PaddyMonty
Well-Known Member
I'm wondering if people set their expectations and goals far too low these days and why.
My last horse went from having done one intro (not with me) to a top 10 placing at BD regionals in 6 months.
Current horse 8 weeks ago was bent like a banana, charged her fences and nose dived over them generally taking the poles with her. Now I would most likely get her round a BE90 without disgracing ourselves too badly.
Now I dont consider myself a talented and gifted rider. I seen some of those and that aint me but I set and expectation of the horse and then work dam hard to achieve it. Next season we will be starting eventing. Plan is to skip BE80 and go straight in at BE90 with a view t be doing BE100 mid season. Perfectly reasonable to my way of thinking.
On the flip side I see post after post about people schooling their horse for 12-18 months and feel they might be able to do an intro test soon. Taking years just to jump 70cm. Stick at the same level eventing all season, think getting over the last fence SJ is an achievement even if 6 poles have gone down during the round.
Why?
Is it a lack of rider confidence, are instructors not pushing their pupils anymore, is the pat on the back mentality we have for the slightest of success lowering expectations or do people just not want to put the effort in anymore? Have people lost sight of what can be achieved with correct training and effort? I just don't understand why the horse world seems to be sinking in to mediocraty.
Would be interested in how others think / feel about this.
My last horse went from having done one intro (not with me) to a top 10 placing at BD regionals in 6 months.
Current horse 8 weeks ago was bent like a banana, charged her fences and nose dived over them generally taking the poles with her. Now I would most likely get her round a BE90 without disgracing ourselves too badly.
Now I dont consider myself a talented and gifted rider. I seen some of those and that aint me but I set and expectation of the horse and then work dam hard to achieve it. Next season we will be starting eventing. Plan is to skip BE80 and go straight in at BE90 with a view t be doing BE100 mid season. Perfectly reasonable to my way of thinking.
On the flip side I see post after post about people schooling their horse for 12-18 months and feel they might be able to do an intro test soon. Taking years just to jump 70cm. Stick at the same level eventing all season, think getting over the last fence SJ is an achievement even if 6 poles have gone down during the round.
Why?
Is it a lack of rider confidence, are instructors not pushing their pupils anymore, is the pat on the back mentality we have for the slightest of success lowering expectations or do people just not want to put the effort in anymore? Have people lost sight of what can be achieved with correct training and effort? I just don't understand why the horse world seems to be sinking in to mediocraty.
Would be interested in how others think / feel about this.