Dressage or show jumping competition?

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ann-jen

ann-jen

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I used to show-jump affiliated about 3 years ago until my horse had a series of injuries that meant she had a lot of time off and then when she came back into work we really just concentrated on our flatwork. Our dressage used to be useless but now we generally get scores in low 60s prelim and novice. I have decided to affiliate in dressage this year.
We started jumping again a few months ago and it was quite hair raising as my horse was very tense and rushing. I won't go into her long history but she had a back problem and associates jumping with pain. Over the last few months I have carefully tried to make jumping as much fun as possible for her and she is starting to settle down quite a bit but is still tense if things go wrong.
Now next week I have a choice to either go to an affiliated dressage comp and do the open prelim class and poss the novice on a ticket or to an unaffiliated show-jumping comp to do the clear round. I obviously would like to check out the affiliated show so I know what to expect when I affiliate and don't really think that we are quite ready show-jumpingwise in terms of calmness. BUT I have a friend who will come to the SJ with me to lend much needed moral support on that particular weekend and probably wouldn't be able to come another time so what to do? I don't want to set her back jumpingwise as she has made good progress but then I could put off forever couldn't I?
Any advise is most welcome.
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Do the dressage.
If you dont think the horse is ready to SJ then that will be at the back of your mind when you jump which wont help either of you.
When the time is right to SJ you wont need morale support.
 
I know what you're saying as I am a bit nervous about my first show-jumping expedition and that my nerves won't help the horse. At the moment if she starts to get tense schooling at home I keep her on a circle until she calms down and then approach the jump again which is really helping but while the venue is really friendly and accommodating I don't think they could let me do this in the arena so if I felt her getting tense I would either have to continue regardless or pull up - not sure either would be helpful.
I suppose this answers my own question really! I'd love to be SJing again but don't want my own impatience to undo any work I've already put in.
 
Well a few years ago I'd of agreed with you but I had to lots of flatwork after Jen's back injury and found an amazing instructor and now I really enjoy dressage, but I'm a jumper at heart so long to get back into it but maybe need to give it a few more weeks to settle her down some more.
 
i am in the same shoes as you. my mare has been off for 2 months and just come back into work due to bone spavins and very bad back. she always used to rush when i jumped her however as i increased the flatwork she did get better. you sound like u could do quite well in the affliated prelim and give the novice a bash. if ur there its worth it. u dont want to do anything which will rish u horses back any further by getting them stressed by going jumping. wait untill you are not getting stressed jumping at home before you go out jumping. dressage is so much more chilled.
 
Hm two trails of thought here for me - first and most obvious to me says IF you think she is not ready for the SJ then dont do it
However the other says that if its small unaffiliated it might just give her the challenge she needs and you can assess her to see if she really is ready or not...
So really im not help at all lol
 
You do sound in the same boat as me! Jenny has always been very forward going even before she had all her troubles - basically the back problem took ages to sort and then just as we got going again she had a slight sprain to the top of her suspensory ligament and was off for ages with that too.
The trouble with me is I want everything sorted yesterday but at the end of the day I don't care if it takes me another month/year... to get her confidant again so long as it works.
I have a new jumping instructor who is trying to make jumping a more positive experience for Jen - I've only had a few lessons but they seem to be going ok. Instructor said to go to the SJ but just warm up and see how she is and if ok to go in CR and to come out if she got wound up but I feel if I go I would feel obliged to give it a bash. I didn't know the dressage was on when I spoke to her about it and as the dressage is going well....
 
Yes I can keep arguing either way round too! I know she is more than capable of jumping round but whether we can do it in a calm and relaxed way is another thing entirely. I agree that the only way to find out is to go and see how she is and if she goes well it would be fab but if she gets tense and wound up would I have set her back in the longterm scheme of things? Will have to make a decision soon or the entry will close for the dressage. I am hopeless at making decisions!
 
I'd do the dressage, but do what you feel most comfortable with, like you say you don't want to set back the horse's progress and when she gets even better and more confident, it will make you confident too. I think you will know when its the right time, it sounds to me that you are heitant but I'd give the dressage a shot
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i'd say dressage, but its up to you really. you can jump at your yard and get her used to jumpin corses, but seeing as your affiliating in dressage i'd go to the show to see how she goes, get used to the atmosphere and see what the competitions like
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