Show Jumping

[Zanie]

Can you please please please tell me the dos and donts in show jumping because im in my first ever showjumping comp:eek: and i am DESPERATE to know how. I will ask my RI aswell but i need as much as poss PLEASE:o

I also need to know what to do in refusal ect. ect

[ponylover88]

Id say, dont jump any bigger than your confidence/capability will let you.
Also, dont fall off. ;)
If you do get a refusal, make the decision to kick on there and then and make the horse jump from a standstill OR take it away, reestablish your trot/canter and ride strongly into the fence.
Make sure you know the course well, and know the route you and your horse will take. Walk the course (do as i say, not as i do ;)) as if you were riding the horse, take the corners as if you were getting the horse around them, and dont take shortcuts when on foot to get to the next fence unless your planning on riding them.
Cant think of any others, be positive and go clear! :D

[Zanie]

thankyou im scared stiff as noggin123 might tell you tho still lol

[Ross]

Don't forget to breathe :)

DO walk the course properly, walking the line you're going to ride
DO go through it after walking and make sure you've got it firmly in your mind
DO try and watch a couple of people ride it, and note anything they have trouble with
DON'T let other people's problems wind you up - just use them to recognise that a particular line is causing problems, for example.
DO speak to the stewards and announce your presence, and check when you are due to go (you may need to put your number down when you're ready)
DO warm up properly on the flat first, so that you horse is responsive and ready
DON'T stand around just before your round and let him go to sleep!
DO do enough jumping to have him going forward and ready to take on the size of fences you're jumping, but
DON'T jump him in the collecting ring so that he's fed up and doesn't want to do it
DO enjoy it - remember to smile :)

Ross

[Zanie]

ok breathe in and....out:) lol I am going to try and do it lol:cool:

[*bontastic*]

omg i have a show 2day and im soooooooooo scared :S

i dont want to go my stomach is filled with butterflies :(:):):(

[BeachRiding]

Good luck both of you! Remember to breath!

[DITZ]

i read somewhere that you dont have to go in when you are called if you are not ready. Is that right?

[Ross]

Not for straight show jumping. Don't know about BSJA but for unaffiliated you normally put your number down on a board, and that's the order you jump in, so you have to judge when to put your number down, if you see what I mean - if there are already 20 numbers up, it's best to put yourself down, as that is ample time to warm up, but if there are only 3 you might want to wait for a bit. You are expected to go in when you are called, and start your round, normally within so many seconds of the bell ringing. Same will apply for a jump off - they will tell you the order you are jumping in (may be first round order, but more normally it's drawn).

It's eventing where you don't have to go before your time, though if they're running early they might ask if you're ready. If not, it's fine to say so.

Ross

[phyzelda]

Hope all goes well today!

[DITZ]

must be affiliated then. I just read Oliver Skeetes book and he was relaying the story of when he was with his trainer and she went off somewhere whilst he was warming up, then they called him and he went in and made a complete mess of it and his trainer gave him what for for going in without her saying he should have waited till he was back.

Seems odd to me, how can they organise it?

[LORRI]

Learn the course inside out! Go through it over and over, dont be rushed, leave early, get there in plenty of time when you think you know the course close your eyes and picture it. It may seem drastict but believe me, if you do what i dont (above) you'l do great!!!

My trainer brought me down 2 classes because I arrived at the yard late ( and sick), therefore m poor horse was badly turned out, i was a mess, i nearly missed my class, got there just in time, went in (halfly warmed up) tricky course (i swear those ones make no sense!) got lost twice! I have it on video too but you have to mute it, unless of course you want to hear my trainer "stupid f*****g girl" etc... Fortunally it was a training show, if not I dont think I'd vever be brought again!!! I highly recommend you dont try it!

Ditz...
Some shows are really unorganised, they usually call you out, how many are before you in the practise arena but if you're not ready they sometimes get fed up and ask anyone to come in! They usually get stricker as the height goes up, but if you aren't ready you can ask someone to move you down a few if there's a spare slot and tehy inform the judg on the microphone!