When should you move up classes when jumping?

[WishfulThinker]

I've only had Beau out to the jumping comp, 3 times now - he has been another time with someone else.

We started off doing the 60cm, and now have 2 5ths and one 6th in the 60cm. I've done the 75 twice - fell off in jump off once (miss judged take ooff point - totally my fault) and tonight we had 2 refusals because I stupidly focused on 2 fillers - but he had never seen these ones before so was VERY looky.
And tonight we did the 90cm and had 1 pole down cos we went a bit too fast and then again 2 refusals at the same fillers, but to be honest he coped a lot better with the 90cm than the 75cm.

So, my question is this - is it unfair to keep doing the 60cm? Even sharer thinks that she would do better in the 75cm (she just needs to work on a bit more spring and impulsion into the fences) , which leaves me with the 90cm

. But I feel that may be our limit.
And when would it be unfair to do the 75cm?

This is all INSIDE - outside he is VERY different - not in a good way

.

 

[the watcher]

My personal view is that you move up when you are getting consistent double clears, your final place doesn't matter so much, the speed will come with confidence. Of course there are exceptions, some horses seem to need a bigger jump to focus their mind - but they also need a jockey who can put them at the bigger jumps accurately. It doesn't sound is if you are there yet, and in your shoes I would be consolidating at a level you are both comfortable with (and practising with fillers

)

 

[WishfulThinker]

Yeah - He doesn't like the 60cm, you can see that he is grumpy and he cannot be bothered picking his feet up and just wants to zooooom over it.

I think the filler issue is deffo me not him. But it is something we shall work on

I just dont want to be seen as a pot hunter if I get placed over kids with ponies, but for £7.50 a round I cant justify doing it HC.

 

[Rocky01]

Personally I would sort out the outside work before moving up levels inside. If he is really off you leg and listening to you he should be the same inside or out as he shouldn't be paying attention to what else is going on around and only on you. I would also do a lot of flatwork in and around jumps so that he gets used to it being no different just because there are jumps around and then when you jump just canter into the fence and let it come to you, don't try to control the take off and landing spots too much, if the horse messes up then he/she will have to get out of the mess, just approach it correctly and let the horse do his/her job, it's easier and all the horses that I've ridden prefer it.

Hope this helps

 

[u04elw2]

Peter will kick your ass if he sees this post!! He keeps telling me he's going to have you 2 jumping 4 feet by the summer

Maybe mention to him in your next lesson that you want to know what height suits you guys best. I find Major jumps better the bigger the jump and I'm sure Beau is probably the same x