The Junior Academy is:

•    Open to all BSJA Junior or Junior Associate Members
•    Eligible until December after their 18th birthday
•    No bar to entry – all standards and experience welcome
•    No additional membership fees, part of BSJA package

The aim of the Junior Academy is to provide progressive coaching, using experienced
BSJA Accredited Coaches to significantly improve the riding skills and horse
knowledge of the junior membership in order to make them more competitive in the
sport of show jumping., the aim is to inspire, educate and support in particular
first generation show jumpers; to create an environment where non-horsey parents feel
comfortable to ask for advice and feel included in what is sometimes thought of as an
elite sport. Help with rules, classes, qualifiers etc.

Aims:

•    To develop a ‘culture of improvement’
•    To offer progressive, structured coaching
•    To develop a greater understanding across all areas of horsemanship
•    To develop camaraderie between the members of the Junior Academy
•    To increase awareness and positively impact junior membership
•    To retain junior members who subsequently become seniors
•    To develop competitive spirit
•    To spot and encourage the stars of the future
•    To increase enjoyment and to have fun
•    To create value for the parents as well as the juniors
•    To bring together keen, competitive juniors committed to our sport and create an environment where they can benefit from training with their peers.

Whilst many train regularly, often this is in isolation and incorrectness maybe be perpetuated.

The group environment of being coached and watching others being coached (doing and seeing) is invaluable.

Log books are issued which contain the riders Personal Development Plan. The log books contain information on ponies ridden by each individual, their aims and objectives and records of training goals and competition successes.

A rider remains as a Junior Academy member until the December after their 18th birthday – whether riding ponies or horses.