first time

[stephydoo]

i have never been to a show in my life not even to watch
my horse gymy however had been there done it and bought the t shirt before i got him
next summer i would like to do a few small sj shows but dont have clue what to expect, wear, do etc they will only be local shows for fun

[showjumperchick]

hmm, where to start! ok,for local shows you wont need to be bsja registered, but might need to be a member of whichever local club is organising the show. there is usually a clear round where you can go round the course at whatever height you want and wont get eliminated whatever you do, sorta like a practise class. the class are usually split ponies and horses and into novice, intermneiate and open sections and sometimes a speed or novelty class ( acumulator/ pairs etc). im not too clued up on unaffiliated but id expect a novice horse class to be about 2ft 6 and the open 3ft - 3ft 3. i always try to get there at least an hour before my class so im not rushing, and i would advise you always to use studs, as gymy will lose confidence if he's slipping. there may or may not be a practice jump but i jump a cross, 2 small uprights, 2 medium uprights. 1 huge upright, 2 small spreads, 2 big spreads and then a big upright again. threse a bell or a hooter to tell you when to start your round, and if you go clear you'll have to do the jump off ( against the clock over a shortened and raised course) learn which jumps are in the jump off as soon as you go clear and look for short cuts and tight turns you can make to save time.
as far as dress goes, local shows are fairly relaxed but - an up to standard hat in a dark colour, a black, blue or tweed jacket, shirt and tie/ stock in white, cream or another pale colour. white , beige or cream johds, and black boots. keep hair tidy and neat.
gymy -can wear any suitable bridle, but coloured tack will be frowned upon, a gp or jumping saddle and protective boots if needed. coloured numnahs are ok for sj but girth are usually black or brown. phew!!!!!!!!!!

[DITZ]

I found the hardest part was to find out where the shows are in the first place so if anyone knows of any good websites let me know.

Showjumperchick : do you HAVE to do the jump off?

Stephydoo : Best to start with clear round jumping classes as sjowjemperchick says, they are no pressure relaxed fun events with the advantage that you can attempt a jump as often as you wish if you get a refusal for example and the organisers will usually help you out by lowering it if you get really stuck. I dont even think there is a dress code either so its a great way of finding out whether you are going to enjoy it before you go out and buy kit.

[showjumperchick]

clear round is definately the best way to start, as ditz said. we have done mainly clear rounds this year with a 4yr old pony as you can do each jump more than once so he actually learns something. re the jump off, it is the norm yo participate if you go clear, but if you dont want to make sure you tell the steward before they work out the order of competitors in the jump off. you are perfectly entitled to do the jump off at a normal pace and take the long routes, just for experience so dont feel that you have to whizz round.

[DITZ]

Cool you had me worried there! Having done a clear round last month I am going again tonight and am hoping to do the novice class straight after if there are no problems.

[showjumperchick]

good luck. where are you off to tonight? i hardly ever go fast in jump offs, my 5yr old is a bit of a prima donna and a typical chestnut mare, so she bucks and squeaks her way round without me pushing her! the last thing my dad says before i go in the ring for the jump off is always " just go for a nice clear, thats the most important thing". fortunately all the young horse classes arent against the clock anyway, so there will be no high speed jumping for me!

[jUmPingIsLifE]

do you have a friend that shows? if you do it would help loads to go to a couple with her as her helper! you could learn what you need and what goes on and all that stuff.

[DITZ]

Sorry showjumperchick, just read your post. I was supposed to be going to Selston RC (Mansfield) but crappy horse refused to load so ended up just going to watch instead which was actually very useful as it made me realise a few things - a) no-one laughs or tuts at you as you imagine they are doing when you have a bad jump/refusal/run out etc, in fact on the contrary people are willing you to get round, and also that my standard is actually as good as other peoples. Having only had the one experience there (which was I thought dire), it seems I was on a par with the rest so I felt much better.

I am going to Rearsby on Sunday - is that any good as I see its near you?

[showjumperchick]

and then i missed your reply coz i was too busy clipping evil horses!!!!rearsby is only just up the road from me, i used to do their shows when i was on little ponies. the indoor is really nice but the warm up is a bit small. i only do bsja now so not bin for ages, so it might have changed. the only bad thing bout bsja is that it can be a bit bitchy and full of groups of people who only talk to/ help each other, unaff is definately more friendly! cant believe you missed the show, naughty horsey! is he / she only young or just naughty? mine is really good, tows me up the ramp at a canter and jumps all the way to the bottom on the way off!

[DITZ]

He is just a stubborn little bleeder. He's 15 and I havent had any problems loading him in the past (except when I had a single rear load/unload which he flatly refused so I had to buy a double) but he's usually OK. However he is stabled now and all the other horses had been fed and he was waiting for his so took real exception to the fact that instead of giving him his tea we were trying to load him! Tut! In hindsight I should have tried to get him in with his tea in a bucket but we battled the hard way with 3 of us and a lunge line and we all lost in the end so he went back in the stable without his tea. I tried him again the following morning and he again refused but eventually went in by using the feed bucket and moving it further and further in each time. Fingers crossed for Sunday morning though hey!

[showjumperchick]

cheeky boy! my mare sometimes stops at the bottom of the ramp and stares into the lorry with a vacant expression on her face, but as soon as my dad says " lunge line" she leaps up the ramp!lol! do you do bsja? or just unaff?

[DITZ]

No just unaff at the mo. Those bsja jumps look way to big for a rookie like me! Rearsby will only be my 2nd show and in fairness I only did the clear round at the first one so it will actually be my first 'competition'! We have only been jumping together since summer and altho an oldie he has never jumped before and me also being an oldie (well 32) not jumped before either. It has at times been really hard work as he had no confidence to begin with and just rushed them but patience and perserverence have been worth while as he is tackling them nicely now. He has a tendency to lean on the inside rein if I use his normal french link snaffle but after a little experimentation have discovered that using a pelham has great results as he really respects it.

The first show I did we did OK, knocked 1 pole down but it was all at breakneck speed which wasnt ideal and was really difficult to control cos of this leaning thing but fingers crossed I have that sussed now so Rearsby should be good.

Just one Q about the clear round thing I want to ask you because I watched the clear round at Selston last week and they seemed to go round in a different order - is that right, can you choose your own course?

[showjumperchick]

argh, sorry bout my delayed response, again! i ride 5 till 8.30 and then do the yard so i always forget to check my emails till i get to work the next day! re clear round, i have seen that at some shows, it depends on how strict the organisers are, i would check before your turn. iv not done unaff for years so its prob best if you check with a steward, but usually there is a set cource even for the clear round. i have the opposite problem with my mare, altho she's only 5 she is super confident and really 'buzzy' - a true chesnut mare! when i finally get my pics from the festival ill post them on nr so that everone can admire the mental little madam!

[DITZ]

I am not expecting to get to the jump off but always worth checking just in case. Do post some pics when you can!