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Post by jealoushe on Sept 23, 2014 11:23:10 GMT -5
I feel like I'm at a cross roads with my riding discipline of choice. I have wanted to event at the UL my entire life, based everything around this goal, and have worked hard to be in the place I am now. However, now that I have a few horses eventing, that may have what it takes to get there, I'm just not sure I care for the sport as much as I once did.
The entry fees are insane and getting higher, the courses are more manicured and fake than I care for, and it seems to becoming more of a dressage competition than anything.
I am interested in switching to jumpers, or eq - but not sure what is out there or where to begin. I have only ever shown jumper schooling shows and maybe one or two trilliums in my life.
Interested in hearing from anyone who has made the switch, or what options there might be for us out there? Where do I start? Most likely would be looking for A shows.
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Post by Secret Recipe on Sept 24, 2014 8:42:15 GMT -5
I can't speak from experience but I had a friend who switched from eventing to jumpers and she was very happy with the switch. Found the cost of eventing just to be too much. She just did Trillium but ended up going to champs her first year. The biggest thing she found was that the jumper courses were much more technical than the eventing stadium courses.
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Post by midnightdream on Sept 24, 2014 11:51:28 GMT -5
I'm currently doing the opposite, switching from jumpers to eventing. I'm doing as a bit of a challenge for myself. I don't compete at anything higher than beginner/ pre-entry so works out a bit cheaper for me. With jumpers, I've always stuck to just schooling shows with the main reason being cost. It also allows me to incorporate my love of dressage and jumping all one show.
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Post by gotzon on Sept 24, 2014 20:29:49 GMT -5
I'd be interested in hearing comparisons between entry fees and then the cost of stabling when you have a 3 day jumper show (that's how they do it, isn't it?) Costs all in, I always thought Jumpers were more expensive.
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Post by ridexc on Sept 25, 2014 0:13:13 GMT -5
Not to sound cynical, but if manicured courses and high entry fees are what you're having a problem with, you're going to find the jumper world considerably worse in both regards!
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Post by jealoushe on Sept 25, 2014 8:09:15 GMT -5
Not to sound cynical, but if manicured courses and high entry fees are what you're having a problem with, you're going to find the jumper world considerably worse in both regards! LOL! Too funny...I just meant the switch from what eventing used to be. I am a big fan of jumper courses...especially derbies! I would probably only ship in for the day, or do two days at a time. Looking at the fees, if you did two classes over two days it looks to still be cheaper than eventing...depending on the event. There is also more chance to make money, and win better prizes, which is always nice. Since my long term goals were always aiming to go Advanced...I was thinking of setting my sights on the 4' - 4'6 divisions in the next few years. |
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Post by jealoushe on Sept 25, 2014 8:10:28 GMT -5
I'd be interested in hearing comparisons between entry fees and then the cost of stabling when you have a 3 day jumper show (that's how they do it, isn't it?) Costs all in, I always thought Jumpers were more expensive. I really don't know...I don't know anything about it really at all! lol... I need some guidance. I hope they aren't all three day shows. |
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Post by ridexc on Sept 26, 2014 2:51:52 GMT -5
Not to sound cynical, but if manicured courses and high entry fees are what you're having a problem with, you're going to find the jumper world considerably worse in both regards! LOL! Too funny...I just meant the switch from what eventing used to be. I am a big fan of jumper courses...especially derbies! I would probably only ship in for the day, or do two days at a time. Looking at the fees, if you did two classes over two days it looks to still be cheaper than eventing...depending on the event. There is also more chance to make money, and win better prizes, which is always nice. Since my long term goals were always aiming to go Advanced...I was thinking of setting my sights on the 4' - 4'6 divisions in the next few years. The difference being, in eventing you are doing three phases for that entry fee ... two jumper classes over two days equals about 10 min, total, in the show ring. Also keep in mind that if you're coming from eventing, the endless waiting at the in-gate may drive you insane. Assigned ride times are, IMHO, one of the BEST things about eventing and dressage. You can gauge your warm-up and not have to sit on your horse like he's a piece of furniture for hours, waiting for the six riders ahead of you who couldn't possibly go in the ring because their trainer is over in the pony ring coaching a junior .... But as for the prize money, can't argue with you there. Ain't nobody in eventing expecting to get rich or even to get their entry fee paid back. :-) |
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Post by jealoushe on Sept 26, 2014 15:02:12 GMT -5
oh yes...hurry up and wait  I do a lot of hunter shows with my young horses so I am used to waiting around. That's ok with me, of course it's not nearly as nice as having an assigned time! |
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Post by Mineral on Sept 27, 2014 10:46:32 GMT -5
I haven't made the switch but I compete in both upper level eventing and the jumpers throughout Ontario, Quebec and the states.
I have found the Jumpers significantly more expensive, especially at the Gold rated shows. At 1.20m you must pay a nomination fee which is generally $125-200 depending on the horse show. I generally show both the schooling days and the 3 days of competition. My entry fees are always much higher than what a National event would cost me, but it is comparable to what an FEI event costs.
The Trillium circuit gives you great bang for your buck but they max out at 1.10m-1.15m and rarely run a 1.15m class.
While the expense is higher, I've found the jumpers are super confidence building for my horses. If something goes wrong, you can enter another class and fix it and restore your horses confidence (and your own if need be). So much room for moving up and down as your horse needs. We do not have those half steps in eventing.
There is always the opportunity to win money back. I did the Young Jumper Development series with my 4 year old in Virginia last year and he won over $800 dollars which paid for his entry fees, stabling and knocked off the costs of my other horses there showing. My upper level event horse did the Thoroughbred jumper series (they jump the 0.90ms and the 1.0ms, so very small for him) and won back twice the entry fee in every class. The downside is there are WAY more competitors in the jumpers so the odds of winning money back are slim if you're not on the fastest and scopiest horse. The specialized classes are great for winning money though.
The courses themselves are WAY more technical. My first year of the jumpers, I couldn't understand why my event horses were having rails when we always jumped clean at the events. They ask for a different arc and far more oxer oxer combinations and way more related distances.
Anyway that said, I'm sure you will love the jumper ring if you decide to switch over! Not quite the rush of cross country but TONS of fun just the same! Nothing feels better than being the fastest and leaving all the jumps up!
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Post by bxrgurl on Sept 27, 2014 15:17:15 GMT -5
At 1.20m you must pay a nomination fee which is generally $125-200 depending on the horse show. And if you show in a class that you don't have to pay the nomination fee, there's no prize money <-- Just in the interest of clarity. |
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Post by jealoushe on Sept 29, 2014 15:05:04 GMT -5
Thanks Mineral - very interested in the Thoroughbred classes, do you have any more information?
Do you usually show a week long, or just one or two days?
I am not interested in Trillium...just looking for a good place to start.
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Post by River on Sept 29, 2014 16:33:53 GMT -5
I don't speak from direct experience, but having friends compete in both disciplines, I think jumper is much more expensive at the A level than eventing is. And the horses seem to be much more expensive too, on balance. In other words, only my super rich friends are high-level jumpers.
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Post by jealoushe on Oct 1, 2014 8:53:29 GMT -5
I don't speak from direct experience, but having friends compete in both disciplines, I think jumper is much more expensive at the A level than eventing is. And the horses seem to be much more expensive too, on balance. In other words, only my super rich friends are high-level jumpers. LOL well I'm not worried about the horse, I have 3 right now that are all decent jumpers but one in particular could give the best a run for their money! Guess I better get saving. Aside from money, I am interested in hearing about the show days work etc. |
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Post by Mineral on Oct 1, 2014 17:48:07 GMT -5
Aside from money, I am interested in hearing about the show days work etc. You should take a look at a Prize List to get an idea about scheduling at the gold shows! They will break down all the classes offered Wednesday-Sunday and give you a good idea of what to expect in terms of how the show days work. There is usually an opportunity to flat in most rings before they open as well. At Trillium shows, you do all your classes in one day. |
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I do a lot of hunter shows with my young horses so I am used to waiting around. That's ok with me, of course it's not nearly as nice as having an assigned time!
