Advice needed - daughter jumping

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nikanita

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we have two ponies. 12.2 and 14.2

Daughter (aged 11) now uses 12.2 for Mounted games. never really enjoyed jumping on this pony as he was far too quick and tended to pull out on the jumps so made the decision to use him just for MG and move her on to my mare (the 14.2)

we have had my mare for 6 years (previously ridden by my other daughter, now 19 and lost interest when she was 15) she didn't do much on her apart from the occasional holiday camp and hacking. I started riding her about the same time but mainly hack and have had a couple of jumping lessons, but I'm not the most confident when it comes to jumping.

That's the background, now my problem.

Daughter had lesson last weekend, went really well and she was jumping about 2ft. Pony went well - confidence building.

Lesson Friday night, really good again. She did fall off once but she was happy to say it was her fault as she didn't kick to get her over the jump -pony refused. She was jumping full up 2ft 3.

Entered her for a low key jumping comp yesterday. Warmed up well, went in to do clear round. 1ft 9' jumped first 2 jumps fine then refused 3rd twice. I went in and put it down, jumped it, then refused 4th, daughter fell off and refused to jump any more. Withdrew her from the main competition, she did go back in the warm up arena and jumped some cross poles, but pony refused when put as a spread and the she point blanked refused to jump anything else (daughter, not pony)

She has a lesson this afternoon, so hopefully instructor can put it right. She has a PC comp on Monday, only 1ft 6 to 1ft 9 and I really don't want her to go to pieces. Confidence is back on the floor.

Pony is 14 year old, cob mare. She hasn't done a lot of jumping as the boys who had her before didn't do much on her. Would you send pony to someone for some schooling, persevere with daughter and lessons, or just give up on the jumping and get daughter to concentrate on her mounted games which she loves. Seems a shame for her to give up on this mare as it would be good to see them do more together and daughter is getting a bit big for little pony.

Thanks for reading and cookies for getting to the end.
 
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Honestly it was a bit much to expect of the mare a daughter to go to jump a new course of fences after only two lessons when the mare has done no real jumping! I'd say re camp once her instructor is aware of what's happened it could be a fab opportunity for the mare to get some mileage and get some practice in over a few days.
 
Is there someone more experienced you could gt to ride the mare to get her more confident jumping, if both your daughter and the mare are inexperienced it's a difficult combination.
Maybe take the pressure off and do the things both of them enjoy for a while. Jumping lesson on Friday, jumping competition Saturday, jumping lesson Sunday and jumping comp on Monday sounds like an huge amount for an expereinced and jumping fit horse so maybe your mare is stuggling physically with all that work if she's not used to it.
 
Why is your daughter jumping? Not clear from post whether it's something she actually wants to do or something she thinks she should be doing.

If she was scared jumping a small pony, don't see how putting on her a bigger inexperienced jumper is going to help :confused:
 
Our pony is only just 7 and a bit green - he jumps really well (and they go up to 3 foot 3) in the paddock on our home jumps but refused three times at a show last week - he didn't like the scary fillers! We know he just needs practice so daughter (12) is just doing as much as possible on him and also tying balloons etc on the jumps at home. We have an indoor sj place (its about an hour away though :-() which they have been to a couple of times. I think the only way to get better at SJ is just to keep doing SJ!

Can others jump her round a course? Perhaps she can feel that your dd lacks confidence/is nervous at a show which is perfectly normal at this stage/age.
 
Agree with Amage. I expect they will be fine given more time but currently neither pony or rider has any confidence and they both need some hand/hoof holding. I'd pull out of the competition too.
 
Only you know your daughter. Does she want to do the competition? If not then I would pull out (the weather is horrible anyway :D) and concentrate on lessons. Agree with those who said you've done a lot in four days!
 
Thanks for the suggestions.

Someone more experienced to ride the mare is a good idea. Just think daughter is never going to be a confident jumper. She likes to go with her best friend who is really confident, doesn't like to miss out. Think I'll just take her to watch on Monday! I'll take advice from the instructor this afternoon, see what she says.
 
Wow that's a lot of days jumping for the pony. I thought I was doing a lot by taking my daughter and pony to a show Monday and pc Tuesday only reason I'm doing is because it's the only days I'm off work. But her ponies not been jumped at all at home for over 2 weeks apart from a few tiny logs on a hack last weekend, I have to be really carefull or her pony gets sour jumping!!
Advise on the stopping/ confidence I would leave the Sj alone for a while and maybe do some fun stuff like sponsored rides with mini jumps or some pairs xc with a confident horse in front (again tiny jumps). Horse will get confindence off following take the pressure off you daughter and I find the kids really enjoy that sort of stuff.
 
Are you heading to rodbaston? We normally do that one but can't as daughter gone back to shool.
I wouldn't rush her keep it simple and maybe back off the jumping. If I was closer (in Telford) I would offer my daughter to come and help.
 
Tbh, its not suprising they've both had their confidence knocked. Pony is so inexperienced it refuses at home if not kicked, so you should be pleased it was genuine enough to jump anything at a comp with an inexperienced rider. Get an experienced rider to bring pony on. And if daughter decides she wants to jump, get her lessons on something experienced. By rushing you've set daughter & pony both back. Meantime encourage daughter to do stuff with the 14.2 she enjoys to build a bit of trust up so when both her & pony have gained their confidence back & experience separately, they can jump as a team in the future.
 
why don't you get her a pony that wants to jump? sounds like your mare doesn't want to jump tbh and it's only going to end up in child being demoralised
 
Yes we are going to Rodbaston. Its our half term this week. We are members of north Shropshire pc. In a team of four so didn't want to let the others down.

update on lesson - instructor said she was pulling on her mouth after the jump and that was what probably caused the reluctance yesterday. We have changed bit to a snaffle and they had a really good lesson.

Daughter is getting too big for the 12.2.but will not part with him. In an ideal world we would getting something between the two, but this is her decision, and at least we know that my mare is honest (instructor was surprised when I told her about the refusals yesterday) and they can grow together. There is no way I could manage 3 ponies!

Have given daughter the option to pull out tomorrow but she wants to go, so we'll see how they get on.
 
Good luck I hope she does well, we are part of the albrighton hunt PC so we also have a few riders going, we normally go to watch an old pony of ours who we sold to someone in the NS but he doesn't appear to be going.
Let us know how she gets on.
 
Stick with the lessons, and maybe think about getting someone to ride her a few times to really get the ponys confidence up so shes also happy to take your daughter round even if she feels your daughters abit neverous /unsure of a jump, good luck for tommorow!
 
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