Thoughts on doing three BS classes on one horse in a day?

[HotToTrot]

I will happily jump three BS classes on my horse at a show (particularly if said classes are single/two phase or A7), on the basis that:

a) I'm trying to event at PN/N, so she should be fit enough;
b) I don't do many warm up jumps - about five; and
c) It's largely the same as doing a clear round class followed by two classes (which is not considered bonkers).

However, people seem to think I am bonkers for so doing.

Am just curious as to whether most of you would consider this behaviour to be bonkers, or not bonkers?!

 

[shark1]

Personally I wouldn't but.....

If they're single phase then that would be easy enough.
Ditto small classes as small jumps don't exactly require much effort. (Small up to 110)
If its just for enjoyment I wouldn't , but I have had a bitch of a horse which I did 4 classes on in a row as she was being such a troll......she learnt a lot!
Only youknow your horse though so you would be the best judge! Playing by ear would be best I would have thought..I mean you might win class number 1 then i'd go home!

 

[Kokopelli]

I think if he's fit enough then don't see a problem.

I wouldn't do it partly because I haven't the patience to wait around that long but also because I couldn't afford it.

 

[HotToTrot]

Thanks both for the replies! I was thinking (after I'd written this) about how many times I have in fact done three classes (as opposed to having considered it and then got bored and come home)..... erm, once! But I'd nevertheless be happy to.

 

[measles]

Afraid I disagree and think that 3 classes are too much, both physically and crucially mentally, for a horse. But then often if ours jump well in their first class or are jumping "big" classes ie 1.20 and over then they will do the one, get a big pat and go home.

 

[HotToTrot]

Afraid I disagree and think that 3 classes are too much, both physically and crucially mentally, for a horse. But then often if ours jump well in their first class or are jumping "big" classes ie 1.20 and over then they will do the one, get a big pat and go home.

Thank you, that's interesting - do you think that doing two A4 classes and getting into both jump offs (so four different trips into the ring) would be too much, or does that not equate to doing three single phase classes (so three different trips into the ring), because the JO courses are shorter? (I am talking about 1m - 1.10 in this instance.)

 

[shark1]

I think though measles its different for a showjumping horse and an eventer
(Sorry somemega generalisations coing up here, no offence intended!)

Eventers ARE fitter full stop. They are also there to practise bs first and foremost, so often more rounds are nedeed. Also a horse tells you wen its had enough, if you watch a horse that's done 2 a7 classes andis goingin for the 4th time often looks a bit reluctant/nappy at the gate which should (if the rider has any sense( signal that's enough and do less next time.

For a showjumper which jumps maybe twice a week, then one good class is plenty. I wouod never dream of putting my 140 horse in 2 classes, or equally a novice that's just jumped a lovely double clear.

I just think no hard and fast rules, horses and their lifestyles are just so different.

 

[Weezy]

Eventers can be fitter, sure, but not many eventers are used to jumping BS technical courses...BE courses are in no way comparable to BS courses. IMO 2 classes is ample, especially if you are having to jump, wait around, JO, and then repeat.

 

[almorton]

id like to bet one of my SJ's is a LOT fitter than 80/90% horses out BE, so i think saying eventers are fitter full stop is a bit over board!
fitness is specific to how you train.
many jumpers are schooled over poles/fences 4 x week. id say these are much fitter for purpose at bsja than an eventer that is canter/gallop fit!
generally, 3 classes, well depends what your sat on, age, sharpness and the going.
so no hard and fast rules!

 

[xspiralx]

I don't think you're mad, I think it depends entirely what you're sitting on.

Generally I think two classes is probably enough unless there is a particular reason or need to do a third, but as long as the horse is fit enough and isn't getting tired and fed up then I don't see a particular problem with it.

 

[Thistle]

I like the horses to have no more than 3 trips to the ring and associated warm ups. Doesn't matter is that's 2 or 3 classes depending on the format. I hate waiting around though!

 

[Farma]

I used to do a clear round and 1 or 2 classes and I think the majority of people do 3 trips to the ring one way or another, so if its single phase then it shouldnt be too much difference. You may find that you do 2 classes and feel happy that you achieved what you set out to do in preparation for your Novice.
Maybe keep the warm up fences to a total minimum and use your 1st class as your warm up - jeez you see so many people jump the equivalent of 2 rounds in the warm up.
Your horse is super fit - Ive seen her at events do her test, sj round and a Novice xc round at some rate and she looked like she'd been for a canter round the park so I dont think youll have any fitness issues!

 

[Firewell]

I wouldn't do 3 classes. 1 maybe 2 but that's just my preference. I like my horse to finish wanting to do more and I hate hanging around

 

[BYR]

We have done three before a few times but it did feel quite a lot, and horse was quite tired by the end. I dont think I would do it again as I dont think he performed as well in his final class and I would prefer to finish after two classes on a happy note rather than push for a third and finish with a stop or lots of faults.

I think it depends on your own horse and the height your jumping we were only doing 1.05 and 1.10 any higher than that and id be quite happy to finish after a well jumped 1.30 as its more strain on the legs and more effort, although if I was jumping that big id expect to have my horse a lot fitter and prepared for the height in the first place.

Personal preference is the answer I think

 

[PaddyMonty]

Look at it in terms of jumping efforts.
For an event you will have around 9 SJ fences with a couple of doubles so thats 11 jumping efforts. XC will be around 21 fences with a couple of combis so call it 23 jumping efforts. Total 34, add in 5 warm up fences per round brings it to 44.
For SJ assuming 2 phase you will have 13 fences with a couple of doubles so 15 jumping efforts. Add in warm up and total goes to 60 jumping efforts for 3 rounds.
If classes are A7 that number could go up to 87 assuming you make the jump off each class.

No I wouldn't do 3 classes unless I failed to make jump off in two classes. I feel 45 jumping efforts in one day is enough for any horse.

 

[HotToTrot]

Look at it in terms of jumping efforts.
For an event you will have around 9 SJ fences with a couple of doubles so thats 11 jumping efforts. XC will be around 21 fences with a couple of combis so call it 23 jumping efforts. Total 34, add in 5 warm up fences per round brings it to 44.
For SJ assuming 2 phase you will have 13 fences with a couple of doubles so 15 jumping efforts. Add in warm up and total goes to 60 jumping efforts for 3 rounds.
If classes are A7 that number could go up to 87 assuming you make the jump off each class.

No I wouldn't do 3 classes unless I failed to make jump off in two classes. I feel 45 jumping efforts in one day is enough for any horse.

Aha! I was adding up jumping efforts too. Single phase classes can have max 12 fences, so with a couple of doubles that would be 14 per class, so two of those would be 28. A7 is (apparently) one round only so you'd have one round of, say 10 fences, which with two doubles brings you to 12 again, so you've got 36 jumping efforts, plus warm up is 41, so you're under your 45 efforts for three classes.

Eventing seems as if it ought to be more strenuous because the XC is faster, but on the other hand you have several "jumping efforts" which are water, ditches, steps (so do not require a jump).

More practically, you are probably either a) going great guns in the first two classes, in which case you'd leave it on a good note, or b) not going great guns in the first two, in which case there's no reason to assume that things would improve in the third.

 

[PaddyMonty]

Aha! I was adding up jumping efforts too. Single phase classes can have max 12 fences, so with a couple of doubles that would be 14 per class, so two of those would be 28. A7 is (apparently) one round only so you'd have one round of, say 10 fences, which with two doubles brings you to 12 again, so you've got 36 jumping efforts, plus warm up is 41, so you're under your 45 efforts for three classes.

HTT, I think you have your maths wrong.
Lets assume you do two single phase and one A7.
Single phase = 14 efforts plus 5 for warm up so 19 per class. X2 = 38.

A7 has 10 fence (two doubles) first round and approx 7 for jump off which will include a double. So you have 12 jumping efforts plus 5 for warm up for first round then 9 plus 5 for warm up for jump off = 31. Add together with the 38 from the two single phase and you have 69 jumping efforts and one very tired horse.

 

[Navalgem]

Only 5 fences for a warm up? crikey, we do a few more than that.

We have done three but only when there's been enough of a break between classes to give horse feed/electrolytes etc.

I don't think you can generalise between showjumpers and eventers fitness, what about scope or other week long shows, many of the top horses there will jump in 2 or else 3 classes, most have two qualifiers and a final or consolation, so potentially 8 classes over a week, however sometimes you can have 3 classes in one day. also in terms of jumping efforts if you choose to do it that way, thats one hell of a lot of jumps at big heights in 7 days. I think those horses are pretty damn fit.

 

[PaddyMonty]

Only 5 fences for a warm up? crikey, we do a few more than that.

I was working on minimum number of warm up fences. I personally would do more than that for first class then a reducing number as the rounds go on. Depends on how the horse is working on the day. Using 5 still demonstrates just how many jumps a horse will cover from 3 classes.

 

[smurf]

Why would you want to do 3 classes?

If you jump the first 2 and they have gone well then why the need for a third? Give it a pat and take it home.
If you jump the first 2 and they have gone badly, then going in again at a bigger height will rarely fix the problem? Better to go home and take it for a lesson.

 

[Navalgem]

I was working on minimum number of warm up fences. I personally would do more than that for first class then a reducing number as the rounds go on. Depends on how the horse is working on the day. Using 5 still demonstrates just how many jumps a horse will cover from 3 classes.

Ahh get you now, so say a cross, 2 uprights and 2 oxers and yes i agree, i do less for the 2nd class than the first.

 

[TheMule]

Gosh- my poor horse sometimes has do 6 trips into the ring- 2 classes with jump offs and 2 prize givings!!

I would do 3 classes if my horse felt fit and up for it and it would achieve something but have never needed to. I jump very little in the warm up (jumping 1.05/1.10/1.15)- normally 3 uprights and a spread for first class and then just pop an upright before going in to next rounds.

My horse rarely jumps between shows- she knows her job, her technique is good and I don't see the point in adding extra mileage to her legs.