Why do fun rides put jumps right at the start of a ride?

Birker2020

Birker2020

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The last two fun rides my friends and I have been on have had jumps right at the start of the ride. As I don't jump it doesn't worry me but even I, as a dressage fanatic, know that you are meant to warm up before jumping! I'm going on another ride next weekend which I've been on about a dozen times before and know for a fact has jumps at the start of the ride. I know the organisers and stewards give up a lot of time to help with the rides and I am not criticizing the rides themselves as they are wonderful fun but I just can't understand why this happens unless its easier to locate the jumps near the start for logistical reasons, although there are jumps usually in different areas along the ride, not just one set if that makes sense. I don't feel it gives a good impression to the young riders that its okay to just hop on your horse and start jumping it 500 yards from the start of the ride!
 
Logistical and safety usually. If people are jumping near the start and an accident occurs it is easier to get help to them/loose horse tends to head to boxes not road etc. If I want to jump I usually warm up first and any young riders should be accompanied by an adult who you'd hope would know that.
 
Hmm, never really thought about it but have been on a few rides and the placement of jumps can be a bit haphazard! Suspect it's more to do with logistics of having them accessible and near where people can put them up. And I've seen people warm up before a ride so they could jump near the start.

For me, I tend to want my horse to settle a bit (and I can be a bit nervous!) so I don't jump early on but I will have a pop once we're settled and nearer the middle/end. Milton Keynes ride has the xc course at the end and the problem there is the horses get tired so can't take full advantage.

But on the whole I just like being out and about so I don't really mind what we jump. Always love a nice fun ride. Am doing South Ox to help us recover our jumping mojo!
 
I remember doing the Newmarket Macmillan ride and the 1st gallop was less than 1/2 from the start. There was no one I saw warming up beforehand, but you did have a choice between this gallop and the longer walking route (via a grass airfield, complete with landing planes).

The rides I've done up here where they are not 'fixed' (like Somerford or Kelsall) have had only little jumps at the beginning (as in 30cm logs) and I just figured that they were within sight of the organisers who could then make a note to keep an eye on if there were issues at the beginning.
 
It's for crazy people like me who hack there! Horse is warm and ready to go so why not get jumping straight away?
Certainly at farm rides it's commonly for liveries who might school and then go for a blast afterwards. What drives me nuts is when there are only a handful of beginner jumps on a ride and they're all within the first 1/2 mile (Somerford used to be classic for this) so unless you were confident over 2'6"+ you might not jump at all.
 
I suspect ester is right. All the fun rides we have done - and we have done a lot over the years! have space to warm up and a couple of practice fences before the first "on course" fence. I don't think anyone is advocating going straight into a jump with no preparation at all.

Having also volunteered as a fence steward at a fair few rides - most of the problems will happen at the first one or two fences. If it is nice and close to the main block the horse can be caught easily and the paramedics don't have so far to go. It is also quite good for the course photographer who has less far to walk to change SD cards.
 
Shay said:
Having also volunteered as a fence steward at a fair few rides - most of the problems will happen at the first one or two fences.
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yes how true, the air ambulance was despatched on Sunday to a rider who fell off right at the start over the first jump.Ironically the ride was in aid of the Air Ambulance which is such a good cause and they had a model air ambulance by the food and entry tents to show people what they looked like inside but it was only a model and not a serviceable flying machine.I believe the rider made a full recovery thank goodness.
 
Fun rides start somewhere with loads of space for parking and administration. Almost certainly a horse friendly estate ,probably with existing jumps .Hence you jump straight away. A bit of roads and tracks to the next estate and ...more jumps. Its simply the way it happens.
 
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