show jumping advice for a beginner needed !!!!

[Horse-Rider]

hey, i would like some general information on things too do with unaff SJ,

for example ... - what to do before you go in to your round? what to do during? and then after? also what does the jump off consist of and how will i know what jumps are included in the jump off? Also can someone explain the buzzers?

Any advice needed will be a huge help and a a weight of my back , THANKSSS

 

[pigsmight:)]

Hi there well I am no pro! But my day usually goes a little something like this;

Arrive go enter ur class/ collect ur number if pre entered, check how many are I'n ur class and what class they are on.

Give urself plenty of time to tack up and get ready ( this is important for me as I tend to loose everything in the car! ).

Then dependig on the size of the class and how much work ur horse needs either jump on board and start ur warm up or walk ur course.

The course walk will usually be announced over the tanoy if there is one, but keep an ear out as I have missed it chatting I'n the car park! I always walk my course as I would ride it ( not cutting off corners ect) and then close my eyes and go round the course in my head ( I'm a bit strange but this helps me remember it!).

Get ur number down on the list, usually by the gate, and try to keep the warm up simple, this of course is hugely down to individual horse/ rider. I usually pop a crosspole than an upright a couple of times than an oxer and if that goes to plan just have a walk round till there are a couple to go before u, keep an eye on the board and listen out for ur number.

Have a look at one jumping round and check that u know ur course then pop a nice simple fence to wake u both up ( again this is necessary for me!) and off u go to jump a spot on clear! Wait for the bell or whatever there using before you start ur round and remember to go through the start and finish.

If it is a single phase competition and you go clear the fences will go up and you will jump a shortned timed course, (the order of fences will usually be put on the same board as ur number was ) so go and have a look as soon as you can. The jump off order will be called out so listen out for your number and give yourself enough time to jump back on and have a quick wake up warm up!

Be ready to go In when it's ur turn and again make sure u don't start before the bell and go through the start and finish.

Once everyone has jumped off they will call out the prize order and you will go back In to collect ur rosette and do a lap of honour.

And a few last little tips if this wasn't allready dull, probably incorrect and drawn out enough !

Have someone brave doing ur warm up fence who won't be scarred of bolshy warm up fence users

Red on the right white on the left whilst jumping ur warm up fence!

And last but not least go and have a good time! And let us know how u get on. x

 

[Rosiefan]

I only watch and pigsmight's post is from the horse's mouth so to speak but another couple of things I have noticed Rosie does. If she has time, she likes to watch a few others go before she gets on (helps to fix the course in her mind and identify any fences causing problems) and then, when she's trotting round before the bell goes, she takes the horse to look at any of the fences that she thinks might spook him/her.
Good luck, don't forget to breathe and enjoy .

 

[DuckToller]

Why don't you go down to your local venue, and watch how they do it. Every show is slightly different, and if you are going for the first time with your horse, it can all seem a bit daunting.

Some venues are very friendly - I run an evening sj show with a friend, and we try to help everyone. We have a low-key ring, where people do clear round, and a more advanced ring starting at 2'3. In the little ring we are happy for people to take their time, if they turn a circle or cross their tracks we don't ring the bell but just tell them at the end that they have got a technical 4 faults, so be aware for next time. We also allow outside assistance in the little ring, so in the jump off their instructor can go in and help them by telling them where to go - very helpful for nervous novices or young children.

By the time people have reached the main ring, we do expect them to know the rules a little better - if they start before the bell, we pull them up and explain, but still let them go hc (hors concours ie without it counting) because we want people to come back, but equally it has to be fair for those who do know the rules.

I would go along and watch a show, and possibly ask someone how they run it. Explain you are new to it all, and they might take time to offer you advice - or not, depends on how busy they are

BS rules differ from PC rules and it helps if you know. For example in BS you are eliminated on your second stop, in PC its your third stop. Under BS rules if you fall off, you must lead your horse out, in PC you can remount and carry on. So quite a difference! Most local shows use BS rules, but shows run by Pony Clubs nearly always use PC rules.

When you enter the ring, sometimes the bell will go straight away. You have 45 seconds to start - that means if you dilly dally about, decide to tighten your girth (I've seen it happen), then wander around trying to remember where the first fence is, you can technically be out of time. That is extremely unlikely to happen - they would probably announce over the loudspeaker "The bell HAS GONE!" to spur you on. But equally sometimes the bell doesn't go for ages - perhaps a fence is down from the last rider and the arena party are taking their time putting it up, or the judge is chatting to his/her friend and forgets to ring it, and the judge sits there waiting for you to start, while you trot round waiting for the bell to go, and then someone pokes the judge and the bell finally goes - um, of course we never do that at our show but it does happen.

It will all make sense after a few shows - even the most experienced rider can forget the jump off course, or miss out a fence, so don't be embarrassed if you do something wrong - there is always a next time!