Can it be done?

[HobbyHorse101]

I'm trying to think of positive shows for a Junior to show in and came up with the North American Jr/Young Riders Championships, would it be possible to only have one horse and qualify for show jumping? I know the eventers only have one, as a friend of mine went, and dressage, but do most of the show jumping kids only have one or do they have a string of horses they are able to take?

The horse I have that would be ready in a year or two is currently going around 3'6" jumpers easily, and he's showing childrens (Hunters) since he has only been showing for two years on a limited show budget. He can go around a 4' course without a problem, and the bigger the fences get the better he gets. I could curently show there until 2015 so I'm not worried about rushing him to get him going around the required 4'7" and 4'11" fences.

So I'm curious to see if anyone thinks it could be done, and if that is how most of the Jrs. there show that would be great for me to know.

[findeight]

No reason you cannot do it. IF the horse stays sound.

But, remember, that YR competition has an older age limit then regular Juniors and alot that go there do the GPs and major circuit High Juniors to get ready. They have alot of ring mileage jumping big under a tighter time allowed. Think that is going to be your biggest obstacle if you do not show much over the fancier, much more technical courses like you will find at YR.

[Scott Free]

To answer your question - yes, of course it's possible. However, my questions for you:

what do you mean by a "positive show for a junior" ? (qualifying for Harrisburg, Syracuse, Washington or USEF Talent Search can also all be great experiences)

do you have any experience in the big eq? (one or two years (at least) with a goal of qualifying for finals would give you some good insight into what is required of horse and rider to be competetive or successful at that level)

do you have a trainer capable of helping you reach your goals and/or providing you with any other horses to school, train and learn on?

It's a long road from children's hunters to big eq finals or YR success. Regardless of how talented you or your horse are, if your showing is limited now because of your budget it's going to be a monumental challenge to be able to AFFORD the experience you and your horse will need to be able to even get there - but with hard work, determination, focus and a lot of creativity it can be done. I wish you luck.

[mestel]

What consitutes a non-positive show for juniors? I'm not sure I quite understand...

That being said, the people who qualify for NAJYRC are more or less the best high junior jumpers and young a/o jumpers in the country. It's a pretty lofty goal - and really far away. Also, you're relying on a lot of "what ifs." If money is a big factor you may get a little discouraged if/when you and your horse start showing in the jrs or a/o's. And you have to show a good amount to be the top in your zone and get a chance at NAJYRC.

Since you have until 2015 until you are no longer a young rider, why not focus on a more attainable, sort of interim goal? Like the WIHS or NAL childrens jumper championships. If your horse can march around the children jumpers, it's a perfectly suitable goal - and fun. I can only imagine you would consider it a "positive show for juniors" too.

It's great having big aspirations and certainly nothing is impossible but don't get hung up on something like NAJYRC. I'd say focus on doing what you're doing now. Who knows where you'll be when the time comes - if it does - for you and your horse to compete at such a level.

[HobbyHorse101]

I'm sure they are great shows and I'd love to be able to show at Washington, and HITs, the talent search I've been thinking about trying to qualify for. The Junior part comes in at my parents wanting me to show at shows specificaly made for Juniors so I knew some about Jrs/Young riders and wanted to know more about it.

I have the trainer perfectly able of teaching me how to ride around the bigs rings, as she herself showed in everything from the Jr. Hunters, Big Eq, and eventually she showed in the GP's. Now I have not shown in the big eq's yet as I've only been with her half a year and current horse was greener than majority of hers and she has had me bring him along to where he is now. The big eq's/jr hunters/childrens jumpers will most likely be what we show next year, since I already have picked out the shows we're going to finish our year with.

Could you help me with finding the NAL on the USEF site, I'm having trouble with my computer, because that could be a possiblity that my parents would say yes to, and I would enjoy very much.

[chukkerchild]

Move to Manitoba :D We want to send a team and currently there's like, no competition. So if you can do the course you're guaranteed a spot! :lol:

[HobbyHorse101]

Thats how it is here, just for eventing :yes: I'd have to look and see how it is for show jumping, probably the same, I know the dressage is hard to get on the team here though.

[mestel]

Ryegate.com has information on NAL and WIHS childrens jumper classes (the wihs.org website has info as I well). When you say your parents want you to show in Junior specific shows - well that's a little odd. Right now, showing in the childrens hunters, you are showing in junior specific classes. That's about as much as you can ask for. I think just about any horse show you go to, except for perhaps junior week at devon or harrisburg or USET finals or something, will cater to juniors, adults, and professionals.

I think it makes more sense to make your goals based on your abilities rather than just a class name. Check out some prizelists of rated shows and see what sort of classes are offered. You'll get a much better idea of things like NAL and WIHS jumpers and hunter classes. Well, you'll get the idea from ryegate as well but I think getting a feeling for what's in a prizelist will help you become more aware of suitable classes are better short term goals.

[jrrider]

Move to Manitoba :D We want to send a team and currently there's like, no competition. So if you can do the course you're guaranteed a spot! :lol:

ha ha. I knew a rider who went to the Olympics that way. She was British, but married an Irishman and at the time the Irish were pretty much taking anyone who would make it around the selection trials, so she switched her citizenship and rode for Ireland

[HobbyHorse101]

My parents are used to breed shows, they like the fact that only Jr's can show at them. The sister showed in Quarter, and 4-H and my parents like the atmosphere of the Jr. only shows. I just showed at paint youth world this summer, and I like the way it is too. Thats why they have me doing pony club (Though I'm really only into the showjumping part, the pony and I have schooled up to some prelim stuff and could do USPC Eventing stuff but I'm just not into it..though it did make me realize he could be a good derby horse) :winkgrin:
Thanks for the help and I'll look into getting some classes/shows that would good for me and him! :yes:

[IsolaBella09]

My friend went last year and she qualified with one horse. She did the high juniors for a few years and now she is showing as an amateur in the highs.

[M. O'Connor]

I'm sure they are great shows and I'd love to be able to show at Washington, and HITs, the talent search I've been thinking about trying to qualify for. The Junior part comes in at my parents wanting me to show at shows specificaly made for Juniors so I knew some about Jrs/Young riders and wanted to know more about it.

I have the trainer perfectly able of teaching me how to ride around the bigs rings, as she herself showed in everything from the Jr. Hunters, Big Eq, and eventually she showed in the GP's. Now I have not shown in the big eq's yet as I've only been with her half a year and current horse was greener than majority of hers and she has had me bring him along to where he is now. The big eq's/jr hunters/childrens jumpers will most likely be what we show next year, since I already have picked out the shows we're going to finish our year with.

Could you help me with finding the NAL on the USEF site, I'm having trouble with my computer, because that could be a possiblity that my parents would say yes to, and I would enjoy very much.

Your trainer should help you determine a set of goals that are appropriate to your situation, which, if you are a junior will include competition against your peers in the sport. There are not so many shows that are limited exclusively to juniors and amateurs; the one you mention, NAYRC, is one of them though, and it's for juniors who have reached the pinnacles of the sport in the Olympic disciplines.

Among those on the roster, I'd be surprised if there weren't some who only have one horse, but there is much more to it than that.

It would be notable, for instance, if any have qualified on the first horse they ever owned, as riders typically move to more advanced mounts as they progress up through the ranks.

As you and your parents get more oriented in the sport, you will learn your way around. Asking all the questions is a good start!

[HobbyHorse101]

Your trainer should help you determine a set of goals that are appropriate to your situation, which, if you are a junior will include competition against your peers in the sport. There are not so many shows that are limited exclusively to juniors and amateurs; the one you mention, NAYRC, is one of them though, and it's for juniors who have reached the pinnacles of the sport in the Olympic disciplines.

Among those on the roster, I'd be surprised if there weren't some who only have one horse, but there is much more to it than that.

It would be notable, for instance, if any have qualified on the first horse they ever owned, as riders typically move to more advanced mounts as they progress up through the ranks.

As you and your parents get more oriented in the sport, you will learn your way around. Asking all the questions is a good start!


He's not my first horse, we've been around but we only started riding hunter/jumpers for three or so years. (Previously it was Dressage, Hunters and Eq on the flat, a tad bit of Western and Saddleseat, and alot of in hand and knowledge learning)

When I first got into jumping I was with an eventing trainer, and I have no interest in eventing other than schooling my horses cross country to get them bolder, and used to jumping at high speeds uphills and down hills and water. So I switced to current trainer and we have progessed very far in what little time I've been with her.

The youth part is my parents are so used to 4H, Quarter, Paint, and Pony Club that has events just for youth and they want me to show at those particular shows, so they had me look around and the NAYRC's are what I knew a little about. :) I will talk to current trainer next time I go out as she is great with helping me set goals and reaching them.

But thanks to everyone for the great advice I'll let ya'll know what I choose and how it turns out :D