Can't believe I did it - XC!

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peapod

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Today - I went XC training on Sonny - the first time ever.

We had a fantastic time - I didn't do as many jumps as others in my group, but we popped some logs, went up and down a quarry, and did two different sets of steps. Tried a ditch and to walk through the water - but Sonny wasn't having any of it
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Next time! Sonny is only 5 still - I was very proud of him today - he found it all a bit scary to start with and didn't want to do anything, but by the end we made up a tiny course of steps and logs, and he popped round really well
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I honestly didn't think I'd be confident enough to even jump one log, never mind do steps and things as well!

Sadly I only have one photo of us in action - will have to get more next time! The other set of steps were two steps cut into a bank - we had to trot up the bank and then down the steps. I know it looks rather easy to all you eventer-y types - but it was a huge deal for me even to do this.

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Any tips on how to persuade him that he would actually like to do ditches and water?! We tried having a lead horse, leading him in/over on foot, he was determined not to do it though.
 
Can I suggest (not a criticism of you at all!) trying a different rider? I make all horses nervous when I ride ditches as I HATE them!
lungeing over it?
We built a ditch at home and lunge over it, lead over it, ride over it (and it is actually the scariest ditch ever, NOTHING goes over it first time!)
 
well done
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i woodn't b too worried about him not liking ditches/water as he's only a baby and it was his first time but maybe working him through puddles at home(hey, it's wot i do!) will lessen his dislike of water
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well done! you must be proud!
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as for the ditches and water... I also had problems with them while eventing my horse a few years ago (resulted in a couple embarrassing eliminations! hehe). My suggestions are... for the water: like someone else mentioned, ride through any water you see from now on, puddles, etc, don't make a big deal out of them, also, if you can go schooling with another person (don't know if you were by yourself today?) who has a more confident horse, follow them through the water a few times so your boy realises that it's no big deal and then have him do it on his own. you can use the following approach with ditches as well, I remember on one x-c school my trainer made about 5 of us follow the one girl who's horse would do ditches no problem... it was massive (and terrifying! O_o) but we all got over fine! also, as someone else said, it might be a good idea to have a very confident rider hop on and school him over them a few times (again, not meaning any offense to you!). good luck!!!
 
Well done you and Sonny!!! My boy did not like water either...although happy to go through it on fords and puddles at home! I started doinf pleasure rides and you meet all sorts of fords and streams to go through on them...after a couple of times getting wet feet leading him through them he soon got his confidence and went through first time...perhaps you could try something similar?
But well done...practice and I am sure you will both get confident.
 
Well done you, I would be chuffed to bits as well. Don't worry about the water, it will come with time. Your boy is just a baby still and if you are nervous too its not going to help. I would follow someone to give him a bit more confidence, and you too. Great pic
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