YJC Classes. Worth it or stick to the plain 1.20 meter classes?

[Xctrygirl]

Title says most of it. Was playing around with show calendars and have a very nice 6 yr old jumper. He’s moving up to 1.20 anyway and I saw the YJC’s and wondered if it was worth it. I am a pro rider so I don’t have any Ammy Owner options out there. So it’s plain 1.20 classes or try our hand at the YJC.

Can anyone give me any feedback on if these classes and the annual fee were worth it? As in nice class, good value added to horse and so on?

Many thanks,

Emily

[Zoey101]

I’d be interested in others opinions too, wonder if it is sort of like the views of IHF, where it’s pushing a young horse to jump and essentially be show ring ready at such a young age, vs a good experience… Not knocking IHF, as I’m definitely interested for my youngster, but I’ve heard everything from “the horse won’t last” to “they’re great classes/options for a young prospect”… So would love to hear input as YJC could be an option for me and futurity type classes seem to be relegated to certain shows…

[Alternative1]

I would say go for it, you are showing in the same age group as other young jumpers. You must find shows who offer the classes though as many do not.

[Peggy]

At least in California, the entry fees are often (usually? always?) waived and there is sometimes a stall deal if the horse shows only in the YJC classes. In theory, the courses are more young-horse friendly than the regular 1.2-m classes.

[drkarins]

Happy with the YJC classes…

We have been very happy with the YJC classes - age appropriate courses and competition. A nice way to benchmark as comparing to like-aged and similar level horses.

If you search for “YJC jumping” on Youtube, you will get to see some samples. Also recommend just watching one of the classes at your show before entering.

I have found the office staff to be very helpful with questions.
http://youngjumpers.com/yjcblog/

Good luck!

[PNWjumper]

It totally depends on the show.

I split my show season between local shows (WA/OR) and shows up across the border in BC.

At the Thunderbird shows in Canada the Young Jumper classes are phenomenally run. Easier courses that get progressively more difficult through the show season, but still easier than the matching meter classes, and some of the breaks mentioned by Peggy.

At the rest of the shows around here (on the US side of the border) they run the YJC classes concurrent with the equivalent meter classes. The courses are identical and offer no incentives in regards to the level they’re set at for the young horses.

[RyuEquestrian]

I would say yes. We have put several of our youngsters in the YJC classes over the years and have found the courses to be less technical than the height division classes. If we had a horse that was a bit on the immature side, we found that they handled the regulated YJC courses better than the meter classes until later in the year.

That being said, we have been to a few shows where the course designer did not follow the YJC course regulations and made the courses quite technical, however, in general most shows adhered to the regulations and put out youngster friendly suitable courses to develop a young jumper.

[Pally]

[QUOTE=Zoey101;7474298]
I’d be interested in others opinions too, wonder if it is sort of like the views of IHF, where it’s pushing a young horse to jump and essentially be show ring ready at such a young age, vs a good experience… Not knocking IHF, as I’m definitely interested for my youngster, but I’ve heard everything from “the horse won’t last” to “they’re great classes/options for a young prospect”… So would love to hear input as YJC could be an option for me and futurity type classes seem to be relegated to certain shows…[/QUOTE]

I don’t think this is really the case in the young jumpers, as they are already “old enough” to be out, showing and jumping anyway. Sometimes with the 5 year olds and the January start to the winter circuits (so, four and a half year olds, kind of), you get one that’s not really ready for the 5 year olds. Everyone I have worked for that has a late bloomer like this, just doesn’t do it and sticks to the smaller schooling classes instead. Same goes for older years where one is “behind” - pick a different class. But if you are jumping the height of your YJC, go for it. Like other posters said, it’s good competition with your peers, set friendly (usually) to develop your horse. One other advantage is that, depending where you show and the horse age, the only comparable height class for a pro may be clear round schooling classes. The YJC give you a chance to actually compete and do a jump off - yet another skill set that these babies need to learn.

Good luck, and report back how your season goes.