especially if only jumping low. Thanks a mil for all your help, I really appreciate it, I'll have to do some serious thinking!