Showjumping Protocol

If you are coming to your first showjumping competition at Northside, or if you have been to a few but want make sure you are doing the right thing, read on...

Handy hints

• Get there early so that you and your horse have plenty of time to get ready
• Take a pen to write down your draw entry and the jump-off sequence.
• If in doubt about anything, ask at the clubhouse or someone wearing a club shirt with "Northside Riding Club" or "Committee" on the back.

What to wear

For regular competitions (February to October), light jodhpurs, boots (long or short), chaps are permitted, EFA approved helmet (e.g. AS 3838), collared shirt. You do not have to wear gloves. We love to see members in their Northside shirts - new style available now!. For our championships in November, it is jacket, shirt, tie or stock and to encourage smartness we have Best Presented awards. Pony club uniform is allowed.

Your horse should be clean and groomed. Plaiting is not necessary. Boots on the front legs are recommended. If you are unsure about jumping boots, ask at the Terrey Hills Saddlery. Running martingales are permitted but not standing martingales. If in doubt, ask an official in the clubhouse.

Entering

Show jumping competitions are pre-entry. From September 2008, entries can be made through the Global Entries Online system (www.globalentriesonline.com ) or by form. The on-line entry system is the preferred method of entry, as this makes life a lot easier for both the rider and the Show Jumping phase head, however for the time being entry forms are still accepted. If entering by form, please send a cheque or money order with the form. Entry forms can be found on the Entry Forms/Draw page of the website.

The Draw will be posted on the NRC Entry Foms/Draw page by midday on the Saturday before the competition. When the Draw is finalised riders who entered on-line will receive an email and/or text message with the details of their draw.

If the rider is neither a Northside nor an EFA member, nor a member of another EFA affiliated and insured club (e.g. Sydney Showjumping Club or Warringah Dressage) they must fill in an insurance waiver form and pay a $20 insurance levy which goes straight to our EFA insurer. For under 18's this must be signed by the parent or legal guardian. You must fill in the form at each and every competition (our insurer requires this).

All non-members of Northisde must pay a day membership with the exception of under 14 pony club members. However, we cannot waive the $20 non NRC/EFA public liability fee for Pony clubbers. You can become a NRC member at any competition.

If you have an early draw, get your horse ready and warm up on the flat, then ask someone to hold him while you walk the course. Once the course walk is finished the judge will expect the first rider to be ready to come into the ring so you will just have time to pop over a few practice fences.

Walking the Course

You must walk the course in the attire you will ride in. i.e. wearing your helmet and correctly dressed. If you will carry a whip in the ring, carry it on the course walk. Do not take your dog, do not walk around with a cup of coffee or eating a sandwich. You can walk the course with a parent, instructor or other adult who can give you advice.

When you walk the course, don't just do it to remember what jump comes after what. Think of what you will do after you have saluted the judge, which direction will you ride in towards the start? (you have 45 seconds after the bell), will you trot past a particularly spooky jump to let your horse see it, on which rein will you pick up canter? Where are the start flags? Then think about your approach and line to each jump. Note the position of the finish flags. After walking the full course, check the jump-off (some jumps will be missed out) which is posted at the Board near the entry to the ring. Record or remember it and walk it twice.

Tip one: To really familiarise yourself with the course, volunteer to help build it the previous day. The showjumping team will be delighted, you can ask lots of questions and walk the course at your leisure.

Tip Two: Do not assume the course will stay the same for the next height class. The course designer usually changes it - so you must walk it again.

Warming Up

Warm up on the flat in the ash arena - it is quieter and easier for you and your horse to focus. Then make your way to the Princess Anne area where the marshall will be standing near the entry to the ring with a clipboard. Check with them what number rider they have got to. The marshall will limit the number of horses in the practice ring (probably to 4 or 5) so do not go in without checking in with the marshall.

You (or preferably an assistant) may change the practice jumps (e.g. make a straight bar into a cross pole) but you must check with the other riders first if this is ok with them - they may want to do a last jump or two at that height. The practice jumps may also be raised or lowered but must be never more than 10cms higher than the jumps in the ring.

Always put the jump back to the way you found it when you have finished.

The practice jumps have red and white flags on the wings. You must always jump with the red flag to the right. If you do not you could cause an accident (it has happened when two riders have jumped into each other) and the marshall could eliminate you. Do not warm up more than necessary. If your horse is listening and jumping nicely, stop and stand quietly, within earshot of the marshall and watch the other competitors to get some idea of what fences may be causing problems. Make sure you are sure of the course and know the jump-off.

Into the Ring

The marshall will tell you when you are on next. Have a last practice jump if you need to then wait by the entrance, the marshall may send you in before the next horse has finished to save time. In this case, ride along the perimeter of the ring and go to the judge. When you get to the judge (who will have a penciller sitting next to them), salute (nod your head and put your right arm straight down) and give your name and your horses name.

The judge will ring the bell. After this you have 45 seconds to go between the start flags (or cones). This is actually quite a long time so there is no need to rush.

If you jump clear in an AM7 competition

AM 7 is simply a type of competition in which you jump the jump-off straight away. If you jump clear and within the allotted time (which is also noted on the course map near the ring entrance), after you pass through the finish flags, the judge will ring the bell again. This is the signal for you to start the jump-off. The judge may ask you if you know the jump-off course. If you are not sure, then do ask the judge to tell you it again. You jump the jump-off, then leave the arena. Ride at a safe pace in the jump-off, if you go too fast the judge can eliminate you and your horse will be more likely to knock rails down. If you think you have gone clear but the judge does not ring the bell, go over and ask politely. It may be that you were over the time allowed or a pole you thought you just rattled fell down, did not go through the finish, or you may have jumped the wrong course.

Clear round jumping

Sometimes the 50cm class is designated a clear round class. This means you get a ribbon if you jump clear (no refusals or knock downs, don’t worry about the time). If you go clear the first time, you may jump two rounds, the second straight after the first (i.e. you do not leave the ring).

If the judge rings the bell while you are jumping

Stop and go over to the judge to find out what the problem is. A pole may have blown down in the wind or you may have jumped the wrong fence. If it is fallen pole, once it is put up again, the judge will ring the bell again which is the instruction for you to start again where you left off. Do not jump a jump you already jumped or you will be eliminated. While the jump is being fixed, take the opportunity to walk your horse round and keep calm and alert. If you have jumped the wrong fence, leave the ring cheerfully. These things happen at the highest level and ask yourself “what can I do to prevent this happening again”? (If it was nerves try Rescue Remedy, if you hadn’t walked the course carefully, make sure you pay more attention next time).

If it all goes wrong

Everybody has a bad day sometimes. If your horse just does not want to jump today, after three refusals the judge will ring the bell which means you are eliminated. As a confidence builder you can ask the judge if you may jump another jump before you leave the ring (jump 1 is usually a good one as it is welcoming). Alternatively, ask the marshall for permission to jump the practice jump again so that you finish on a good note. Don’t get angry with yourself or your horse but learn from your experience – everyone will be sympathetic because we have all been there at some point in our careers. If you don’t know why things went wrong, you can approach the judge after the class for advice.

And whether it goes right or wrong…

Give yourself and your horse a big pat. Look after your horse – between rounds, take him back to the tie up yards and give him something to eat and drink, loosen the girth or unsaddle him. Our classes tend to be big so there is plenty of time and he will work better for you if he has a break. Take some molasses with you to put in the water. Horses often don’t like drinking water which tastes different to the water at home and molasses makes it more palatable.

Judges are nice people

Our judges are keen to help you and make this a positive experience. Smile at them, listen to them and follow their instructions and do not argue with them. If there is something bothering you, go to the clubhouse and speak to an official. This instruction also applies to parents. The 2008 Phase head is Rosemary Allen. We hope that your showjumping day at Northside is a fun and relaxed one and that these tips will make it even more so.

Pancetta Web Design -