Zara Phillips Current Events 2: May 2006-September 2007

[scooter]

I think what you are remebering is what is called the two point or half seat position that the rider assumes when jumping. This allows the riders weight to be off the horse's back while jumping and gives the horse a big release of the pressure on the rein allowing it to stretch it's neck.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by CasiraghiTrio

Is it because on show jumping, there is more emphasis on the perfect form of the jump? I don't know if it is so, only guesssing at why cross country could be considered "easier", though I'm sure both have their own challenges.
Or maybe because there is a tighter concourse with show jumping, where the cross country course has more running time between the obstacles?

In SJ, you really do have to be precise, get a turn wrong and you lose time, which can lose you points. Ask your horse to jump at the wrong point and that's a fence down. When you walk the course, you have to decide your line, to have a clear round and the fastest time. In other words, there is very little room for any errors.
In CC, although you walk the course and try to decide which way you are going to go, which portion of some of the jumps you are going to attempt, there is room for maneuver. The jumps are more solid, but there are large areas where you can shave time off of your round.

It is all great fun though!

[CasiraghiTrio]

Thank you, scooter and Skydragon, for explaining about SJ and CC. Both of you are making complete sense. I think I got it: both require precise planning and sense of timing, which is why the books always say often enough for the skimmers like me to catch it you must walk the course before the competition and make sure you've got it down. Finally, if I understand scooter, the 45-degree angle thing is mostly for giving relief to the horse and ensuring a clean jump.
Well, me ladies (and gentlemen) I have filled up the thread quite enough with my clueless questions about eventing. It's time overdue for some pics.
waving, smiling, kissing Toytown
talking to or being consoled by Mary King, and upper right with Mike Tindall, and bottom right Autumn Kelly
riding, looking, biting nails
squinting, talking, drinking
In pic 3 from left the caption says Peter has his arm around her (It's hard to tell from the distance and all the sunlight, but he kind of looks more like Mark, no?)
Zara walks and studies the course
Courtesy of Reuters and staff photographer Alessandro Bianchi