From: reichard@nb.rockwell.com (Diane Reichard)
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
Subject: Re: A Basic Glossary
Date: 8 Sep 1992 22:25:10 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Rockwell International


In article <1992Sep8.192425.23974@morrow.stanford.edu>, GC.GGG@forsythe.stanford.edu (Gwyn Gordon) writes:
> In article <1992Sep4.215739.1834@nb.rockwell.com>,
> reichard@nb.rockwell.com (Diane Reichard) writes:
> >

> >I've seen several shows recently offering a Low Children's- A/A
> >division (I think 2'9"- 3'0" if I remember correctly).  These classes
> >do have the adults and children combined.  I think there are more amateurs
> >moving to the jumper division than hunter division in recent years--at
> >least out here the A/A, Modified Jr/Am, and A/O divisions are much bigger
> >in jumpers than hunters.  It's quite possible that more divisions are
> >being created to support the bigger interest in the jumpers.  I think
> >for many amateurs, an A/A jumper is more affordable than an A/A hunter.
> >Have you had any of the Low Children's- A/A classes starting on the
> >East Coast?
> 
> Actually, I kind of think this Low Children's/AA division is a
> travesty. I mean, people can just RUN and the horses can pick up all
> four legs to save their lives, and it's the people who run the
> fastest who win, rather than those who actually ride. It seems odd,
> to have a jumper class that's lower than a decent-sized hunter
> class. (Power and Speed? Give me a break.) Anyway, there's a
> flame-fest in the making....oh well, anyone got any marshmallows?

I agree with you on this one, Gwyn.  Unless you "run and jump" you can't
win in the AA's as it is.  You can get low ribbons by putting in a good
round with nice turns, but unless you run your horse off its legs, you're
not likely to actually win an AA class.  The classics tend to be a little
better as the heights go up a little and the spreads increase a bit.  I
think the Low Childrens/AA division will only exacerbate this problem.
It'd be great if it were used to prepare the horse/rider correctly to 
start out, but most likely you'll see a lot of "run and jump" rounds.
> 
> >BTW Foxfield only offers the Jumping Derby in their fall show for amateur
> >jumpers. It's a bit much for most A/A horses/riders.  Although the height
> >is not substantial (3'6" - 3'9"), the course tends to be very difficult--
> >leaving the stadium to go out over an open field course with banks, ditches,
> >and open water.
> 
> This sounds like fun (ker-SPLASH!!) but I wonder how many people
> they get, if it isn't rated? Or is it the same weekend as the
> Foxfield Finals, so people come just for fun?

It does sound like fun, but from what I've heard of the course difficulty
it may be a bit much for where my horse is at now.  It is the same weekend
as the Foxfield finals and it gets a lot of the A/O riders as well as
some of those who are doing Jr/Am Modifieds since it offers a fair bit
of money.  For instance, it was won last year by Mary Jakubiec on Pumpkin
Pie and there were either one or no clear rounds which tells something
about the course difficulty since the height isn't that much for horses
used to competing in the A/O division (usually 4'6" in this area).


Diane