NSEA Jumping with Style

[galloping glory]

Hi, I have signed up to do a NSEA Jumping With Style course with my Horse for my school however I have just found out that it involves Cross Country as well as show jumping, which I have never done with this horse. Does anyone know what the Cross Country stage will involve? I am planning on going out training to get some practice but it would be helpful to know what to practice. Also, my horse has a scopey jump but is very green so any tips would be greatly appriciated. This will be out first jumping show so really I need all the help I can get. Has anyone competed in one of these shows before or know anything about them? I have looked on the website but it is not very clear about the actual rules.

Thanks

 

[Lolo]

It's 'simulated' XC, so all in an arena- don't panic! It has a skinny and all rustic poles and things, but not actual XC fences.

If you search it on youtube, there's quite a few videos of people doing it around the country

 

[galloping glory]

Oh ok thank you!! I will have a look on YouTube.

 

[tinap]

You have to make sure you show a big difference in your riding style between the 2 sections too. We found it quite hard to do in an arena as our pony just rides everything in an arena the same! it was fun though xx

 

[galloping glory]

Ok thanks, that will be tricky as my horse does everything at 100 mph but it is good to know that you found it fun. Which is my main aim!

 

[DuckToller]

Did this with my daughter's school. I sat in the gallery and watched lots of teams go, and noted down the ones I thought would be highly scored, and then checked the results to make sure I was on the same track.

You do need to school your horse over some xc fences before you go, as you say he is green. Some of the jumps will be just rustic show jumps but several may be proper portable xc fences such as roll tops, brushes, sheep feeder etc. It does slightly depend on the venue as to what xc fences they have but much better to be prepared.

My top tips would be -

Ride into the arena like you mean it - canter in, good downward transition to walk and look around, then back to canter for a professional start.

Show jump the first part for a careful clear - if you say yours does it at 100mph, then do try to slow him down so you can show a difference between the sj and the xc part.

Make full use of the arena, don't cut corners or do handbrake turns, and keep a good rhythm.

As you go through the timer for the xc part, move up a gear. You can now go for it more, taking fences at an angle where appropriate, and moving the horse on as if you were going xc. Some of the fences will still knock down so don't blatter round completely. Adopt a lighter jump position between the fences.

Don't worry overly about what your position is like - obviously it helps if you have a strong basic position with good lower leg, weight in heel, independent hands etc - but work on this at home.

On the day ride to be effective, not as if you are trying to look like a show rider - and enjoy it. I always think a smile at the end helps the marks

 

[galloping glory]

This was very helpful thanks, I will do some work as you said on the cross country jumps. I have never been to this venue before so I am unsure what the facilities will be like but it seems to be quite a small place so hopefully their wont be anything to unusual!