Calling all you eventers :)

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Eira

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Well , i'm starting to panic about going XC schooling on thursday
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I'm being a complete prat but really feel like cancelling
Can I have some advice / tips on how to stay on
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as the last experience ended up in a trip to hospital , a dislocated hip and i still cant feel the top of my leg because of suspected nerve damage
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The problem is Danny backs off the fences , I hesitate because he stops / cat leaps / bolts away from the fence .
Can anyone give me any advice
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Thanks is advance
 
Think positive - what's going on in your mind is transferred down the reins and that will only worsen the situation if you are worried.

Keep a rhythm, all the way to the fence and just think of the jump as another stride, nothing to get worked up about.

Keep it small, something you know your horse can easily do and build up as the session goes on.

Try and enjoy it, and your horse will too
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start small stay in comfort zone,, make sure you stay behind the movement and have a neck strap or martingale to hang onto should he cat leap!!! be confident send the right signals to your horse and dont cancel, have fun, play in the water and make a very poss experience for horse and rider... there will always be another day to jump bigger stuff..... and let us all know how you get on!!
 
I would imagine you're going with someone else? If so, would that person be happy to hop on and pop a fence or two on him? I say that because I think if the fall has really shaken your confidence and, like you said, he backs off his fences you might just be anticipating that too much and almost riding him assuming he will back off.

Maybe if you can watch him pop a couple of fences with someone else riding (who doesn't have your demons to deal with :-) ) it will give you a more positive vibe and you'll ride him with more confidence.

I know quite often I will be convinced my boy 'just can't' do something, then I'll watch my instructor hop on and do what I just said he couldn't!! So I have to jump back on, put my mind to it and get on with it
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I'm not saying that these situations are the same at all (sounds like you had a really horrific fall), but I know we all make excuses for us and our horses and sometimes it just needs us to be pigheaded and determined about it.

Don't cancel :-) Go along, whatever, and just enjoy the time out. Do as much as you can manage, take it easy and have fun!!!

Hope it goes well and do report back.
 
i'd want to get to the bottom of why he does that, first. does he only do it over xc fences because he's green, in which case keep them small, trot to them until he wants to canter to them, sit up heels down, squeeze him like a tube of toothpaste, and enjoy it! but if he jumps like that all the time, i'd consider back check, saddle check or change, teeth check, and loose schooling until he trusts his jump a bit more.
very best of luck, hope you have a great time. it's all about confidence, get a picture in your mind of the most confident and happy looking xc horse and rider (such as William and Tam, Daisy and Springalong) and pretend you are them on their horse!
 
He's not green and he doesn't do it with any other rider if they get on him ( aslong as they just get on with it ) its me completly that stuffs it up , I have absoloutly 0 confidence on him . I will happily ride him to any size sj fence and am confident on him in that respect .
I booked to go xc schooling cos I really want to bite the bullet and get on with it , but really think ill end up travelling up there warming up then wussing out and going home
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Have you thought about having a go at Jumpcross? I went last week and it was really good for confidence building xc, for both me and my horse. It is like XC, but with show jumps - it might be worth you having a look to see if there is one near you to have a lesson at
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Good luck for you XC though.
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In the same way that kerilli says - picture someone else going XC on him. Know and believe that he can do it and then switch the image in your head to you on him doing it. Start off with fences that you can jump just as you would SJ and treat them as SJ fences. You really, really can do it you know :-)

But....if at the end of the day you don't WANT to do it, then thats absolutely fine too.
 
GO! defo use neck strap, i find a breast plate best, stopped me popping out the side door before!
Trot over the smallest simplest log both ways, and go back to trot on other side so he doesnt rush, if your happy move on to canter. give him a pat, u take deep breath and repeat! if your stressed try counting the canter stride into the fence, focus on the canter, not the fence, keep the rythm.
just dont feel under pressure to do too much, finish on a good note so you both leave happy, then you can build on tht nxt time
good luck, and smile its fun, honestly!!
 
Yup. Focus on canter. Keep it small. Smile. If not enjoying it, stop. It isn't a test of your nerve. Get a lead if it makes him more forward going. If it's going REALLY well, STOP! William FP says stop at the point where you wish you cd go and jump some more! It's the best way to end...as it leaves you looking fwd to the next time!
 
My daughters pony does this and it's just a confidence thing with him , we were told to just keep on going xc schooling with him so he gets used to it , he hates big open spaces and wont settle , she did a (first ever) hunter trial on him on Sunday , it was only clear round and he had a lot of stops and run-outs but she was so chuffed with him and herself that she had done it and he was quite happy and relaxed by the last few fences so please go and have a play and then report back with how well you both did
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Why don't you try and get to a XC clinic with a decent trainer - it will give you confidence to have someone on the ground and they can help you by watching what your horse does and how you are influencing him. Lots and lots of practice over little things and never worry about rushing to jump bigger things - if you are jumping sizes you are happy with you will ride with more confidence than if you overface yourself.
Good luck!
 
Thankyou for all your advice and encouragment =]
Will deffo let you know how it goes ...
that said anyone in herefordshire that wants to encourgae me over jumps , your more that welcome or bring ur hat and i'll eat some biscuits while you have a 'fun ' experience
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Keep everything Sllllllooooowwwww!!! Trot into things, and let him have agood look so he doesnt feel the need to cat leap/put in funny jumps! Start off little, and just build up to what you are happy with. Kepping it slow means you have chance of stayting with him, and he has a chance to weight things up and get his confidence up!! Good luck!!
 
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