Camp... WWYD

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rachk89

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So I have an opportunity to go on a camp soon at the beginning of August nearby, which involves 2 dressage lessons, 2 show jumping lessons and 1 cross country lesson. I am tempted to go, but I am still getting my confidence back from my horse being a twit recently (the teenager tantrums at 7) and although he is now going better now that we have established that I am the one in charge, not him, I am not overly sure I can handle all of that jumping when I was never very good at it in the first place. I am getting better to be fair on me, I no longer freak out when he does his silly napping crap, I've found sitting still and making him stand after he has spun round away from the 'object of terror' the best option. Stand still, make him bored, try again. No reaction to his idiocy, and its working so continuing with it.

So my options are this:

1. Ask to go for just 1 day and do dressage only (I've asked if I can do this, this option may not be allowed).
2. Do more dressage lessons than jumping, and just do 1 jumping lesson with poles/tiny jumps and for the cross country just go into the fields and gain a bit of confidence in the open.
3. Suck it up and just do it (that will probably result in me being terrified, especially at the cross country bit, he's never done cross country before).
4. I do the dressage bits, and providing the whole 3 days isnt too expensive, ask someone else to do the jumping and cross country bits so that the horse has some fun and gains experience in jumping at a new place, and gets some confidence when doing cross country.
5. Dont go at all.

I cant think of any other options. Please let me know what option you would go for if you were someone like me. I've never actually been to a camp before either so I would like to go for the experience, but if it seems a stupid idea, then I can appreciate that.

Cheers. :)
 
I would go for the three days and ask if you can do two baby jumping lessons. I'm sure they must do the groups into ability, level of jumping, so if you go for baby jumping you will be others with young horses or people who are building their confidence. Why not ask if you can go on a hack instead of the xc. I am always careful about who I go xc with as I am not super confident so choose my instructor and group accordingly. I go on a camp every year and I never do xc as I am never sure who I am going to get as instructor. A hack will be a nice relaxing thing for you and the horse, especially if there are other people going on a hack.

You should go, especially if it is a camp that is set up for people of all abilities. You will probably meet people who have similar issues. Camps are usually great fun and you will meet loads of people and have a fab time. Relax and enjoy. If you go and don't want to do xc, just don't do it. Go and watch and learn something from the ground.

Go, go, go.
 
If it's a camp run by decent trainers then I'd go. Explain your worries and ask their advice. Good trainers won't want to take you completely out of your comfort zone unless they are confident they can keep you safe. Potentially, this is an ideal opportunity to move forward and you'll probably be surprised at how many people also have confidence issues.
 
I'd go.

Say what you have issues with at the start of the camp & then they can work ŵith you throughout.
Plus once you are at camp and in a group situation you may find that you gain confidence and will try new things with others.
 
You should go but maybe don't do the xc and ask for pole/X poles sj. I was at a camp last month and peoples abilities varied greatly. Some just did flatwork with no jumping. Also some people asked when they were there to swap and do more flatwork or more jumping based on how it was going and if there was space in certain groups.
 
Definitely go, there will be others there in the same boat as you, and they should put you all in similar ability groups. Camp is great fun, really good for confidence and bonding with your horse.
 
Going against the grain I personally wouldn't go. I think trainers are too variable to risk it when you're just getting your confidence back. There will always be more camps and this way you can spend more money on lessons with the trainers that's gelling you make positive strides.
 
Friend came back Monday from camp, loved it, she swapped one xc lesson for a flatwork and did lots of hacking out across the xc course and some jumping on her own. The instructor also rode her horse in the arena to iron out an issue which proved v helpful. Think she had 2 flatwork, 2 SJ and one xc lesson.

Opt for the smallest class both xc and SJ, then if not confident xc watch rather than jump. You could also ride round the jumps SJ rather than jump if instructor OK with it, would stop you worrying about the jumping and concentrate on getting horse going forward not napping.
 
I would go. Just be prepared to say NO very firmly if asked to do too much.
My only experience of a camp was at MKEC. I went with owner of horse I was riding, she did the flat work stuff, I did the jumping. Worked well and had a great time. Do you have someone who could step in for some of the jump stuff if necessary?
 
vallin said:
Going against the grain I personally wouldn't go. I think trainers are too variable to risk it when you're just getting your confidence back. There will always be more camps and this way you can spend more money on lessons with the trainers that's gelling you make positive strides.
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This.

The camp is three weeks away and you are only just regaining confidence in your horse.

There will be other camps, I would not risk the progress you are making
 
I'd go. I go to a camp where the trainers are excellent. The intense sessions are just what I need to build confidence and work through issues.
 
Stockland Lovell? Great camps, great trainers and a fab atmosphere!
meesha said:
Friend came back Monday from camp, loved it, she swapped one xc lesson for a flatwork and did lots of hacking out across the xc course and some jumping on her own. The instructor also rode her horse in the arena to iron out an issue which proved v helpful. Think she had 2 flatwork, 2 SJ and one xc lesson.

Opt for the smallest class both xc and SJ, then if not confident xc watch rather than jump. You could also ride round the jumps SJ rather than jump if instructor OK with it, would stop you worrying about the jumping and concentrate on getting horse going forward not napping.
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I went for the first time last year and really enjoyed it. It helped me to get to know my horse, it put is in a new situation but it was encouraging and supportive as there were lots of people around. It also meant we had lessons from new instructors, for a different view on things. There's a lot to learn even outside of the lessons themselves. It also means that if we do a stay away comp ever, we've had some practice at doing that in a lower key way.

I'd say it depends a lot both on how it's organised, who teaches, and just how fragile your confidence is. I'd elect to do flatwork and pole work maybe and leave the jumping/xc for now, if it's early days still. If you feel more confident when you get there, ask to pop a pole. I probably wouldn't do xc as I think that does lend itself to being a bit bolder really.
 
I would go.
I went to one with zero confidence but the intensive-ness of it meant that we'd finish jumping on a good note and full of confidence and still have that confidence when starting jumping the next time rather than having too much time to talk myself out of being able to do anything
 
I would find out what the trainers are like. Also find out what the smallest heights available are. Nearly all our local xc courses have very very small jumps as an option at every obstacle. I would say, if you go for only part of it or if the instructors aren't good, it would do more harm than good however if they are good and the facilities are suitable for your needs and the grouping is done well, then you should come away feeling great.
 
Thanks guys. :)

I have asked about the camp but not heard anything back yet. I get what people mean about not making my confidence worse but I do tend to do better if I have someone telling me what to do. If i don't have that person in the arena giving instructions I will just go "eh that will do".

I definitely wouldn't do the xc and the most I would do is go for a hack. I would only even possibly do the xc on a horse I knew well and it would still be small jumps. Will see what they say hopefully there are still spaces at a novice/low confidence level.

I could find someone to do the jumping I imagine. I know someone who is going who would do it quite willingly he loves jumping my horse.
 
I haven't been to a camp or anything before as horse won't travel but is there a more dressage orientated camp you could do even if it's a little bit further away?
 
I'd go and ask if you can maybe have one polework session and then a session on tiny jumps really focused on getting him listening to you and going around the fences nicely if you feel confident or another polework session if not and for the XC you could always just practice control in an open field and playing in the water and going up and down steps and maybe over some teeny little logs if you feel up to it.

Are these group or private lessons? If private then you really should be able to ask for exactly what you feel you need. If a group session then if there's a range of abilities at the camp it shouldn't be an issue finding you a suitable group but if it's mainly people who are confident jumping then it may be difficult for them.

I went to a camp a few months ago where they were catering for people with a very wide range of abilities and confidence levels. I was the only one who turned up to the XC lesson actually wanting to jump anything. I actually spent most of the lesson practising walking and halting before and after fences as my horse has a tendency to rush . Did actually get some nice work out of his highness once he'd stopped throwing tantrums about not being allowed to go fast! All the other people in the lesson ended up going over at least a couple of fences in a really confident manner and did more than they were expecting without being pressured into doing anything they didn't want to so I think we all got something out of the lesson
 
I'm with the don't go people.
What is the point of going to a camp where you are too nervous to do half the things that are on offer?
Use the money for lessons at the level you are at.
 
Well I found out more details today.

I can do the middle range flatwork lessons and then do the low jumps/polework for jumping and then 'twig on the ground' xc. :) So that sounds pretty good.

I know a fair few of the instructors as well (there's like 8 of them split between the different areas but it doesn't say who you get. I am kind of hoping I get the German guy for flatwork as I think he will push me more. Hoping i get the guy i know for jumping (i usually get dressage lessons with him and he pushes me as well but in a nice way). Don't care for cross country as long as they know that we will barely jump and probably won't manage to even step into the water. :P I need pushed really if I get told to do something I will do it. Get asked or i think I will do it and I generally don't.

Just got to get my boss to give me the Friday off now which may not happen. Hoping he does allow it he said he would try to.
 
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