funny…when I was younger and jumping bigger fences, I remember thinking they looked like no big deal. Then I saw the SPEED at which they ran and thought…ok, that’s hard!
now…older, they look pleanty big although there are a few horses out there that I would jump them on.
GP jumping always looked huge. But back to the OP…it isn’t just sports. But all aspects. People think they can be the top of any career. Few can. Nothing wrong with dreaming big. Nothing wrong with aiming high. Just as long as one also sets realistic goals along the way…and doesn’t totally gamble their life and sets unrealistic expectations. Dreams are dreams…expectations are different.
I dream of winning the lottery…I DO buy a ticket…but my expectation is I will not win and I certainly do not Bank my living on winning.
One positive thing that today’s young aspiring riders have today is a wealth of opportunities to learn that in my era were not available. Even if you cannot physically get to an A barn, you could spend your whole day every day watching videos of the top jumper classes in Europe, watching clinics by George Morris and other top riders, not to mention all the options in other disciplines. Much of this is free and all of it can be had for the cost of one or two riding lessons per year. There are books full of information. If you can’t get saddle time, there are far more opportunities for physical training and physical fitness that can help you maximize every moment you are actually riding. If you want to be there ready to grab an opportunity, the more of this you’ve consumed, the better able you’ll be to stand out when the time comes.
There is something special though. Not everyone has/finds someone to foot the bill for all that. The point of many of these posts here is you have to have the work ethic, the passion, and the talent to do all that. You also need money. I have a very good friend who could have gone up the levels. She had it all except money. Money makes it hard. Money makes it doable.
To repeat what was said before, gone are the days of getting there like Margie Engle.
I think you have to look at this sport like a Rubik’s Cube. You have to turn it over, and turn it over, and move the pieces around and play with it until you find a place for yourself in it.
I think that applies to all of us at every level, and also that the winning combination for the puzzle will change with time.
Yes, I think those levels are well provided for, and they are divided between junior, ammie and open.
As noted also in the dressage forum, just restricting a class to ammies doesn’t level the playing field between the comfortably well off and the super rich who can buy ex Olympic mounts and pay trainers to keep them tuned up.
Btw we always talk as if the Olympics are the height of world class competition. They aren’t. The best from each country goes, but the best from each country is not the best in the world.
For instance the dressage FEI rankings are dominated by riders from Germany, the Netherlands, and Britain. The best Canadians and the Mexicans and the Japanese are a long way down the list. But they can send riders. The toughest dressage championship is probably one of the qualifiers in Europe.
Similarly the cross country courses at the Olympics and Pan Ams are not the hardest level of ranked courses. Otherwise not every country could participate.
I am sure there’s something similar with stadium jumping.
So- there are “Grand Prix” and GRAND PRIX. Grand Prixs are at a lot of horse shows- kind of like “Hunter Derbies”. Not being a jumper, I don’t know what qualifies to call it a Grand Prix, if any.
I had a 20 something who just started riding and grooming 2 years ago (with a jumper rider who does the GPs successfully) tell me her goal was to do GPs. I internally rolled my eyes and thought it was ridiculous (new rider, not a lot of money, no real clue what goes in to it etc etc). Not sure if the trainer gave her a hard check at some point, I know he talked about how much money he has invested not just in the horses. But I kind of feel bad I felt like that- so she has a goal. She doesn’t realize it is unrealistic and even if she did- who am I to be the squasher of dreams? Everyone has a dream or a goal, related to horses or not (mine- stay on top of my horse, don’t eat fences).
Some of the PC kids talk about making to that formerly known as Rolex. We don’t squash them either, guidance and some reality checks on how much goes into it - yes. Most come to the realization on their own that for the average rider- a real life, Devon like qualifying Olympic type GP isn’t in their future. No squashing needed- life and reality does it.
In order to have a “Grand Prix” title at a rated show, I believe the money awarded must be 25k. If it’s 10-les than 20, it’s a mini Prix and if it’s less than 10 it’s a classic. But I’d have to look the rules up to be certain.
I was a kid rider - from about 10 on up. My parents bought OK horses and then I was able to turn those ok horses into really good all around kid horses (one went on to be the sought after beginner lesson horse up into his late 20s). I had it all planned out, graduate high school, go to Germany as a working student to learn dressage and young horse starting, go to Ireland and learn to event (seriously they are freaking fearless!) and then come back to the states to open my own barn and develop young horses up to the 3 & 4 star events.
Then I had a kid, sold the horses, got married, had another kid, bought a house, had car payments, had daycare payments. You get the picture. Grown up life stuff.
Eventually was given an amazing young horse (my boss had horses and wanted to downsize) not broke beautiful paint gelding. Brought him to an amazing trainer to help me start. Turned out the horse was not broke because he was a complete and total D**k! He learned early that he was big and used it to drag everyone around. Someone who was paid to start him about 6 months before I got him ear twiched him to get the bridle on so he would Flip The Fk Out. Took about 3 months to be able to put the bridle on. He was going to be my big derby horse - I had the shadbelly all picked out. Got him broke, went to a show and he broke me. shattered my leg and took me out of the saddle for a year. Sold him, bought an amazing mare, ended up moving for a job and sold the mare.
Now my goal is to get back in the saddle sometime this year.
Do I still dream about riding the International Derby or a 3* event - yes. However I also know that I am about 2 years of hard core riding and a good horse away from even showing at the 2’6" classes and those jumps are bigger now that I’m broken and 40 than they were when I was fit and 16.
So what do I do until I can get back on a horse? Dream shop on BigEq and critique the heck out of the riders in the classes that I watch online (stop ducking!!! stop pinching with you knees!!! Dont you dare swing that freaking leg back!!!). I also like to pick out that dream farm and ask my husband if he has an extra $4m in his pocket that I dont know about. (seems like the answer is either no stop it or whats for dinner)
If only I had an alter :)… Last summer I showed my greenish mare in an adult “cross pole” division at 47, after years and years out of the show ring in my first show in 25 years over fences. We were “cross pole champions” and I didn’t collect my ribbons or post about it on FB ( especially after the 9 year old who almost kicked my butt mom posted she was reserve out of "hard competition. Please pass me my wine…) Watch out people- this year it is the 2 foot, aiming for the 3 foot- no kids classes for me- too risky. #goingplaces
Our local show circuit (Horse Shows in the Park) calls their cross rail jumper class the “Chicken Little” jumpers. They also have an 18" class that they call the “Henny Penny” jumpers."
USHJA/JP-122 Standards: Any class offering $25,000 or more in prize money must be offered at one of the following standards delineated below: Regional, American, National, or High Performance. Heights alone do not apply to these classes and the standard must be clearly stated in the prize list. Competitions must apply to the Jumping Sport Committee for permission to offer $25,000 or more in prize money in any class if it does not meet one of the following:
JUMPER DIVISION
a. Open Regional Standard: 1.35m - 1.40m with spreads to 1.55m, excluding Triple Bar and Water Jump. At least 6 Verticals and 4 Oxers must be set at 1.40m. The maximum spread for the Triple Bar is 1.85m, and the maximum spread for the Water Jump is 3.60m.
b. Junior, Amateur Owner, Amateur, or Young Rider Regional Standard: 1.25m - 1.30m with spreads to 1.45m, excluding Triple Bar and Water Jump. At least 4 Verticals and 4 Oxers must be set at 1.30m. The maximum spread for the Triple Bar is 1.65m, and the maximum spread for the Water Jump is 3.60m.
c. American Standard: 1.40m - 1.45m with spreads to 1.60m, excluding Triple Bar and Water Jump. At least 4 Verticals and 2 Oxers must be set at 1.45m. The maximum spread for the Triple Bar is 1.80m, and the maximum spread for the Water Jump is 3.80m.
d. Open National Standard: 1.40m - 1.50m with spreads to 1.70m, excluding Triple Bar and Water Jump. At least 4 Verticals and 2 Oxers must be set at 1.50m*. The maximum spread for the Triple Bar is 2.00m, and the maximum spread for the Water Jump is 4.00m. *If conditions warrant (deterioration of footing, inclement weather, insufcient lighting, fewer than 10 entries at the time declarations are due), the Course Designer after consultation with Management and Judges, may use a 5cm variance up or down for these 6 required efforts.
e. Junior, Amateur Owner, Amateur, or Young Rider National Standard: 1.35m - 1.40m with spreads to 1.60m, excluding Triple Bar and Water Jump. At least 4 Verticals and 3 Oxers set at 1.40m. The maximum spread for the Triple Bar is 1.80m, and the maximum spread for the Water Jump is 3.90m
f. Open High Performance Standard: 1.45m - 1.60m with spreads to 1.80m, excluding Triple Bar and Water Jump. At least 2 Verticals must be set at 1.60m, and at least 4 Oxers must be set at 1.50m+*, excluding Triple Bar and Water Jump. The maximum spread for the Triple Bar is 2.20m, and the maximum spread for the Water Jump is 4.50m. *If conditions warrant (deterioration of footing, inclement weather, insuf cient lighting, fewer than 10 entries at the time declarations are due), the Course Designer after consultation with Management and Judges, may use a 5cm variance up or down for these 6 required efforts.
g. Junior, Amateur Owner, Amateur, or Young Rider High Performance Standard: 1.40m - 1.50m with spreads to 1.70m, excluding Triple Bar and Water Jump. At least 4 Verticals and 2 Oxers must be set at 1.50m. The maximum spread for the Triple Bar is 2.00m, and the maximum spread for the Water Jump is 4.20m. BOD 1/14/17 Effective 12/1/17
There’s no USHJA rule governing what you call an unrated class, even if it’s at a rated show. But if it’s a USHJA rated show, rated jumper class, and you’re offering over $25k you have to follow the specs above.
who can buy ex Olympic mounts and pay trainers to keep them tuned up.