A bad day on paper- deflated SJ report

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

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Right where am I going to start, PC area show jumping today- got up at the crack of dawn to make sure he wasn't an utter state after a night in.

We were the first team in me being the 3rd rider. I get him off the trailer and he's shaking (excitement/ anxiety) I have learnt from past experience if I get on him in this state he will bronc me off so out comes the emergency lunge kit to make him more rideable.

He did a nice warm up was really listening to me (in his snaffle still) and when we started jumping he was flying so I was pleased with him especially as the course was very up to height and the oxers very square.

Our first person goes clear and second only gets 4 faults so began feeling a bit of pressure, come into first fence and he said no, I really don't understand why so when I re-presented him I probably rode him a bit half-heartedly into it and we had another stop. Luckily as it's PC rules it's 3 stops you're out so we kept going and this time I wasn't going to let him stop.

He gets into a lovely rhythm, backs off the double a little but a little tap on the shoulder reminded him that he was not allowed to. Then comes the big triple bar which was going away from the collecting ring so not an easy fence. He puts in a VERY dirty stop on a perfect stride and could have easily done it. So that's us eliminated. The fourth member of our team was also eliminated so our team was out the running.

Later find out we hadn't got placed in tack and turnout so was a bit gutted again. I then was told I didn't have to do the second round (I wasn't very keen as it was actually 5cm bigger than first round) so decided to go on a little hack with a friend back to her yard and get picked up from there to bring him home which was lovely.

I don't think he's 100% whether he hurt himself stopping or before he stopped but tbh it wouldn't surprise me if he stopped because he's in a bit of pain somewhere as it's not like him. So going to get the physio/ chiro out for him to check him over. Next time I take him out going to take him down a height and do the 90 but not until I know he's okay health wise.

Anyway enough of my rambling here are some piccies.
Quite annoyed he makes this look tiny- looked loads bigger in the ring.


In the warm up




Number 2- smallest on course


The double he backed off of


Andy says no


The professional image of the triple bar is hilarious, I really want to buy it but my mum isn't impressed. :p

Feeling a bit deflated now though almost like we can't do anything- xc is a no go, SJ isn't going great and dressage is going rubbish.
 
Sorry you've had a rubbish day - but he looks amazing!! Soooo smart and he's in a much better shape now. He's lovely.

I'd definitely drop down a height, then when you're both loving it, try going up again. Good luck lovely xx
 
Oh no don't sound so down!!!! You were so hyped in the last thread I read and you and Andy were looking brill together in the jumping vid. The jumps in todays photos look massive to me, but I'm a real scardy cat!!

I also think he looked very handsome indeed in todays pics, loved the plaits!!!

Sorry haven't got any good advice to offer you.
 
Oh dear, naughty Andy!! On the up side he is looking very smart and as previous poster said, in much better shape. Look at that neck and bottom ;) Hopefully he'll be as good as new in no time :)
 
You guys look really good, sorry to hear it didn't go as well as you had hoped though, chalk it up to experience and try again!
 
Thansk re comments about condition, he really is looking fab really pleased with him in that aspect. :D

Have done a lot of training on grass but only done one other comp on grass so can understand it. The going today was particularly bad- the ground was very hard so quite slippery. There were a lot of falls and a lot of eliminations, can't really say I saw many horses looking 'happy' on the ground.

I wasn't feel rubbish about it until I got comments like 'oh you ruined him he never stopped with his old owners' and 'he went so much better with so and so they were jumping much bigger tracks.'
 
He looks amazing, and you have done so much with him. Look back to where he was when you first got him and just remember how much he has come on since then.

Have to say, I love the last photo, well done for staying on!

I still think he is gorgeous, and you will get there. Pressure off, enjoy it, and it will all come together I'm sure :)
 
Just read your last post - RUINED HIM???

You have a lovely horse in MUCH better condition than he was, and his way of going has improved so much. He may not have stopped with his last owners (bet he did) but in the time you have had him your videos show how much happier he looks and how much better his way of going is.

If the ground was bad, maybe that was the problem. Chin up hun, don't give up :)
 
I won't ever give up on him those comments are very below the belt though. Thank you, I'm pleased with him as he did jump nicely. I just hope it's a minor blip and nothing more serious. :)
 
I'm sure you'll soon be back succeeding again. Everyone has off days, esp on hard ground.

Just to add, for the search for causes - your saddle looks really far back in a couple of photos, could it have slipped? Back looks almost on loins...
 
Rough with the smooth and all that.
He is very handsome and talented and I'm sure this is a minor blip. Look forward to next time
 
Kokopelli said:
I wasn't feel rubbish about it until I got comments like 'oh you ruined him he never stopped with his old owners' and 'he went so much better with so and so they were jumping much bigger tracks.'
Click to expand...

These people are clearly the two-faced, b*tchy sort whom should be ignored at all costs. Hate people like that!! Ignore them and move on :) Life happens, we have our good and bad days, and as you have said the ground was hard and there were lots of falls etc From all your posts iv seen he looks like he has improved remarkebly and you should be proud of all your hard work.
 
His condition is looking fantastic!


Ignore the comments, so what if you had a bad day today, on the whole he has progressed loads. Looking back at your first videos of him and the one you posted very recently you can see a huge difference in his way of going, you have worked really hard with him and he has improved so much.

It could be the grass, different surfaces can effect different horses in many different ways.

:D:D:D
 
Saddle was in correct place we just had a HUGE numnah on so it looks like it's further back.

Will try to ignore the not so nice comments, next year when I join RC we'll get a fresh start away from it all so looking forward to it. :)
 
Argh, just did a long reply and it disappeared!

Anyway, shortened version - did she have studs in?

I have a mare that never stops and is the most genuine horse possible, I took her to an outdoor show on grass and the going was like you say a little slippy and she ended up getting deep into the fences and scrambling over a couple and by the time we reached the 3rd fence she stopped, we retired at this point as I knew she wasnt right.
She didnt have studs in as we usually jumped on a surface.

I am convinced it was because she was unsure of her footing, she seemed to lose confidence the further she got round the course.

Don't get disheartened, we all have bad days and you are looking for reasons for his behaviour and getting him checked out so what more can anybody say.

Ignore the comments from people today - they are not worth the brainspace!
 
Second that it sounds like studs- Reg had about 5 stops at a small x-pole in the SJ warmup the other day because the ground was wet and slippy and he has no studs and just didn't trust his takeoff or landing so sensibly said no. We moved the fence and he jumped it fine!

He looks very smart and correct, and you do too. It'll come with time :)
 
Wow look at the neck on him he looks fab! have you had plaits in him...it seems a small thing but have seen horses that just don't work with them! You have most definitely NOT ruined him. He looks super, you have had some great results up to now but do remember that by improving and changing his way of going you have made significant differences and it will just take a bit of time to get it all 100% in the ring. Chin up girl
 
Haha DS I think that will be my response next time I get a comment like that.

Didn't have studs in as he's got no shoes on behind but was just thinking that it's probably worth putting some on just for the summer season and then in the winter taking them off again because everything is on a surface.

I am so pleased with how he looks atm, still need some more topline but it's getting there. :)
 
I would definately go down the route of back with chiro/muscle and then have saddle checked. My horse had saddle issues and this caused problems and once that was sorted and we started jumping and gaining our confidence again, she then had sharp teeth that had led to ulcers, but we had her teeth rasped only 3 months before so I`m not sure how that happened. So we didnt know until she put in 2 dirty stops. They tell us in the only way they know how when something is wrong and this shows with a decline in their performance. I hope it all gets sorted.
 
I think we'll definitely get the chiro won't hurt even if he is fine. What makes me think it was pain is the fact he half took off for the triple bar and then slammed on the breaks so I'm thinking he was in pain and din't feel it until he took off.

I'll get him out on a surface next weekend and see if there's an improvement. Hopefully he'll feel more confident. :)
 
OI you dont be down turn your frown upside down :D Chin up andy looks great compared to what he looked like when you first got him so ignore every one that says other wise as it is obvious to every one else. He was tense when you got on but you still managed to jump in the snaffle without loosing controll, I dont think you would have been able to do that when you first got him. They are impressive fences and there is always more pressure when you are competing on a team. Perhaps a few easy runs and a check over for him is what you both need :). Enjoy your last year of pc and dont let any one get to you, can you not do pc and rc next year then you can be a bit more picky about what you do for each.
 
Ditto studs. Len is super genuine, but jumping on grass (SJ, fine XC for some reason) is very tense and rushy and has put in a few stops/nearly stops without studs, so might be worth looking into it.

Aside from that, in the pics he's jumping well, he's looking utterly fab, he listened to you and went well in the warm up and you KNOW he can really jump :D Plenty to work with, and I'm sure this is just one of those days and you'll be back on form in no time :D Maybe drop down a class and take him out on a surface to get both your confidence back once or twice and then go for it again :D

Well done though, he's looking so much better, how that horse; which came to you underweight and scrawny, can possibly be dubbed 'ruined' is beyond me!

J&C
 
Dont let the haters get you down, you are in charge of how you feel, they can only make you feel bad if you let them :D
As for your performance, tomorrow is another day :)
Hey if it was easy we'd all be good at it :D:D:D
 
Just a Q - was he studded up?

Ruined? Bollx! Everyone has off days and those fences were up to height! Drop down and get your confidence back up. Jumping on grass isn't something you get to do all that much.
 
He's looking amazing!!!!

Added to jumping on grass, you need to remember you've managed to change his entire way of going and style of jumping (for the better!). He has had many years to gain confidence in his 'gallop gallop, fling himself over the jump at a million miles an hour' style. He's only recently learnt to sit back and balance. It will take him time and practise to build his confidence to the same level.
 
Sorry to read that you had a bad day :( I would imagine that the ground had a lot to do with it and I think the bigger the jumps the more effect it has.

That's the trouble when you buy locally -everyone knows the pony's history. Take no notice - they probably couldn't ride one side of him!

He looks fab BTW.
 
He was a little stiff this morning but had a canter round the field so probably not feeling that bad. Going to ring physio tomorrow.

Cheers everyone. Nope he didn't have studs but I'm definitely considering putting some back shoes and and putting some studs in. :)

Kalli I never thought of it that way, I suppose it is loads different to what he's been doing all of his life.
 
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