How high...............???

[jumpingkatey]

How high are the jumps in beginner novice classes???
Oh and can I do just X-country and showjumping???

[CurlyWurlyRach]

do you mean british novice? the affiliated event? if it is then you have to do the dressage aswell and its about 80cm (correct me someone!)

[DavidH]

British Novice is a BSJA class. The lowest class for British eventing is Intro which is 95cm SJ and 90cm XC. A lot of places run Unaffiliated ODE which start as low as 50cm but yes in any ODE you have to do dressage.
If you dont want to do dressage then you will have to just enter SJ comps or hunter trials for XC

[nutkin]

affiliated showjumping for juniors at british novice is 85cm in the first round.If you are talking unaffiliated beginners jumping most shows start at around 1'6 or crosspoles.

[flintybaby]

Our unaffiliated club have novice jumps at 2ft and under for ponies and 2ft3 and under for horses. It depends on what your ability is and where you want to go. Maybe give us a bit more detail on your ability?

[jumpingkatey]

Well because me or Katey haven't done any showjumping before we are only going to do defo UNAFFILIATED showjumping and possibly an unaffiliated ODE but seeing as dressage isn't exactly my strongest point what is required from you for the dressage?
Do you have to go on the bit for the lower levels??

[nutkin]

some places run one day events with a walk trot test followed by the jumping at a height of no more than 2' possibly 2'3.They won't expect your horse to be on the bit but they will expect her to be going forwards freely.

[flintybaby]

Dressage at novice level is more than just about going on the bit, you and your horse need to be communicating well in all transitions and be balanced. Do you have lessons because your RI should be able to push you in the right direction.

[DavidH]

jumpingkatey - you should have a go at the MKEC mini ODE. Very simple dressage and low jumps. XC is held in the training area, not on the main course.