Post by cubic on Jan 2, 2008 23:58:11 GMT 1
I'm on the British squad for student riding (I know, I know, I stopped being a student in June, but I'm eligable for student riding until I'm 28), and over the last 5 days I've been at Kingswood EC at the British hosted Student Riding Nations Cup.
There are comeptitions run in lots of different countries throughout the year, and 18 teams competed in the British one (lots from Europe, plus USA and Canada). There are 3 in a team, and we compete in dressage and Show Jumping.
The competition is difficult to explain without seeing it. All the horses are provided by the host nation. In the first round each person rides one horse, with 5 mins to warm up (and 2 practice jumps in the SJ) and then straight into the arena to do dressage or showjumping. The first round dressage is done as a team test, with all 3 riders riding a synchronised test, and the SJ is individual around a 3ft course. 3 riders ride each horse, and the best rider on each horse goes through to the 2nd round. There are 4 rounds in total, going up to a Prix St George dressage test and SJ up to 1m40 (4ft6) in the final round.
Showjumping the 2nd round (3ft6) was pretty scary for a non-showjumper like me. I havent' jumped at all for 4 months, and then it was only baby show horses! And the last time I did nations cup, in Canada, I got through to the 3rd round and gave the poor horse a terrible ride. However despite being wobbly from lack of riding fitness now I'm working I did ok and came 2nd on my horse, narrowly missing out on going through to the 3rd round.
We had a great time - worked hard and partied hard. Our team did well, getting team bronze in dressage and bronze overall combined and team Gold in SJ (tied). I was 16th out of 54 riders, and 14th in SJ.
Here are a couple of photos and a video. Before anyone jumps on the thread, these are horses provided by others and we don't get any choice over tack etc. And I know I'm not 100% balenced on landing over the fences - I'm really feeling my lack of fitness now I'm not riding regularly.
The first time I jumped my round 1 SJ horse
Round 2 SJ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzyuzePa304
The Brits
The winnings
There are comeptitions run in lots of different countries throughout the year, and 18 teams competed in the British one (lots from Europe, plus USA and Canada). There are 3 in a team, and we compete in dressage and Show Jumping.
The competition is difficult to explain without seeing it. All the horses are provided by the host nation. In the first round each person rides one horse, with 5 mins to warm up (and 2 practice jumps in the SJ) and then straight into the arena to do dressage or showjumping. The first round dressage is done as a team test, with all 3 riders riding a synchronised test, and the SJ is individual around a 3ft course. 3 riders ride each horse, and the best rider on each horse goes through to the 2nd round. There are 4 rounds in total, going up to a Prix St George dressage test and SJ up to 1m40 (4ft6) in the final round.
Showjumping the 2nd round (3ft6) was pretty scary for a non-showjumper like me. I havent' jumped at all for 4 months, and then it was only baby show horses! And the last time I did nations cup, in Canada, I got through to the 3rd round and gave the poor horse a terrible ride. However despite being wobbly from lack of riding fitness now I'm working I did ok and came 2nd on my horse, narrowly missing out on going through to the 3rd round.
We had a great time - worked hard and partied hard. Our team did well, getting team bronze in dressage and bronze overall combined and team Gold in SJ (tied). I was 16th out of 54 riders, and 14th in SJ.
Here are a couple of photos and a video. Before anyone jumps on the thread, these are horses provided by others and we don't get any choice over tack etc. And I know I'm not 100% balenced on landing over the fences - I'm really feeling my lack of fitness now I'm not riding regularly.
The first time I jumped my round 1 SJ horse
Round 2 SJ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzyuzePa304
The Brits
The winnings