just strating x-country.

[Nikita88]

i have been riding dressage for 4 years, and i started hunter/jumper in April 2004, so the highest i ever jumped was about 2 feet...that may not be high for some, but for me its a big accomplishment! lol...i know b4 hunter/jumper shows i get really nervous, but im VERY nervous to start cross country with my 15hh mare. (she has been doing x-country b4). The jumps are so big and scary!!! my first cross country show is in august, im VERY nervous...its a cross country for beginners, so the jump doesnt go higher then 2'3. I've never jumped that high before so i got some work to do...but if anyone has a picture of a horse jumping 2'3 so i can atleast see what it looks like, that would be great :)
i just wanna know what to expect. Any tips would be awesome too.

*Jen*

[kedwards]

x-country jumping is pretty new to me too. From what I've seen so far the fences at the lower levels are often below their stated maximum. So, if it's max 2'3", many of them will be in the 2' range. However, you do have the added difficulty of dealing with varying terrain, up and downhill approaches, etc.

Here's a shot of a x-country jump that probably measures about 2'3" or 2'6" from the takeoff side.

[Tor&Warrior]

kedwards right most of the jumps will be around 2ft. They'll be pretty straight forward and not particually scary and wont ask the horse or rider any difficult questions so should ride easy.

These are a couple of photos from when we went schooling last year. These jumps are part of the course which is max 2ft6 so about the same as what your doing. Apart from the steps down that is, thats from the max 3ft. In the max 2ft6 class you would only have to walk in and walk out of the water not jump in or out.

Tyres (http://img32.photobucket.com/albums/v97/Flyte/Orion/Oriontyres.jpg)

Tyres are a pretty straight forward fence and are usually found at the start as a nice looking fence to settle the horse or at the end when the horse is tired. There not spooky looking and jump really well. Theses are 2ft3.

Water (http://img32.photobucket.com/albums/v97/Flyte/Orion/OrionWater.jpg)

Not every XC will have a water, but alot will so its best to check if it will so you can guarantee your horse will be ok with water.

Steps (http://img32.photobucket.com/albums/v97/Flyte/Orion/Orionstep.jpg)

There probably wont be steps into water but there still maybe steps. You may need to go up or down them or maybe even both, they'll be about this height but no bigger.

I always get nervous XC but it's great fun so just relax and enjoy it. Make sure you get there in plenty of time to let both you and your horse relax and take in the atmosphere. Keep at a steady speed, remember the most important thing is for you to stay safe and incontrol. Jump exactly as you would jump Show Jumps. The first time your best to go slower and come back happy, confident and safe!
Hope you enjoy it! Have a great time!
Torxx

[Nikita88]

Thanks to both of you!!! it really helped, i just wasnt sure what to expect out in the course with x-country jumps at 2'3-2'6. She was a gr8 cross country horse b4 we got her, so im pretty sure she will be okay with all of it, hopefully! she just isnt okay with anything that makes noises (like blue tarp, grain bags etc....the dirt kicks on it and makes noise) were getting over it though :)

Thought i should add you both look great and have very cute horses :)


Thanks again!!!
*Jen*

[kedwards]

Oh yes, her previous experience will be a great asset. If nothing else, you can figure that she's learned to balance herself galloping x-country and that she's at least seen these sorts of questions before.

Will you have a chance to school over a x-country course before the show?

By the way, despite being a very recent convert (Bud and I have had a total of 2 x-country course outings), I can tell that I'm already hooked. I think you'll love it. The jumps at our first and only (so far) actual event were very simple and inviting. For a ring rider like me, the terrain was definitely much more of an issue than the jumps. What seems simple on the flat, doesn't seem so simple when the landing aims downhill toward home, for example. But then, that's part of the fun. And it definitely gives you a good idea of where you need to continue schooling your horse, and where he or she is more trustworthy then expected.

Best of luck on your upcoming competition!

[Nikita88]

Yeah, the place i board her is a small barn...its just me and my friend with her horse and then the horses that the owner of the barn owns...so its really nice that its small cuz she has a cross country course, and jumps on the trails (you can go around them tho) so one of these days were going out on the cross country course.
Yea she LOVES cross country, in my hunter/jumper shows she thinks she has to gallop to the jumps, so we always do really good at the speed ones where your timed lol. i will probably end up being hooked too :) i always enjoy doing stuff like that lol...my mom is worried sick though, oh well...it what i wanna dolol
thanx for ** help....you could PM me if u wanted cuz it might be faster instead of keep having to put it up on here.

My show is saturday...ill be home next sunday but ill keep ya updated!

[tbone]

Good Luck at your show! The key to cross country is relaxing so that your horse will relax with cross country jumps...Be sure to get some pictures from your show so you can share them with us! :D

Also would you please refrain from using text talk(Example b4.) not everyone on here speaks english/text talk as a first language , and some cannot figure out text talk.

[Nikita88]

haha sorry, im a lazy typer and use it short like that...i just kinda figured everyone spoke english as there first language and would understand it, but guess not. Sorry again :) just happens sometimes, ill try harder.

*Jen*

[myhorserawks]

Awesome! Good luck at your show! I've always wanted to do x country but I dont really understand it, can anyone explain? it sounds really fun

[tbone]

Originally posted by myhorserawks
Awesome! Good luck at your show! I've always wanted to do x country but I dont really understand it, can anyone explain? it sounds really fun

Cross country is in a way jumping natural jumps.(Not all cross country courses are natural though.) You do a course of natural solid jumps.. It typically is judges by best time.( The person who does the course fastest.) The jumps can be things like fallen trees, ditches, logs, and stone walls. You might have to do steps and then go through water it really just depends on the course.

It is quite a lot of fun just remember not to let your horse get to carried away. (Have had it happen to the point of having no control at all.:rolleyes: )