The 3’3’’ A/O division is booming. The 3’6’’ not so much. Most of the shows I have been to this year, I have been combined with the 3’3’’ and a few shows, I was the only one doing the higher height. The shows I went to where the 3’6’’ did actually make there were only 4 or 5 of us but 15-20 in the 3’3’’.
I don’t see this problem happening in the junior division with the edition of the 3’3’’.
I predicted this with the advent of the 3’3 division. I was totally against it. Lots of people stagnating and sticking with what’s comfortable
What I have noticed is that the 3’3" is being filled by once junior riders coming back from college to show their jr hunters. This is probably because without the practice on their horse at the 3’6", the 3’3" is easier for them to do, especially if they haven’t ridden for a while.
I don’t think adding a 3’3" division is such a bad thing. The way I see it is any horse should be able to jump around a 3’ course. I don’t like that there are a million divisions under 3’ at rated shows, but I understand that the shows need to make money.
Personally, I can develop a horse to 3’6" and am finding it much easier now that there is a 3’3" division for us amateurs. I’m not paying for a pro to show in the pre greens. 6 inches in the hunter ring is a bigger move up in my opinion then 6 inches in the jumper ring when you take into account all the filler.
That being said I only used the 3’3" as a stepping stone division, the same way the 1.0m jumpers are only a stepping stone or schooling class.
I’m praying the classes fill in a year when my greenie is ready to do the 3’6! There were ZERO 3’6" amateurs at the last show I went to. I’m hoping they all went to Vegas for that show! Probably had better access to cocktails :lol:
The 3’6" AO Hunters are the same place the High AO Jumpers are. I have several friends who given a choice between 1.20m and 1.40m would go with the 1.40m. But given a 1.30m option always stick with that.
Frustrating when you want your divisions to fill!
I think the HOs from the 3’6" divisions associated with juniors and ammies come from different tax brackets.
The folks who want to buy kiddo a Junior Hunter have Allotta money. After all, in addition to that “top of the hunters” horse, they’ll send kid to college in a couple of years. They have bank.
The A/O? Chances are she works. That changes everything. A competitive “real thing” 3’6" horse (that someone who can’t ride every day can pilot around a course with success) is expensive. If she works, chances are the family needs her income. That means the expensive horse-- again, bought to compete at just about the top level of what hunters do-- represents a chunk of the family’s budget. And that doesn’t include the time/money it takes to keep that show horse competitive.
If the A/O rider is independently wealthy, she’s comparable to a junior in terms of how much more time and money she can put into this if she chooses.
So for many adults, it makes a whole lot more sense to find a way to be content with a 3’ horse that can stretch and do the 3’3" from time to time.
Just a guess.
The 3’6 don’t need other 3’6ers to show, they can compete against the 3’3ers. As far as where are they? So many factors.
Weekend Warriors
Wear and Tear on the horse
What’s the point in moving up? Money is the same, no incentive.
Big miss easier to stomach at the 3’3.
Etc.
Why isn’t it happening in the Juniors as much? 3’6 eq is a huge incentive to get the practice in at the 3’6 and not the 3’3. Plus time in the tack for most of those junior riders.
because you cant find a 3’6" horse to even sit on with 150k to spend…
MVP and mroades are spot on. Love my job and am very fortunate to have a nice income to support my horses. But, as I get older and the economic reality of “saving for retirement” kicks in, dropping 100K+ (and I do agree with the price point) to be modestly competitive in the A/Os is less and less appealing.
While I see your point, it is not impossible to buy a young horse and bring it along to eventually do the 3’6. Many of my peers who planned initially on doing this have stagnated in the 3’3, unwilling to step outside their comfort zone. It’s frustrating to watch.
[QUOTE=APirateLooksAtForty;7886161]
While I see your point, it is not impossible to buy a young horse and bring it along to eventually do the 3’6. Many of my peers who planned initially on doing this have stagnated in the 3’3, unwilling to step outside their comfort zone. It’s frustrating to watch.[/QUOTE]
Not everyone is capable of picking one with that prospect or bringing it along. There is no shame in admitting that you aren’t good enough for that or simply don’t have that sort of time. Especially for the ammies working for a living that may only get to ride 2-3 times a week and can’t pay for training board, that’s simply unfeasible. I had intentions of doing that with my now children’s hunter. Not only did it take 2 years to even get him into the children’s, but he’s not going to make it to the 3’6", he doesn’t have the scope we thought he did. The fact is that horses don’t always turn out the way you want them to. Also sometimes, there is a reason that’s a comfort zone. They’re probably doing the right thing by staying in the 3’3" because the 3’6" step and height might simply be too much for the horse to do if ammy misses.
And we miss a lot when we are lucky to ride three times a week 
The price difference between a winning 3’3" A/o and a Winning 3’6" A/O is about the addition of another zero, because it seems many of the winning 3’6" A/Os are also competitive in the professional divisions and derbies.
So, you add another $100K to the price, plus the cost of campaigning a professional division caliber horse for no additional gain? Why WOULD you do that unless you had limitless income? People who don’t want to spend that much money still want to be competitive, which is why they do the 3’3" division.
Ask me how I know!
[QUOTE=APirateLooksAtForty;7886161]
While I see your point, it is not impossible to buy a young horse and bring it along to eventually do the 3’6. Many of my peers who planned initially on doing this have stagnated in the 3’3, unwilling to step outside their comfort zone. It’s frustrating to watch.[/QUOTE]
I will never understand this type of attitude towards fellow amateurs. It’s going to appear that I am picking on you specifically because your post is here in this thread right now, but there have been many people who have posted similar comments in the past, so my post is really a general reply to the same sentiment that has been expressed many, many times on this board.
I just don’t understand how someone can know where another person’s “comfort zone” lies, why anyone other than the individual should decide where, when, how, or if ever, that comfort zone should be challenged, or why one would be so judgmental of someone else’s decisions regarding a hobby that costs a ton of money and is meant to be fun for the individual.
If you want to buy a prospect and bring it along to the point where you are successfully competing in the 3’6 division, go right ahead. But don’t belittle those who decide that stopping at the 3’3 (or 3’, or 2’6, or cross rails) is where they want to stop. It’s really none of your business and there is really no reason to be frustrated by them. Their life decisions are not impeding your ability to reach whatever goals you want to reach.
I don’t mind if you pick on me … Pick away! I’m tired of showing up at some of our older more historic shows and being one of 3 or so 3’6ers (and thus having to combine with the 3’3ers) especially when one of the people doing the 3’3 is a lifelong competitor with a dead-on eye riding a winning first year green horse. That’s just one example. I also don’t think it’s fair for the 3’6 competitors to have to show against those in the 3’3 … The striding, effort, etc that are required are totally different. I know this is not a popular opinion on here and I knew it wouldn’t be … The majority clearly like the division or it wouldn’t have been created. However, am I the only one chiming in here that actually jumps 3’6?? Think of it from our perspective.
I do understand the fact that some A/O’s horses are still in their pre green year and therefore cannot move up. I don’t mind showing against the low A/O’s at all, just wondering what happened to all the high A/O’s lol! No big deal really, just was curious!
BTW I am pretty sure there is an addition this year to the junior eq. I have seen the USHJA 3’3’’ show jumping medal added to many prize lists for 2015.
I will give a few reasons why I think numbers are low :
-Nice 3ft6 hunters are ridiculously expensive
-let non owners show in the 3ft6 classes ! It’s ridiculous that you have to own the horse (see point one!). I know quite a few ammies that are held back, not due to they are more comfortable at a lower height but they plain cannot afford to buy
[QUOTE=ynl063w;7886231]
I will never understand this type of attitude towards fellow amateurs. It’s going to appear that I am picking on you specifically because your post is here in this thread right now, but there have been many people who have posted similar comments in the past, so my post is really a general reply to the same sentiment that has been expressed many, many times on this board.
I just don’t understand how someone can know where another person’s “comfort zone” lies, why anyone other than the individual should decide where, when, how, or if ever, that comfort zone should be challenged, or why one would be so judgmental of someone else’s decisions regarding a hobby that costs a ton of money and is meant to be fun for the individual.
If you want to buy a prospect and bring it along to the point where you are successfully competing in the 3’6 division, go right ahead. But don’t belittle those who decide that stopping at the 3’3 (or 3’, or 2’6, or cross rails) is where they want to stop. It’s really none of your business and there is really no reason to be frustrated by them. Their life decisions are not impeding your ability to reach whatever goals you want to reach.[/QUOTE]
I don’t think that attitude is intended to pick on anyone - it’s just dispelling the (very popular) idea that you cannot afford a 3’6" horse in any circumstance. Because you can… if you have a good eye and some luck. But whether everyone wants to go down that road or not is a different story.
[QUOTE=APirateLooksAtForty;7886294]
I don’t mind if you pick on me … Pick away! I’m tired of showing up at some of our older more historic shows and being one of 3 or so 3’6ers (and thus having to combine with the 3’3ers) especially when one of the people doing the 3’3 is a lifelong competitor with a dead-on eye riding a winning first year green horse. That’s just one example. I also don’t think it’s fair for the 3’6 competitors to have to show against those in the 3’3 … The striding, effort, etc that are required are totally different. I know this is not a popular opinion on here and I knew it wouldn’t be … The majority clearly like the division or it wouldn’t have been created. However, am I the only one chiming in here that actually jumps 3’6?? Think of it from our perspective.[/QUOTE]
I agree!!
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
