When to start BSJA?

Sunny_Star

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Just wondered when people decided to do BSJA.
At the moment I am doing unaffiliated 3ft showjumping, and have realised that most unaffiliated classes stop at either 3ft or 3ft3".
So obviously if you wanted to jump 3ft6" or whatever you'd need to join BSJA.
I would do the smallest class if I did have a go (90 cm I think it is), would it be advised to have a go on a ticket first to see what it's like?
I'm sure it's really competitive and the courses might be harder than I'm used to so don't really know whether to bother with BSJA at the mo.
 
Go and jump on a ticket first - its a world away frion most unaffiliated!

Its £6 for a ticket plus normal entry fee, but if you keep an eye out for tickets on magazines, it can often work out cheaper to buy more magazine!!!
 
Depending where you are - some places have these intro shows now that start from 70 or 80cm I think, although they never have these around me so I'm not sure on the details.

It's probably worth having a go on a ticket first - just to see how you get on and if you like it or not.

If you are jumping consistently at 3' I'm sure you'll be fine though - I prefer BSJA because at least you know all the striding is correct etc.

The biggest difference is probably the width of the fences - they have proper spreads even at BN level which you don't seem to get so much unaff.

Good luck!
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If you regularly jump at Show Centres that run BSJA as well as Unaff shows you'll probably not notice much difference in the size/widths.

Don't think you're allowed to do the Jump off if you're on a ticket for BSJA, so might just be worth going along to a BSJA show and walking the height courses you'd want to do.

I think the Local Rider mag has got a day ticket app in it this month (or maybe last month!)
 
Defintely try an Intro show, they usually give you free tickets too. Classes are 70cm 80cm 90cm and 1m

BSJA course are quite often easier and you know they are well built, ntohing to catch you out at BN level, but they do make them very wide. I think it is something like the width cna be 10% of the height of the fence wider than the height. So 3' fence can be 3'3" wide.
 
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Don't think you're allowed to do the Jump off if you're on a ticket for BSJA

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You can do the jump off, you just can't win anything - not even a rosette!
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Good way to make people join I guess...
 
Yeah, you can jump off just can't get placed - although when I used to compete on a ticket, I won a class and the show centre gave me a rosette anyway and let me do the lap of honour behind the BSJA members that were placed, so some centres may be nice
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The corses are a bit harder but easy enough. When i joined i was a bit nervous but now i am jumping 1.40 grand prixs you will enjoy it if you join.
 
The smaller BSJA courses IMO aren't harder than unaffiliated courses, they are built correctly. The distances are normally correct & in the lower classes they are quite rider/horse friendly. As has been mentioned the main difference is that they will be up to height & the spreads will be correct. You will find that a 90cm oxer will have a spread of 90cm, at unaffiliated courses they are normally narrower.

Don't join BSJA immediately, ride a few on a ticket to see how you get on. To register yourself & your horse will be around £160?, quite expensive, so go on a ticket to start with.

You could go to a show with someone & walk the course & you'll see what you will be expected to jump round.... have a go....you'll enjoy it.
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Hmm yeah could go and watch a comp, that's a good idea.
Will definitely not join because am already a member of BE and that was so expensive!
 
Why dont you wait until Pachesham start doing the BSJA this season, am I right in that you've been there before? They will do a 70/80 cm class in their intro schedule and I think they start April/May time.
 
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