What happened to the different jumps?

[Snowfilly]

At a local show yesterday, just watching these days and remembering competing there about 25 years back, for years. The UA jumping had a hedge, a fan fence, a wall, a water tray, some planks and a truly narrow style of about 4 foot wide, plus all the poles. Most local shows had similar.

Now, one it’s all BS club and two, out of 12 fences on track, there was one fence with a plank in it and one with a little wall filler. Every single other fence was a white ladder filler and poles.

Other shows seem to be the same, a real lack of variety. What happened to the weird and the wonderful?

 

[Merry neddy man]

Probably costs, quicker and easier to duplicate a cutting list of materials and quicker and easier to manufacture, try pricing the timber to make a set of wings and fillers plus your time plus 3 coats of paint and that's your reason. And if people know you've got wierd shape and bright fences they will avoid your show so they dont get multiple poles down or eliminated for refusals/run outs.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

At a local show yesterday, just watching these days and remembering competing there about 25 years back, for years. The UA jumping had a hedge, a fan fence, a wall, a water tray, some planks and a truly narrow style of about 4 foot wide, plus all the poles. Most local shows had similar.

Now, one it’s all BS club and two, out of 12 fences on track, there was one fence with a plank in it and one with a little wall filler. Every single other fence was a white ladder filler and poles.

Other shows seem to be the same, a real lack of variety. What happened to the weird and the wonderful?

Back in the 80's when my Michael was heavily involved with our local RS he was in charge of creating new jumps and he designed some unusual fillers, nothing too exciting but unique. The club held one affiliated show a year and it was amazing the complaints we used to get about our unconventional fillers. Everyone on the circuit was used to the standard set from Stoneleigh being used, they were hired out for shows everywhere at the time. Our fillers were only small but surprising how many horses refused at them just because they had never seen them before.

 

[humblepie]

I’ve really noticed that at all levels. My mental nemesis when I jumped was a square oxer with huge brush fillers. Never see those these days or a gate or a wall. Perhaps time and just light poles considered safer?

I remember good old road closed type barriers and via duct walls and also always a stile round our local way.

 

[Snowfilly]

I’ve really noticed that at all levels. My mental nemesis when I jumped was a square over with huge brush fillers. Never see those these days or a gate or a wall. Perhaps time and just light poles considered safer?

I remember good old road closed type barriers and via duct walls and also a stile round our local way.

Oh god those viaduct walls! I fell at one as a kid and spent the next decade inducing a stop in otherwise decent ponies any time I got near one.

 

[humblepie]

Oh god those viaduct walls! I fell at one as a kid and spent the next decade inducing a stop in otherwise decent ponies any time I got near one.

I had similar. Not a fall but my really good pony had a thing about them which I’m sure was me

 

[criso]

I think some things have gone and others appeared.

I'd say years ago all courses were very similar, apart from poles there was a white gate, a red wall, planks (, usually road closed) and a brush and a stile. Poles were a primary colour and white however there was more creativity with what was done with those poles.

Now fillers have gone mad. I have in recent years jumped Tigers, Ladybirds, Sheep, Rainbows and Butterflies as well as the usual flat fillers painted with targets, flags, eyes and geometric patterns that make you dizzy to approach. Walls are occasionally red but could also be pink, blue, green or yellow but are less likely to be the type you build with bricks but a viaduct one that gets used as a filler.

Planks and poles can be any combo not just a colour and white and you sometimes wonder who chose orange and purple.

I haven't seen a white gate in years- I assume partly because they are less height adjustable and not many brush fillers. There are little gate style fillers though and again not just white, the last I jumped were orange and black.

In terms of building rarely see triple bars, hogsback or swedish oxers. Spreads are 2 poles either ascending or parallel usually with aforementioned bizarre fillers.

And even in a big arena with lots of space, no trebles, combinations stop at doubles.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Oh god those viaduct walls! I fell at one as a kid and spent the next decade inducing a stop in otherwise decent ponies any time I got near one.

Our chairman built a viaduct wall, very heavy to move but a good bit of kit. Thankfully for me it was 2'7" and the limit in the classes I jumped was 2'6".

 

[criso]

Our chairman built a viaduct wall, very heavy to move but a good bit of kit. Thankfully for me it was 2'7" and the limit in the classes I jumped was 2'6".

Round here they put the 2 pieces either side for the small classes so you jump between so no avoiding it. It goes in properly for 70cm plus.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

I think it changed when fenced became plastic. Easy to design weird decorations but very expensive. I agree trebles are rarely seen. Also miss having a jump off. Recently paid 14 pounds per class to jump 10 jumps.

 

[humblepie]

I think it changed when fenced became plastic. Easy to design weird decorations but very expensive. I agree trebles are rarely seen. Also miss having a jump off. Recently paid 14 pounds per class to jump 10 jumps.
[/QUOTE

Was discussing that with someone today. I’ve not jumped for years but when I did single phase was unusual and the first bit was still a full course and the next bit some of the first course plus normally a couple of bigger fences not in the first round so you still probably jumped 18 plus fences. . I’d be in need of oxygen at an early outdoor show doing that type of class. If you didn’t go clear you didn’t do the second part and left the ring.

 

[sport horse]

I think it is as a reuslt of BS trying to follow FEI rules and Health & Safety. Much lighter materials these days, flatters cups, collapsible cups etc etc.

 

[LEC]

Walls are expensive, unwieldy to move and generally jump well so no point.
At 1.20m and above you tend to see very thin almost skinny ones now.
Brushes rot and a lot of fillers are plastic or aluminium, and still see them for WH. Most sjing is held outdoors now all year round.
Styles are horrible little trappy fences but you still see a skinnier upright sjing.
Water trays are only allowed in certain classes. Eventing its novice and above. Still plenty of plans about and the dreaded wavy planks.

 

[MagicMelon]

Must depend where you are, plenty spooky fillers at unaffiliated and BS in my area. Usually spooky patterned solid fillers, planks, ladder type etc. But they do build less spooky at the lower levels these days as it makes sense to do so. No point using the scariest fillers in a low BS class where itll be full of mainly green horses. I find theres more arena eventing in my area nowadays where you can drag out the scarier / weirder fences. One of my local venues bought the WH jumps from HOYS so lots of boulders / fake walls etc.

 

[Britestar]

We have plenty bright filters from 50cm upwards.
Walls are heavy and awkward to transport, so don't have one now.