Digbys first jumping lesson

[I_A_P]

i had my first jumping lesson today, we only kept 3 jumps which were all x poles up.

We started off with a pole and a x pole in the middle of the school so we were jumping it on a 20m circle, then took the pole away...did that on both reins.
Then there were 2 other fences which she put a tiny filler under one, and the two bigger fillers half in on the other-which he didnt bat an eyelid at.
Very tiny jumps but thats all we needed so we could suss out what hes like.
Only thing is a difference of opinion of how i ride with my hands...yesterday i had a flat lesson and she wants me to be slightly foward in my position and have my hands wide and lower than you would normally ride-just to help him ......but today she told me this si totally wonr and i got the whole "top riders never ride like this so why do you" which is fine ...i OBVIOUSLY dont ride like that generally..as she surely knows?? so that was a bit annoying and i tried to explain why i was doing it...then she said to mum later thats why i shouldnt have 2 trainers as its more difficult.....anyone have any advice?
but all in all was good...he doesnt seem spooky so hopefully we can move the fillers in a bit more next tme

 

[KatB]

Pleased he was a good boy re. fillers etc

Re trainers, is difficult. But would say, if there is one you get on with better, stick with them with occasional lesons from the other. Not keen on the wide hand thing personally, it gets into a habit which is hard to break!!

 

[dixie]

Hey, that's good news. Its nice when they don't spook at fillers, makes it so much easier.

I think jumping on a 20m circle is pretty difficult actually even when its just poles on the ground.

Two trainers can be confusing but you really need to just take the bits you agree with & which you feel help with each trainer. You don't have to ride exactly how each ones says. It seems to be that your trainer has sour grapes !

I had a my first jumping lesson on my horse last weekend and she was great. She's clearly done quite a bit which was unknown as I got her from a dealer who imported her. Looks like we both have a lot to look forward to this year !!

 

[I_A_P]

well things is its hard to find good trainers...my flat trainer (competes at PSG) was great with my last mare and really helped our flatwork whereas i had struggled with the other lady who i had today as we never got anywhere....its more keeping my rein open, and not worrying about sitting right up.
But i need someone to do some small jumping exercises with him to keep him going until he does some more serious jumping when hes stronger and more balanced on the flat...and shes nice and local....any other "good named" trainers are hours away really...apart from some clinics which are normally in summer.
So i cant really just go to one.....also i do like the jumping lady and we do hire her arena from time to time and i dont want to block her out.
Its so hard.....i had started to wonder if the flat trainer even wanted to teach as she didnt seem keen last time but now she seems fine..so i dont know!!
We need more trainers¬!!!! lol

 

[I_A_P]

Dixie-that sounds great!! have to have some piccys

i know i need to try and keep my own head and what works but i felt like screaming and going argh but i was told to do so and so-she knows i dont just ride like that.. as i had so many lessons with her on my last horse.

 

[khan]

who are your trainers - i'm in suffolk, maybe able to recommend someone.

 

[I_A_P]

I have pmed you

 

[dixie]

I'll try and post some pictures at the weekend - I'm really beginning to love her.

Its annoying when there aren't enough trainers around. I always think it is good to have more than one trainer anyway unless they are totally contradicting each other. It does sound like her nose has been put out of joint though to say it was totally wrong to have your hands low and wide. If you found it works for you at the moment, then I would say that was fine & just grin and nod at her !!!

 

[I_A_P]

yay

love piccys

It is hard to find a decent trainer atm i need one regualrly so i get my bum into gear with Digby...and not being able to practise in between unlessi travel to hire an arena means i have to fork out for the lessons really..until we get better.
It takes a while to get new trainers anyway and im happy with both of them but they should learn to just get on with it...at the end of the day they have both at some point said that its good to have other peoples opinions .

 

[madhector]

How far are you from Framsden?

 

[I_A_P]

hour and a half really..iirc i am near beccles so its a fiddly old way to get there

 

[madhector]

Thats a shame, as Robs jumping clinics are fab, tuesday evenings are great for the babies, J has now progressed to thursdays

 

[I_A_P]

awwww

he has been a good boy then

 

[Rowreach]

It's always difficult when you have different trainers - I now use 2 in particular (one of them trained the other one, so they kind of do the same thing) and I now teach the way they teach me, which works well when one of my clients wants to go to one of them for a (more expensive!) lesson.

I didn't post on your thread yesterday, but I actually didn't like the way you were tipping forward and where your hands were, so it is interesting what you are saying in this post. Also, you said that he carries himself this way at the moment, and you are not "putting" him in this place - so I think if you let him have a longer rein and concentrated on your own position (ie sitting taller) you might find him using his back more, stretching down and learning to carry you, and therefore himself. Does that make sense?

 

[I_A_P]

no that does make sense-i have literally just got him...and am now better with my new saddle as its hwat i have been used to....he is so behind my leg i felt yesterday that all i was doing was kicking and like i couldnt do anything else as as soon as i went to concentrate on sumthin else he would try and stop....toay i gave him a smack which really woke him up and he was far far better!! It will make the world of difference if i can get him in front of the leg...s its bloomin hard to keep push push, kick, kick!! as im sure you know!

he doesnt seem to understand legs at all so its just a matter of getting him to unerstand ......i am literally just working on getting him foward for the near future as otherwise i fear that he will not get out of it.

its hard as i have spent so long sitting up with my last horse...and really working on that and now i was told to just relax and dont worry if you have to sit a little more foward.

Obviously i want to sit up more and now i have sat down./watched the video i will...im a bit more used to him now which is the main thing and its only really been 2 days of proper work really-the rest of the time i am hacking...i will mention what my trainer today said to my other one and see if we can come up with a solution.

Ideally i would love to have one trainer who could teach me on the flat and over jumps but it doesnt seem to be easy to find!