BTS In-House Jumper Shows!
Here is real fun! You have seen the experienced riders do the jumper classes, but why should they have all the fun? BTS offers 2-4 Jumper Shows per year to expose our riders to the thrill of riding against the clock!
Jumpers are different from Hunters. The regular BTS In House Shows and most of the classes at the county level shows are Hunters. The judging for Hunters is done on the rider or the horse and their ability to perform to a standard. They are judged on their style and form, and the judging is all “subjective,” that is to say the judge’s personal opinion of the horse and rider.
“Jumpers” is just the rider and the horse against the clock. The horse/rider team get 4 penalty points or “faults” for every fence they knock down, or for each time they get a refusal (that’s where the horse refuses to take the fence, or in the event the rider crosses their “tracks” such as circling on the course.) After taking into consideration the faults (the horse with the least faults), the fastest time wins!
Riders will be expected to memorize a course of 8-10 fences, and make the best route for their horse. In the Argentine Class, the rider will want to ride the “best” class they can, making correct lines and good solid turns. In the regular table II classes, the riders will want to do their first round for “power,” that means careful but under the allotted time; then if they are “clean” with no faults, they do a second or “jump-off” round for speed, still being careful not to knock down or “fault”.
The “Argentine” or “optimum time” table is a system where the rider navigates the course of fences and tries to get as close as possible to a pre-established allotted time. In addition to the faults for knockdowns and refusals, the horse gets a penalty point or “fault” for every second over or under the optimum time. This is how we run our walk/trot and cross rail division, on the Argentine table.
Great fun and excitement for everyone in these shows! They are a bit hard on the horses so space is limited. A clinic is normally held the week before to explain the classes and how they work.
Welcome to the exciting and fast-paced world of Jumpers! Once you try it, you’ll be hooked!