Big young horse, and bit to sit her up?

Goldenstar- this is exactly what i propose to do. We have two trainers who help me and have improved things now end so far. Will also get her going up the local gallops. She will carry on with bsja and do the one class, as we are currently. However rather than put my ramblings on here for advice i will speak with my trainers instead, def not wanting this carry on again. life is too short and busy.
 
showjump said:
Im sorry but this is a stupid thing to post (esp in competing and training section), i own horses to compete them that is what i enjoy. I simply would not get the real enjoyment out of owning a horse i just hacked out or the like at home, i enjoy the show prep and shows seeing them change and success if it comes. So your statement about whats the need for a horse to be competing five or twenty five is your opinion. I am not a dealer i bred her myself and have no plans to sell her at the minute, but things change and the reality is if she never competes (as your suggesting) then she would presumably never sell, as if you read other threads on here horses lacking competition records are worthless. If you had your way she would end up as a 10 year old mare thats not been out competing? Dont get it at all.
Anyway thanks for those who replied, and yes i may well of answered my own post. This is not a bitting issue, i need to let her mature and improve with more time and more mini pony parties to let her see and ENJOY the wide world!
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Well thank you for calling me stupid :)

But there is no NEED, for any horse to compete, is just what you WANT to do.

And increasing your bitting to allow a horse you describe as tired too do what you WANT is up to you, but don't bitch about getting advice you don't like, when you asked for advice.
 
showjump said:
Im sorry but this is a stupid thing to post (esp in competing and training section), i own horses to compete them that is what i enjoy. I simply would not get the real enjoyment out of owning a horse i just hacked out or the like at home, i enjoy the show prep and shows seeing them change and success if it comes. So your statement about whats the need for a horse to be competing five or twenty five is your opinion. I am not a dealer i bred her myself and have no plans to sell her at the minute, but things change and the reality is if she never competes (as your suggesting) then she would presumably never sell, as if you read other threads on here horses lacking competition records are worthless. If you had your way she would end up as a 10 year old mare thats not been out competing? Dont get it at all.
Anyway thanks for those who replied, and yes i may well of answered my own post. This is not a bitting issue, i need to let her mature and improve with more time and more mini pony parties to let her see and ENJOY the wide world!
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Horses lacking a competition record may be of less value than those with a good record however by taking her out and running her into the ground you are ruining her record.

Build her fitness up and then get her out doing more.
 
If her current bit works well for you one the flat/during the first round of jumps, then I don't think it's a bitting issue. Also, if it's a tiredness issue making the fences bigger will just bring the problem on quicker. Don't get me wrong, competing her once every few weekends is fine, but personally I would just be sticking to the one round while you build up her strength at home. I think what cptrayes was trying to say is that there is actually no need to be competing a horse, particularly when they are clearly telling you they are not ready. So go home, do your homework and only ask for more when the horse is ready and not when you are. If you keep jumping her when she is getting so tired, you will very quickly start to reinforce some bad habits. Set yourselves up to succeed.
 
OMG I can't believe this forum sometimes. Doing one two phase class where the horse gets a little tired near the end and has a fence or two as a result will not ruin it, or its jump. Its part of the learning process. The OP now knows the mare tires in the situations and is looking to address it. Also I have no doubt that next time the mare will feel better because it will have learned from the previous experience. I am a total believer in there being no quick fixes but taking her to comps is part of the training process and I see no difference to this than going to hire an arena. The OP is not trying to make the mare win classes.

No of course a horse doesn't have to compete but in the end of the day its what nearly all us riders train them for and why are logged onto this forum!! The mare is 5 and the OP's trainers think its ready to go out doing a few BNs so i think they probably know best!
 
My horse does the same when he is tired and your comment about galloping was interesting. I have gallops at my yard and haven't yet seen any horse go up and gallop first time out, they need to be trained and mine has still not quite got it!

With mine, I am still working on strengthening him behind so he uses himself better. A random exercise was scattered trotting poles. He so turned his nose up at this till he suddenly realised the striding was odd and he had to lift, carry and work it out for himself. Really helped with his whole "sitting" and using his back end properly. Look forward to hearing more updates on your mare.
 
I don't think the general consensus is that you shouldn't be competing her, more that changing her bit isn't the way to solve the problem. That was the title of the thread '...bit to sit her up?', and generally people are saying no, leave the bit, fitness should solve the problem. There have been some helpful suggestions on how to help with her fitness - good luck!
 
Supanova said:
OMG I can't believe this forum sometimes. Doing one two phase class where the horse gets a little tired near the end and has a fence or two as a result will not ruin it, or its jump.
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So glad you said that. Was starting to think one round of 14 fences at 90cm was a something taxing on a horse.
It may also be possible that she isn't actually getting tired at all. Not unusual for a young horse to give the first few fences a good few inches through lack of experience and excitement. Next few will be jumped well. Final third of the course can take more from the rider as the horse has lost the initial excitement and has now decided it's all a bit too much like work and becomes lazy with the feet. Feels very much like horse has got tired but not the case.
 
Supanova said:
OMG I can't believe this forum sometimes. Doing one two phase class where the horse gets a little tired near the end and has a fence or two as a result will not ruin it, or its jump. Its part of the learning process. The OP now knows the mare tires in the situations and is looking to address it. Also I have no doubt that next time the mare will feel better because it will have learned from the previous experience. I am a total believer in there being no quick fixes but taking her to comps is part of the training process and I see no difference to this than going to hire an arena. The OP is not trying to make the mare win classes.

No of course a horse doesn't have to compete but in the end of the day its what nearly all us riders train them for and why are logged onto this forum!! The mare is 5 and the OP's trainers think its ready to go out doing a few BNs so i think they probably know best!
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Then the OP's trainers would be the obvious people to ask for advice rather than posting on a forum where she has no idea of the quality of suggestion she may get and the posters attempting to help don't have the benefit of being able to see how the horse is going!
 
have found this can be a problem with two phase competitions anyway. I would take her with a mate and hand gallop up the gallops once a week. Don't go mad and find one with an incline if you can. I do have one at the moment who is eight and has not yet started jumping at shows. He is very big built and has had a nightmare with one of his feet. problem now found and fixed but he is a different horse as it has given him time to mature. I am old school and don't think age classes are good for them anyway. they all need to take time, afterall one horse Harvey Smith won a silver olympic medal on didn't show jump til it was ten. However, a big five year old should be able to jump a British Novice and a jump off, but may not cope well with two Phase as it requires a much greater level of fitness and laid back youngsters do take a couple of years to get really fit. I know shows do it because it is quicker but did prefer the old way. You should see a big improvement next year and put in some miles up hills over the winter. Good luck she sounds very straight and good fun.
 
Just a thought but your own fitness/leg could also be a factor. You've said she's a big mare and you're 5ft2. In my experience Young horses especially those lacking physical strength/fitness or still growing into themselves take more holding together between hand and leg. My brothers youngster is 6yo 17.2 and still maturing. He's jumping disco/newcs,but has been given time to grow into himself and not pressurised. If I ride him I struggle to maintain him in an outline and he feels "heavy"to me, my brother being taller & stronger in the leg easily keeps him together and he shows a much lighter way of going. As I said - just a thought
 
Thanks for the replies. I certainly do not think a bnov is too much for her to be doing, however i will look at schedules more closely and perhaps choose ones without it being a two phase. Shes been to clinics and jumped more that a two phase number of jumps, but your stop starting whilst others jump so her and I are getting a breather in between! I will try and get her to the gallops for fitness works Kelsall is local to me, just getting there before dark no! (not to gallop, as im sure that would be too energetic for her anyhow but a good blow)
Lankyloll- yes this could also be the case, shes a big mare for me to keep together when my trainer gets on (shes tall) she manages her much easier than me.
 
showjump said:
Thanks for the replies. I certainly do not think a bnov is too much for her to be doing, however i will look at schedules more closely and perhaps choose ones without it being a two phase. Shes been to clinics and jumped more that a two phase number of jumps, but your stop starting whilst others jump so her and I are getting a breather in between! I will try and get her to the gallops for fitness works Kelsall is local to me, just getting there before dark no! (not to gallop, as im sure that would be too energetic for her anyhow but a good blow)
Lankyloll- yes this could also be the case, shes a big mare for me to keep together when my trainer gets on (shes tall) she manages her much easier than me.
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Your spot on with the stop starting they find that much easier at this stage I prefer not to do individual clinics for jumping with weak ones for this reason .
I would look to your trainer helping you build your core and skills to help the balance in the canter as the horse tires .
I am better at this on our 6yo than the six foot something man who also rides him just because my timing and ability to influence the balance is quicker .
This is just a phase you will through it before you know it .
 
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