More BSJA questions! Class tickets...

[Santi]

I'm getting the nerve up to go and try a class near us. In another thread someone suggested using class tickets to try a few classes before joining to see which class is best/my level etc.

My question is say i am happy in Novice and then i want to join the BSJA do i have to say i am competing in Novice and stay there, or can i choose to try a Discovery one sometimes instead? Do you have to move up through the classes in order?

I went round to look at a couple of local shows last summer and some of the non-bsja local shows had appalling SJ courses in tiny rings. I went to a BSJA one too and it looked like a lovely course, ok it looked a bit scarey and big but the horses seemed to get round it nicely, i suppose its the difference in course building.

[DavidH]

You can compete at any level you want to provided horse has not won too much money for the class. You dont specify what level you compete at when joining BSJA but horse is graded based on BSJA winnings (or age if imported horse)

[helenc]

Yes the novice classes should all be very flowing courses & the distances will all be set out correctly for the average striding horse.

You can jump ANY class when you're on a ticket & then if you join the BSJA you can jump any class providing your horse hasn't won too much money for that class. You don't have to move up the classes in order but it makes sense to do so. Once you're happy competing at BN & Disc then it is only normal to go on to do Newcomers & then Foxhunter classes (if your horse is good enough of course).

There are now also the amateur classes from 90cm - 120cm - the courses tend to be a little more on the difficult side - tighter turns & more difficult combinations but all the distances should still be correct

[Santi]

Thanks, and for the info on the 'amateur' classes, i'll avoid those for a while!