Do I give him enough credit?

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

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My 5yo in the last couple of weeks has come on just amazingly, 3 weeks ago I had a jump lesson over a 80cm course and he had lots of stops and spooks at the fillers. I then took him to a jump lesson yesterday with the same instructor and we jumped a 1m course, with no stops spooks or anything! Hannah said he was like a different horse and couldn't believe the change in just 3 weeks, neither can I tbh he is just flying!

I just keep thinking he's going to go back to his spooky skitty self, when we get a clear round I just say well done but it's just a one off until the other day I realised we have about 6 clear round rosettes. I feel bad as I don't think I have given him enough credit and feel bad for taking him in a 2ft6 class at a show when he probably could have done a 3ft.

I just keep thinking he is going to go back to jumping horse nightmare again?

Do you think this is likely or is this change permanent?

Should I give him more credit?

Should I take him in a bigger jumping class at the show on saturday?

Should I actually register him BS now as I said once he jumps 1m clear we will register him?

Sorry for rant, brownies and biscuits for everyone who got this far! :)
 
It sounds like he has got some confidence he may have been lacking before. A 5 year old Ive been riding is the same, and is now jumping clear and progressively bigger and bolder. Why not enter him on saturday in a bigger class to see if he can do it - but practice at home first so that he doesnt get overwhelmed at the show and revert to skittishness. Dont keep thinking he will start spooking ... have confidence in him. If he does, well just take him back a step at home and work on building him up again. Thats what Id do, anyway!
 
blueneonrainbow said:
It sounds like he has got some confidence he may have been lacking before. A 5 year old Ive been riding is the same, and is now jumping clear and progressively bigger and bolder. Why not enter him on saturday in a bigger class to see if he can do it - but practice at home first so that he doesnt get overwhelmed at the show and revert to skittishness. Dont keep thinking he will start spooking ... have confidence in him. If he does, well just take him back a step at home and work on building him up again. Thats what Id do, anyway!
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I think I will jump the bigger class and maybe if he feels awful I'll retire or will probably get eliminated. The only thing that worries me is that I know the jumps are going to be very scary (poly jumps) and I just don't want to frighten him.

My instructor thinks the change is because he has trust in me, and now I feel bad as I don't have trust in him which will probably make him un confident again over the fences. I know he can jump the height as he jumps huge at home etc but its the mixture of a show atmosphere, scary jumps and my nerves which I'm afraid will turn it into a nightmare.

I think I've also been a bit like "ohh he's only a baby we won't push him" But really he isn't a baby, he's almost six and i think I'mn treating him like a 4yo. Am I holding him back or is this slow approach good for him?
 
if your horse is only 5 its entirely possible that he's just getting his confidence. my 5 year old used to have to stop and look at everything first time - was quite disheartening when other 4 and 5 year olds were boldly jumping anything and some 'friends' of mine liked to point that out constantly. however, i persevered and now my horse is a cracker- he jumps pretty much anything first time now, he's very very careful and my trainer reckons its because he's so careful that he used to stop a lot- he wasn't one for scrabbling over - he wanted to make sure he'd be ok. so try to think that you have turned a corner with your horse. yes you might have some setbacks still but i think generally you should start to trust him a bit more. from what you have said i wouldn't say you are yet ready for BS but how about going and doing some trailblazers? that way you'll get proper courses with decent jumps- once you are happy doing the 95cm classes then get him reg'd :D
 
diggerbez said:
if your horse is only 5 its entirely possible that he's just getting his confidence. my 5 year old used to have to stop and look at everything first time - was quite disheartening when other 4 and 5 year olds were boldly jumping anything and some 'friends' of mine liked to point that out constantly. however, i persevered and now my horse is a cracker- he jumps pretty much anything first time now, he's very very careful and my trainer reckons its because he's so careful that he used to stop a lot- he wasn't one for scrabbling over - he wanted to make sure he'd be ok. so try to think that you have turned a corner with your horse. yes you might have some setbacks still but i think generally you should start to trust him a bit more. from what you have said i wouldn't say you are yet ready for BS but how about going and doing some trailblazers? that way you'll get proper courses with decent jumps- once you are happy doing the 95cm classes then get him reg'd :D
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Trailblazers sounds like a good idea I didn't think of that. I think I'll try doing the unaffiliated at the show centres where they hold BS as these courses are pretty much the same as BS just a bit less technical. I never thought I'd get this far with him, we weren't even planning on competing until next year!

Is it worth getting someone experienced to compete him over a bigger track? I'm used to jumping big tracks as I did them on my old pony but I have no trust in this horse as I had a fairly bad fall as he ducked out at last minute, I'm worried he'll do this again even though deep down I feel he won't.
 
diggerbez said:
could be... might give you the confidence to have a go yourself then if you know he can do it?
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Problem is I'd have to find someone experienced enough as he wouldn't just do it with anyone and who is small enough as he is a dainty 14.3. What max weight would you put on him to jump a reasonable sized course?
 
weight wise i have no idea. if i was going to get anyone to jump my horse it would be my trainer (BSJA accred, top 100, had competed for GB etc) and nobody else- i just don't trust people not to screw things up. not that i'm amazing (i'm not :rolleyes: ) but if i make a mistake i know what i'd done...
 
Problem is my trainer is urm big she is very qualified and a brilliant rider, there is this other person I know who sold on our old horse and is probably one of the best riders I know considering her age but she is 5ft9 and may be abit big for him. Sorry for so many questions you have been a great help :)
 
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