Natalie_H
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
Just wanted a bit of advice really. I've been riding in a predominantly leisure capacity for 28 years - 13 of those just having tremendous fun on my old pony (13.2 Dartmoor Cross). Always had bags of confidence - jumping some really decent jumps without batting an eyelid - with & without saddle!
When I lost her, I got an ex-racer as a 4-y-o. To start with, I had the same amount of confidence and started doing a bit of jumping with him with no problem - despite his hurdling background. As he was a youngster, I decided to do things the right way and have decent regular flatwork lessons - finally learning how to work a horse correctly.
However, as my horse has built up muscle through correct work & turned into a little powerhouse, he has actually become more difficult to ride. Now his temperament suits me perfectly, and his has bags of ability, but I work full time and suddenly it is seven years later & i really haven't progressed him in the way I would have liked to. I own the land he is on, and we have no decent schooling facility so we are a bit limited with the dark nights in winter / ground / me working full time. I have lost my confidence jumping because he gets over excited as we don't do enough of it. I have worked so hard with him through all his problems (poor hooves / skin allergies) and I really think we could be much better all rounders, but how do I do this with limited time?
With him, you never know what frame of mind he is going to be in - which makes it hard to progress in a consistent way. I think he would be better if we were doing more varied activities, more frequently, but being limited with time, it is hard & it becomes a vicious circle.
What would you suggest? Are there such things as clinics that run for few days that you can take your horse away to in order to crack on with a few disciplines in an intensive way to help us on our way? I adore this horse - despite his volatile nature - and would really love to get my confidence back. Sorry for the ramble!
Just wanted a bit of advice really. I've been riding in a predominantly leisure capacity for 28 years - 13 of those just having tremendous fun on my old pony (13.2 Dartmoor Cross). Always had bags of confidence - jumping some really decent jumps without batting an eyelid - with & without saddle!
When I lost her, I got an ex-racer as a 4-y-o. To start with, I had the same amount of confidence and started doing a bit of jumping with him with no problem - despite his hurdling background. As he was a youngster, I decided to do things the right way and have decent regular flatwork lessons - finally learning how to work a horse correctly.
However, as my horse has built up muscle through correct work & turned into a little powerhouse, he has actually become more difficult to ride. Now his temperament suits me perfectly, and his has bags of ability, but I work full time and suddenly it is seven years later & i really haven't progressed him in the way I would have liked to. I own the land he is on, and we have no decent schooling facility so we are a bit limited with the dark nights in winter / ground / me working full time. I have lost my confidence jumping because he gets over excited as we don't do enough of it. I have worked so hard with him through all his problems (poor hooves / skin allergies) and I really think we could be much better all rounders, but how do I do this with limited time?
With him, you never know what frame of mind he is going to be in - which makes it hard to progress in a consistent way. I think he would be better if we were doing more varied activities, more frequently, but being limited with time, it is hard & it becomes a vicious circle.
What would you suggest? Are there such things as clinics that run for few days that you can take your horse away to in order to crack on with a few disciplines in an intensive way to help us on our way? I adore this horse - despite his volatile nature - and would really love to get my confidence back. Sorry for the ramble!