Finally in the Grand Prix ring....any advice?

[blueequestrian]

Hey! I'm so excited, I'm finally doing the Prix's and will be in my first Grand Prix in about a month. I have waited for this for so long, if anyone in here does Prix's and has any advice to share that would be great, other than that wish me luck, lol YAY.

[BackintheSaddle]

How exciting to be riding at such a high level. I don't know how you all get over those courses. If I somehow managed to stay on over the jump, I'd never be able to successfully navigate the course. Good luck to you and your mount

[Calsanjo]

Hello

No idea about your show jumping over there! Is it just the same as GP here?

Tell us more!

[blueequestrian]

Okay... well, yes I do believe it is the same as it is over there. usually 5'6 minimum height. I just bought a new horse in April, he is actually not what I had in mind at all when I was searching for a new high level jumper... I was LOOKING for a hanoverian preferably and really wanted on by Fuerst Gotthard, fortuantely, I DID get one by him, and am VERY happy with this boy but he is only a yearling, so was on the prowl for another jumper to fill in while he was growing up (cuz my mare that I had been jumping couldn't do GP) so ended up getting a TB gelding...he is TINY... 16.0 hh even and dark bay, his name is Alpha Assembly but is now showing under Louis H. The last show he wasn't feeling well so I ended up just doing a level 2 class (3' - 3'3" ) I believe, (and had to scratch my open jumper class, which is right below the GP's) but it was for his well being. So...I have a GP entered in Texas in about a month and we are set and ready for it, I just can't wait!

[Silver1]

er...I wouldn't define sixteen hands as tiny! :eek:

[Nikita88]

16 hh is tiny? since when? haha. I take it my mare couldnt do the grand prix level, she is 15hh...that must be really tiny to you. Im only in training level and jumping 3'3 :( sorry im not in grand prix so i cant give you any advice on riding grand prix...but im only 16 so i still got alot of years left to learn :) What always helps me when i go out in the ring is, i dont expect myself to place that way i get all worked up about it. So go out there and dont expect yourself to place...just have fun!! you know you can do it. You dont need a judge to tell you that. If you do place...YOU DID GREAT! the judges loved you.
Well good luck with Grand Prix!!! wish i could be that high.
xoxo
*Jen*

[IrisSilverMoon]

Originally posted by Nikita88
16 hh is tiny? since when? haha. I take it my mare couldnt do the grand prix level, she is 15hh...

Little Stroller was a pony and did Grand Prix...he even went to the Olympics...:) ;)

[blueequestrian]

Well.....oh no wasn't saying a little horse couldn't jump.... I have a 14.2 hh jumper who can do 4'9 (which isn't GP but still very high for her) no no, I'm just saying first off I breed shires so 17.0hh with them is too small to be competitive, they need to be at least 17.1 or 2 and closer to or over 18.0 is what you REALLY need. so everything under 17.2 looks little, lol but the reason I wanted a taller jumper is because I'm 5'9 so do better on a horse w/ more neck to get in a 3-point over a fence basically. My hanoverian is the one will be tall, he is 16 months and 15.3hh even......vet certified, I plan to take him to college with me, he will be just the age to start under saddle when I head off so that will be good. Going to bed guys! ttyl.

[casey]

Originally posted by blueequestrian
usually 5'6 minimum height.

Thats 1.68cm approx, minimum. You sure you have that right??:eek:

[IrisSilverMoon]

Originally posted by casey
Thats 1.68cm approx, minimum. You sure you have that right??:eek:

cm? or do you mean m? 5'6" is five feet six inches.

Grand Prix Jumps aren't minimum 5'6" they are maximum 5'6", minimum is about 4'6". width of jumps ranges from about 5-7 feet.

[casey]

Sorry love I mean't 1.68m.

It seems rather large. Anyway, no offence but I think you'll be in alot of trouble if your jumping that level and asking for advice.;)

EDIT: Because, not only can I get my measurements right. I can't spell either.:D

[blueequestrian]

five feet six inches is what I meant by 5'6" and I didn't actually even mean to put I meant 5' 0" - 5'9" with spreads 5 - 7 feet. There we go :D lol. No, 4'6" is the open and jr/aa classes in the shows I'm in.

I asked for advice from other GP riders.....wasn't taken in a bad way BUT.... I don't htink there is anything wrong w/ me asking for advice from someone else if they showed that level, I'm 15 and just started in the Prix's. Many GP riders still have trainers who help them. But anway, thanks for writing you guys.

[IrisSilverMoon]

well I'm only going off of the FEI rulebook here, but since its the "industry Standard" for all GP competitions this is what they say about height...

Under no circumstances, except in Puissance, in Power
and Skill Competitions or in a High Jump Record may any
obstacle exceed 1.70 m in height. Spread obstacles must not
exceed 2 m in spread with the except ion of triple bars which may
have a maximum spread of 2.20 m. This applies also in the case
of one or of several jump-offs. The water jump may not exceed
4.50 m in spread including the take off element with the exception
of the water jump for the Long Jump Record.
that it requires an effort both in spread and in height.

*****NC doesn't even exceed 1.6m with minimum of 1.3m

are you doing a Power class?

keep in mind the 4'6" i was reffering to was only a minimum height, most jumps are going to be closer to the maximum, but over water or spread they must take them down considerably.

there's nothing wrong with asking advice from GP riders, most of us aren't at that height, I would expect pretty much the same thing you've been doing all along. But read the FEI rulebook, its extensive, there are even rules about how high your warm-up fence can be...:eek:

[blueequestrian]

Okay, well thank you (seriously) for the information, I must have been off a little. Yes, on fences w/ wider spreads like you said they do have to be lowered considerably.........kinda forgot to mention that. on the information above I was just giving it for one in-particular show, which is the National Western in Denver, but I wasn't sure of the exact heights in general.....so thanks again! :D


So far as warm-ups, yup, thats gets crazy there are people out there monitoring your warm-up, however, no matter what class I'm in I never do higher than a 3'9 fence, the horse knows how to jump the higher fences of that classes they are in, so warmup is just what it is said......to get them warm and ready to compete.

I think the first one I'll be at is in Texas, then possibly (depends on a trip that my mom may or may not be going on) the American Royal mini prix&/or grand prix......and then the National Western for sure. Wish us luck you guys. THANKS

[Tinkerbell]

Good luck with the competing. Going back to someone's point... there was a 14.2hh competing at Olympia quite a few years ago, but possibly before my time ;)

One question: I had always been led to believe you had to be aged at least 16 before competing at GP level, according to FEI Rules (unless you're having a birthday before you get there - in which case happy birthday!)

[berties-girl]

Tinkerbell, the little horse i think you are thinking of is Stroller, here is his profile,

STROLLER, a 14.1+ Connemara half-bred became the only pony to have ever competed in an Olympic Games. He was a member of the British Team competing in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, ridden by Marion Coakes. Bill Steinkraus and SNOWBOUND won the Gold Medal while Marion and STROLLER won the Individual Silver Medal, only four points behind Steinkraus. He was one of only two horses to jump a clear round in the entire 1968 Olympics, clearing a puissance fence of 6' 10".

So all you little ones hold your heads up and be proud:D

Bluequestrian, enjoy yourself and i hope you do well.

[Tinkerbell]

Thanks BG - I couldn't remember if it was the one ISM was referring to or not! Obviously, they have Puissance at Olympia as well so I got muddled in my mind! D'oh! And yes, it was way before my time... ;) :D

[berties-girl]

Just for reference it was before my time too:D :D

[Nikita88]

You been riding for 8 years....i been riding for 4 and im no where near grand prix. My lesson teacher rode pretty much all her life and just got to grand prix not to long ago, she is an A something in Pony club. And you do have to be 16 to show at Grand Prix level, so no offense but i find it kind of hard to believe your at grand prix level...i could be wrong and things are different where ever your from.

[Piaffe]

Could this be another troll?!;)

[shaka]

Originally posted by Piaffe
Could this be another troll?!;)

Precisely what I was thinking:D

[T-bred]

what's a troll???

Anna

[chev]

Can't comment on the apparent contradictions in the jumping aspect of this thread, but however unlikely it seems that blueequestrian has attained this level of riding it's not impossible. I think it's actually pretty rude to satrt accusing people of being a troll just because they seem to have achieved more than some of us. I've been riding for over twenty years and can't jump 2'6 even - doesn't mean no-one else can either.

blueequestrian - I am so jealous of your vanners! The Irish Cob Society is such a new society it's fantastic to see good quality vanners so popular in the US too. (Mind you, when I was looking for a Vanner last year and found that the horse I paid £195 for would cost me nearer £1000 now because they're so popular I wasn't so happy!! ;) ) Clononeen horses are beautiful horses.

[Nikita88]

Chev, im not trying to put her down 'cause she is higher then me. i really dont care, i know there are people better then me. Im just saying...i find it hard to believe she is in grand prix. because 1. you have to be 16 years of age to show grand prix...atleast thats what i hear. and 2. my lesson teacher was an EXCELENT rider, and still is just the best...and she just got to grand prix after many years of riding. she started when she was 10 and just reached grand prix at 30 years of age....i find it hard to believe she got to grand prix in only 8 years. IF by chance she is telling the truth, good for her!! thats awesome.

[Elvengirl]

I'm in Canada and I am pretty sure you have to be 16 in order to compete grand prix. I know that we have a couple riders in the 19-21 age range competing grand prix and that is considered very young and their inexperience is definately apparent in comparison with older riders.

You would be considered quite a prodigy in Alberta, but I'm not sure what riders are like in the, I think it must be something in the water :)!

I feel that most 15 year old riders are not mentally disciplined enough to successfully negotiate a grand prix course, and I think it is amazing that you are able to do so! Good luck to you and make sure you post and tell us how it went.

BTW, your horse must be amazing! I love thoroughbreds, they have so much heart!

[chev]

Like I said, I can't comment on the Grand Prix stuff; don't know enough about it. What I think is both rude and unfair is accusing her of being a troll.

[Piaffe]

Oi Chev, lighten up - t'was only meant as a joke! - check the smiley after the comment.

This thread was getting way too heavy...... :rolleyes:

[Santorium]

Is you a troll Piaffe? ;)

[Piaffe]

What do you think? Should I take offense? :eek:

[Anth.P]

Papa was a trolling stone. :)

[chev]

:p

[Piaffe]

Originally posted by Anth.P
Papa was a trolling stone. :)

roflmao!!!!!:D

[chev]

Very troll... :D

[Piaffe]

Groan!:D

[shaka]

Good grief people!

[No_Angel]

Wasn't it Ellen Whitaker or someone who was 15 and was competing againt Michael and John Whitaker in high level competition. I thnk she won something but couldn't collect it because she was under age.

[Calsanjo]

Yes she won at Hickstead but wasn't actually allowed to compete for the money.

[Mazpup]

*cough* banter *cough*
Anyway all i can say is good luck and congratulations for getting to that level. I'm 16 and have been riding 8 years and was very pleased to be jumping about 2 foot 6 last night, but then again my horse was little above 14.2 :D

[Anth.P]

You should get that cough seen to, it seems to be very irritating.

[Piaffe]

I felt terribly sorry for liz Taylor in National Velvet when she fell off at the end of her race and was disqualified for being a girl......


How sexist.....:eek:

[Santorium]

Rules are rules Piaffe...

[Piaffe]

And Creme Eggs is Creme Eggs Santo.......;)

[laura jeanne]

blueequestrian, where in Texas will you be? Just asking because I'm in Houston.

[Santorium]

What've Eggs (Creme or otherwise) to do with rules P?

[Piaffe]

Nothing Santo, I just likes 'em.....:p

[Santorium]

Eggs?

[Piaffe]

just the Creme......;)

[Santorium]

http://www.stickergiant.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=y4591&AID=10273923&PID=1378525

[Piaffe]

erm - that didn't work......:p


now it does....:D

[Sunny D]

so how do you eat yours then?

[Piaffe]

I like mine down in one mate!:D

[Sunny D]

Blimey you must have a big mouth :D

[Sunny D]

I actually know someone who can fit a whole hens egg in their mouth, and shut it, without breaking the egg!!

sorry bit of useless information for you!

[Piaffe]

your friend must have an even bigger mouth!!:eek:

[Sunny D]

mmm. Dont like the idea myself - think of the hole where that egg has come from, and then you put it in the mouth:p

[Piaffe]

That could be said about many things, SD!!;)

Just wash it first!:D

[Sunny D]

:D ah yes, how true :p

[jUmPingIsLifE]

i don't know the rules about age now but i do know that ward mclain (top us showjumper) started grand prix at age 15. or at least i am pretty sure of it, i know i have heard it mentioned a couple times during differant competitions i have watched with him riding in it.

[Monty]

I'm closing this thread right now. The same members are repeatedly causing trouble, not only by being unpleasant towards other members, but also by diminishing threads into a load of nonsense. I don't need to tell you who you are, you know it very well. This won't be tolerated. The moderators will be reviewing the status some memberships in the very near future.