The Sport We Love

[huntr_eq_blonde]

[QUOTE=chestnuthunter;7557636]
Yes, well, jumpingstarr actually does jump 4’. In your FB video, it appears to be about 2’6"-2’9".

Laurierace is the queen of COTH and she honors you simply by placing her regal eyes on your increasingly childish posts. As for the jab about her age, well, that’s just pathetic of you.[/QUOTE]

None of jumpingstarr’s videos that she posted in the links show her jumping 4’. The closest was 3’6" during the one line she did, as the pole was the same height was the upturned barrels, and I know upturned barrels aren’t 4’. Every other jump looks to be about 2’3". She seems like a lovely rider. In my video, only the last oxer was 4’.

[ynl063w]

[QUOTE=huntr_eq_blonde;7557617]
Maybe you never were good enough to jump 4’ and are jealous of those who can.[/QUOTE]

Even if we all humor you with your assertion that that fence is 4’, it’s the last fence in a well-measured GRID. I know 13 hand, 20 year old lesson ponies who could easily get themselves (and the beginner kid on their backs) out of one of those.

Take your silver spoon and dig your grave.

[chicagojumper]

[QUOTE=huntr_eq_blonde;7557617]
Maybe you never were good enough to jump 4’ and are jealous of those who can. [/QUOTE]

Pot, meet kettle. :lol:

Your eye is not solid enough to be jumping over 3’0. You could do some serious damage at 4’0 to a nice, honest horse that tries to jump his way out of some of those missed distances I saw in your videos. That’s probably one of the “holes” your trainer mentioned previously.

[Jo]

[QUOTE=Laurierace;7557599]
I take it back, you have been ripped off and led astray as you have obviously been told that 3ft was 4ft as evidenced by your video on Corey. If you do come back to riding you may want to bring your own yardstick.[/QUOTE]

I’m not much a fan of the pile on… except when it’s deserved.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202961837349471&set=vb.1309866928&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/kelsey.konz/media_set?set=vb.1309866928&type=2

[MHM]

Goodness gracious.

I would not touch the rest of this thread with a 20’ bamboo pole, but I will say:

From the videos I’ve seen, it is unbelievable how high the show rabbits can jump! If horses could jump that high in proportion to their size, the Grand Prix courses would be full of 15-20’ obstacles.

[Ammy_Owner]

OP, I tried to stay out of this thread but finally felt compelled to post.

I had a different reaction to your initial post than most people who have replied. While most seem to be shocked, or offended, I truly just feel sad for you. I have been afforded many things in my life and never knew how lucky I was and still am. I have owned and shown the made hunter, the green prospect, and the 4’+ horse that you seem to covet so much yet nothing brought me more joy than my stopper of a junior hunter. He was a legend of his time, tricolors at Devon and indoors, had been the best of the best in his prime. By the time he got to me he was fried, lied to and ruined. My parents bought me a lot of nice horses but they could not have afforded this one had he not been deemed trash by everyone else. I learned everything about him, I knew how our ride would go before I put a saddle on him. I respected him and wanted more out of him than bigger jumps or better ribbons. I spent a lot of time in the middle of oxers with that horse, but I was just honored to even sit on him. I did the junior hunters on him, sometimes successful, sometimes not. I fell a lot and some shows never made it beyond the first jump but he was my greatest teacher. My barn mates had great horses and when they would win or pin above me I was never jealous, why would I be? I had “the” horse and our small victories were more important to me than any ribbons. My proudest moments may have seemed so small to others compared to the ribbons I won on my other horses but I didn’t care. I’m so sorry that you don’t find joy in this sport because it can be so rewarding. If you put in the passion and hard work then you can never lose because you were there, you had the privilege to ride a horse which is more than most people have.

My horse is old now, retired in another state, I would give up everything I have now to be around him again. If I was given the option I would walk that horse on trails for the rest of my life and never jump another jump, being on him would be enough. Find something that you love and give it everything you have, based on your posts I don’t think riding is for you. You have to love the animal more than you love the sport or else this will never work. Best wishes.

[jumpingstarr]

[QUOTE=huntr_eq_blonde;7557647]
None of jumpingstarr’s videos that she posted in the links show her jumping 4’. The closest was 3’6" during the one line she did, as the pole was the same height was the upturned barrels, and I know upturned barrels aren’t 4’. Every other jump looks to be about 2’3". She seems like a lovely rider. In my video, only the last oxer was 4’.[/QUOTE]

You are right. Those jumps were only about 3ft…barrels measure out at 3ft in height. That also doesn’t mean I’m going to be showing 3’3ft+ courses anytime soon…no matter how comfortable I am at home…Chestnuthunter knows me in person and so she knows that I do , indeed, jump around 3’9-4ft occasionally. Not saying that you don’t jump 4ft…in fact I have no idea if you do. Also, not trying to start any drama or arguments. Just trying to clarify. Have a good night.

[gg4918]

I’m going to speak as an experienced 4’+ rider myself (if you want to question me I can send you mannnnny videos of myself competing at 1.20 and higher as proof) and tell you that that fence is 100% not 4’, and even if it is, there is a HUGE difference between jumping ONE fence set at that height and being competent around an entire course of 4’ fences. The fact that it was the final fence of a grid, where everything is literally set up for you, does not make it any more impressive. Hell, I’ve jumped the top of our (MUCH) larger standards while schooling my horses thru gymnastics and grids, but does that mean that I’m ready to go march around a World Cup Qualifier? Absolutely not, nor does that mean that I will begin to refer to myself as a 1.60 rider.

On the plus side, HEY, maybe you CAN afford a horse now since you really don’t need or are ready for something in the 4’+ range!

And I’m going to continue this by saying, I’m your age, 23, and when I didn’t have a horse to ride because my parents wanted me to take a break, I went out and made it happen. I called people, I spread the word, I rode EVERYTHING that came my way, and guess what? I got rides, I got opportunities to show, I got my name out there. With NO financial help from my parents, even though, up until that point, they had funded my entire junior career (6+ horses at one point of my own) and it was a shock to no longer have their bank account to support myself. However, I was hungry, I wanted to continue on in this sport, so I went and made something of myself instead of sitting around and wallowing on internet forums.

And it paid off, people know that I will ride anything for anyone so I rarely lack for horses to ride. They know that, despite the fact that I own my own fabulous high level jumpers and dont really need to ride more, that I will gladly get on any other horse just for the opportunity to have more saddle time. No discrimination, I am just as happy on a grand prix horse as I am on a greenie or a 2’6" hunter. Every single horse has something to teach you on the road towards your goals.

[JackieBlue]

[QUOTE=pickupthepace;7557618]
Stuff like this sounds very immature. The “I’m better than you” attitude won’t get you anywhere in life.[/QUOTE]

Riding to a 4’ single fence, especially an airy vertical, is a far cry from setting a big jump at the finale of a gymnastic. Faaaarrr cry. That said, YOU, OP, are the only person on this thread with a fence height hangup. I was beginning to feel for you with the FB comments and unsolicited video critiques. Was. Not any more.

[supershorty628]

This has to be a troll. What self-proclaimed 24 year old has an attitude like that?

OP, just stop posting. You’ve gotten advice from people who are super experienced in the industry, some far beyond the height that you want to do. No one on this thread is bitter… except you.

Regardless of what height you’re actually jumping in those videos, it’s clear that you have a lot you can work on. That means you’re mortal, like the rest of us, and that’s awesome, because a lot of what you need to work on doesn’t require jumps at all! You don’t need a 4’ horse right now, or any time soon (let’s be honest, no one needs a big jumper, although it’s awesome to have one), and that’s great. That makes riding more affordable.

It doesn’t matter what height you’ve jumped. Seriously. It doesn’t. As the poster above me said, one or two fences at a height doesn’t make you a rider at that height. I jumped 1.65m once, but a puissance rider, I am not.

Every horse and every person has something to teach you. It’s up to you whether you want to listen. And obviously, you don’t.

[FineAlready]

I’m a bit sad to report that I went to the OP’s Facebook page, and there is a picture of her with a mare that I know. Honestly, it’s a nice little jumper mare who deserves to be appreciated and who has a lot to teach. The girl who formerly leased said mare when I knew her loved her sooo much, and was an appreciative, caring person who cherished every opportunity to ride and improve. I find it ironic that she and the OP have apparently ridden the same horse, as the two individuals could not be more different.

[Go_Fish]

[QUOTE=Jo;7557663]
I’m not much a fan of the pile on… except when it’s deserved.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202961837349471&set=vb.1309866928&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/kelsey.konz/media_set?set=vb.1309866928&type=2[/QUOTE]

:eek:

I watched that video. Yikes…if I rode to fences at that height and kept missing, my trainer would have me back to cross rails immediately. What a saint of a horse.

OP - I’m nearly 3X older than you and ride at 3’. However, I bet I can ride the pants off of you. You’ve got a long way to go before you should even think of jumping anything over 3’ at this point. As George Morris once stated, “you’re a legend in your own mind.”

[The_Fault_In_Our_Sta]

[QUOTE=Go Fish;7557847]
:eek:

I watched that video. Yikes…if I rode to fences at that height and kept missing, my trainer would have me back to cross rails immediately. What a saint of a horse.

OP - I’m nearly 3X older than you and ride at 3’. However, I bet I can ride the pants off of you. You’ve got a long way to go before you should even think of jumping anything over 3’ at this point. As George Morris once stated, “you’re a legend in your own mind.”[/QUOTE]

That George Morris. Truer words have never been spoken!

[Hiddenspot]

If our riding skill is based off the last jump in the gymnastic then I should let you guys know, I am a fabulous NO hands rider.

[Darkwave]

[QUOTE=Hiddenspot;7557860]
If our riding skill is based off the last jump in the gymnastic then I should let you guys know, I am a fabulous NO hands rider.[/QUOTE]

Me too. And when I was riding, I very rarely missed a distance coming out of a gymnastic…

[supershorty628]

[QUOTE=Hiddenspot;7557860]
If our riding skill is based off the last jump in the gymnastic then I should let you guys know, I am a fabulous NO hands rider.[/QUOTE]

:lol: The first time I did a no hands gymnastic on Nikki, when I dropped the reins, she stopped dead in her tracks and turned around to look at me with her head cocked. I think she thought I either had died or lost my mind completely! :lol:

[Darkwave]

Total tangent, but this reminds me of a cute story about my beloved pony. Basically, in the mid-80s, I was 12, had a SAINT of a large pony (AQHA breeding), and dreamed of doing the junior jumpers some day. So, I reasoned, I needed to learn how to jump 4’6" (there were no low junior jumpers then, and we also still measured in feet).

So, take pony to the ring, hack a little, then set up a rail on two single standards at 3’. Canter it, hop off of pony, jack it up a hole or two, get back on pony, canter it again. I really didn’t know what I was doing - just kicked and grabbed mane.

This continued on, until we jumped 4’6". I debated whether to stop there, but decided I really wanted to jump 4’9". What the heck. So hopped off of pony, and raised fence. I wasn’t hanging on to the pony while I did this - she was very quiet, and where was she going to go, anyway?

Joke was on me. As soon as I let go of her and turned to jack up the fence, pony picked up a measured canter, jumped out of the ring (4’ fence), and trotted back to the barn.

My trainer had been keeping an eye on us while teaching a lesson in the next ring, and had been debating whether to shut this insanity down. But the pony did it for her, and she just cracked up as I ran back to the barn after my pony.

Two lessons here - 1) jumping a single fence at 4’ or 4’6" does not a good rider make; 2) my pony was a SAINT, and smarter than me :).

[PaintedHunter]

[QUOTE=Darkwave;7558055]
Total tangent, but this reminds me of a cute story about my beloved pony. Basically, in the mid-80s, I was 12, had a SAINT of a large pony (AQHA breeding), and dreamed of doing the junior jumpers some day. So, I reasoned, I needed to learn how to jump 4’6" (there were no low junior jumpers then, and we also still measured in feet).

So, take pony to the ring, hack a little, then set up a rail on two single standards at 3’. Canter it, hop off of pony, jack it up a hole or two, get back on pony, canter it again. I really didn’t know what I was doing - just kicked and grabbed mane.

This continued on, until we jumped 4’6". I debated whether to stop there, but decided I really wanted to jump 4’9". What the heck. So hopped off of pony, and raised fence. I wasn’t hanging on to the pony while I did this - she was very quiet, and where was she going to go, anyway?

Joke was on me. As soon as I let go of her and turned to jack up the fence, pony picked up a measured canter, jumped out of the ring (4’ fence), and trotted back to the barn.

My trainer had been keeping an eye on us while teaching a lesson in the next ring, and had been debating whether to shut this insanity down. But the pony did it for her, and she just cracked up as I ran back to the barn after my pony.

Two lessons here - 1) jumping a single fence at 4’ or 4’6" does not a good rider make; 2) my pony was a SAINT, and smarter than me :).[/QUOTE]

I LOVE this story. I can just see a pony giving side-eye as you jacked up the jump, with her thinking, “YOU CRAZY, KID.”

[Moderator_1]

I’m not 100% clear on where the links to FB videos originated from, if provided by the OP somewhere or not, but at this point, there’s been plenty of opportunity for feedback, in which the OP does not appear to be interested. We’re going to close the thread before it gets further into bickering re: riding talent, etc.

Thanks,
Mod 1