bad time on our first xc - WARNING rant

noblesteed

noblesteed

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Just got back from rc xc schooling. Meant to be our first xc session on my current ned after my broken arm. What a waste of time!! There were 8 of us all different abilities, one instructor. Poor lady on youngster going nuts not coping with amount of horses charging about, 2 horses bolting, 12.2 pony ridden by LADY wouldn't jump (don't blame it), 5 loose horses in adjacent field galloping around while a woman screamed at them, setting off 5 horses in the next field. My loopy lad didn't know where to put himself, ran backwards, got left behind, screamed, made him worse, cut his leg, you get the picture.
Instructor disbanded us and sent us all off in different directions. My horse went nuts again, running backwards into everyone causing carnage again. I got off. Instructor got on.
My horse then proceeded to nanny the youngster round the whole big course, water complex etc. The first time he'd ever been round the course, and there are some spooky fences.
Instructor says "get his head sorted out and he'll be a cracking horse."

Arrrrgggh!!! So cross with myself for being a wimp, and the organisers for putting too many horses in the group!!! And so pleased with my horse for being such a star for the instructor but cross cos he was a loon for me. Maybe i should have given him more time to settle rather than giving up, but I didn't want to spoil everyone else's night.

SOrry. just needed to get that off my chest. Bug cup of earl grey and a fairycake for everyone who bothered to read this!!!!!
 
Aw, don't worry, atleast you know next time he will settle! Some of these group things can be a complete nightmare hence I tend to avoid like the plague!

Earl grey, yes please, I ran out last week!
 
Sorry to hear that you didn't have a good time. I don't blame you for being annoyed at the riding club for putting so many in the group it sounds like a recipe for disaster. One of my pet hates is when instructors get on horses it just shows a HUGE inadequacy in their teaching, the instructor should have helped you to ride through it.

Atleast you know for next time that he will jump all the fences though and great that he went so well his first time cross country :D
 
It souns like the RC weren't good at organising it (checking what you're bringing and splitting groups) but the instructor is good and likes your horse - can't you just have lessons with her?? xx
 
Thanks for the support everyone.

I think my friend and I might hire a local xc course to just have a play on before we try to do any more. And I definitely know which instructor to hire now! So not all bad. It's nice when someone 'knowledgeable' likes your horse. Most people tell me he's a stubborn git and I should get rid of him!!!
 
I would check the schedule for the clinic, with our RC we put XC as a max of 4 to avoid this but we do say you may have some of the group below / above with you if we cant make 4 at the same height. but out groups are onnly 3in apart. The novices / first timers dont get bigger horses with them unless they ask for a group with a lead horse.
 
Sounds like it was very poorly organised both in terms of class size and range of ability! Good that your horse has had a positive experience with the instructor though - might make him a bit calmer next time you go XC.
 
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