Hi-tech Laser Beam Showjumping?

[funkyfilly_sos]

http://search.empics.co.uk/urn/650362.html

http://search.empics.co.uk/urn/650363.html

These lionks go to pictures of Helena Persson testing 'the new, modern, to be in-thing' of the showjumping world - laser Beam Jumps. These are pictures of her riding her two horses Classic H (the grey) and Derfin (the Bay) at the Djursholm Areana in Sweden.

They are basically jumps without poles but lasers instead, and when the beam is touched an alert goes to the judge's box and is counted as a pole down. (Its gunna be very tricky to get clear rounds in a competition when these are used!)

Apparently once more tests have been done you'll be seeing these fences as joker fences and fences at Olimpia. I was amazed that even showjumping can be hi-tech now-a-days! :p But my main point in starting this thread was to see what other NR members think.

Wont it make a clear round harder?
Would anyone of you's try them out?
Would anyone happily compete in a competition with these modern jumps?

And finally, what do you think of these jumps? A bit too hi-tech or do you think they will be great?

Personally I think they're a bit too extreme esspecially since I'm struggling to jump poles never mind laser beams! :D

Thanks for any replies!
xxxKellyxxx

[flintybaby]

OOh they would make it very hard! I rattled a few at a course yesterday but they stayed on! Looks brill though and think of all the backs it would save!!

[CurlyWurlyRach]

:eek:
Id be done for if i pointed Wurly at those lasers!!!

[horses4eva888]

wow those look well good! but kind of anoying because you can't just rattle them and them stay on it will be either be clear it or knock it not just slightly nudging it (not good in higher and highers!:D) Admitedly they would be more safe but where do the wires go?

[Cochise]

Whoah, one of the most exciting things about show jumping is rattling a fence and the whole "will it fall?" exhiliration. ;)

Perhaps they're looking at ways to save the environment? Less plastics and cutting down trees?

[RachelEvent]

many horses are bound to discover that they can go straight through them!

[helenc]

Those pics are almost 4 years old & I haven't seen those jumps at Olympia yet ;)

Here's hoping they don't ever get used in comps here - don't know about you guys but i would find them pretty hard to practice at home! Don't think my jump building expertise stretch to laser beams!

[Holly B]

A bit too high-tech for me, I like the way traditional courses look better! Pretty cool though, I suppose... :D

[Keket]

While I think it would be great for high level competition, to really test whether a horse will jump anything, it's no good for training. How can you train a horse to jump if there's nothing to jump? I'd worry about the sensitivity of them too. If a horse kicked up a chunk of dirt and that crossed the laser, it would count as a rail down even though the horse cleared it. Likewise for a swish of the tail.

[Gracie]

I think it was pretty neat looking, though I like the looks of traditional fences better.

I think having one fence like that in a course would be good to really see if the horse could jump anything, like someone else said above.

But would those work well in the day light?

[Elvengirl]

That would be fun to try and jump! One question though, how do they get the lazer to show up without smoke or dust and in the bright lights of an arena? Would be cool as a joker fence but you couldn't jump it all the time, the horses wouldn't respect it, no ouchies!

[cloang]

I love high tec goodies but how would you practice at home:confused: , can't see anyone affording those to practice with.

[jenren!!]

Thats bizarre :eek:.

Although quite a good idea, yet it would be expensive to practise over those at home :eek:.

[mu0ljk]

Be a laugh to try it but it wouldn't take long for the horse to suss out that they don't actually have to jump it!

How embarrassing would that be!? Go to a competition and your horse merrily canters through all the jumps!! Hehe!! :p

[jenren!!]

Hehe, many horses can see through these things...:D. Ah well, at least you dont get any injuries out of it by knocking poles down :D.

[Luv 2 Trot]

I dont jump, but this sounds pretty odd. How would the horse know to jump the laser instead of run through it? I agree with Cloang, how would you be able to practice and train your horse to jump over instead of run through?

[Herbie's mummy]

There a load of poop LOL

[Fancy_mover23]

Hey now....this really sucks...I hope they don't use these in any of my shows. Though I guess it would be more convenient when a rail was knocked down, because no one would have to run in to put it back up. I doubt any of my horses would jump those. SPOOKY!!!

[virtuallyhorses]

It also assumes that we know enough about horse's eyesight to be able to assess how they see the lasers. Unfortunately we know relatively little about how horses see. We have a bunch of assumptions, some old wives tales and some theories but not many hard facts.

[Lucy J]

i like the idea of it from a safety perspective, but i doubt it will ever work!