cross country help please sorry bit long

debsflo

debsflo

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daughter took her horse to first x country today.we have had her 5 months and she has been going well.they had done x country at camp and she was bold and in her previous home had competed sucessfully.we planned to do local course very straightforward course nothing scary,mainly logs and all 2 foot 3 so shes more than capable.warmed up beautifully and didnt look twice at any of the 3 practice fences but on the course they only got to fence 2 before a refusal and daughter fell off and retired.she now wishes she had got back on and tried again but having discussed what happened she felt that she was hanging back at the start and wasnt going forward into either fence really and sounds as if she was a bit nappy.i really want to nip this in the bud before she starts taking advantage.shes not a nappy horse and daughter whose 15 is a decent rider very quiet and maybe too nice.we are going to go and practice the course next week but i would welcome any advice please.apologies for the essay
 
Was it the horses first ever XC or just with your daughter? Just sounds like nappy behaviour being somewhere new - a couple of group lessons and probably needs a couple of smacks to push her forward when she was trying to nap
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Get a really confident, experienced rider to do a couple of cross country sessions with the horse... just to teach her that she cant get away with napping....

I'm sure your daughters more than capable but someone a bit less nice might do the horse good just for a session or two!!
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good luck!!
 
I would say more schooling with an instructor that your daughter trusts. Several sessions with my instructor shouting "Kick" and sorting out the issues in my head have made a huge difference to us.
 
daughters first x country.horse is experienced and capable.we agree she needs to be very positive and give her a smack.think she was a bit anxious that she would be strong and fast and was sure she would just take her into fences that she wasnt really prepared.we are having highs and lows but think we are coming out of the honeymoon phase now.she is a bright little horse and is taking advantage a bit
 
Can you hire a course and do a complete "pretend" competition. At PC you tend to do the X Country one or two fences at a time in groups and it isn't quite the same.

If you did go and hire a course, you would have to warm up the horse first, get it jumping over the practice fence etc.

This is a matter of getting used to each other and finding out the horse's likes and dislikes. But it is vital to be positive at every fence.
 
I think a couple of cross country clinics would be a good help. Other horses, rider may be a little tense like in a real comp but the chance for support and instruction will help plus the chance to go back and do again.

Good luck to your daughter - I am sure she will crack it
 
yes agree at camp they did big fences but one at a time and totally different to riding a course.were going to hire the same course and practise them individually then as a course and book a clinic if needed.thank you
 
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