first clear round with new horse, SJ report!

NeverSayNever

NeverSayNever

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might be a little long :-X

so we arrived and I had entered the 2ft3 and 2ft6... walked the course and it was nice. I went in and did my 2ft3 round it didnt go that well :o I found warming up he felt stuffy and although he didnt nap ( :D) I just couldnt get him off my leg and into the bridle enough. We went in and he started spooking straight away and the round wasnt flowing at all. We ended up eliminated as i circled and faffed about trying to get him off my leg after a stop and we had a couple down.


then we had entered the 2ft6 , there seemed to be a lot of stops and silliness going on and the girl before me fell off badly and had to be helped out by first aid, which is never good for one's nerves:o I was actually contemplating pulling out after how the 2ft3 had gone! Well i decided to go for it and went and stuck my spurs on for this round. We went and jumped a couple of warm up fences at about 2ft9 which he felt better over. Went in the ring and was really bricking it:o

vid - not pretty - this is my riding for my life, lol


but through to the jump off! :o ;D He was such a good boy, I really felt by this stage we were working together and his turns felt pretty good even if it was still scrappy.


So chuffed:D He is utterly fab and I love him to bits but he has been trying it on with me somewhat in the couple of months I have had him, napping, spooking and rearing:rolleyes: I had lost a lot of jumping confidence but he is really helping to get it back and making me RIDE, lol ! I think he just doesnt take me seriously unless I ride properly, which is going to teach me well!

some pics,

warming up

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vid stills

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i apologise for the general gushing and number of pics, I freely admit to being a tad over excited:o
 
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daveismycat said:
Huge well done! Looked like a lovely couple of rounds. What are your plans for him?
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thank you:D Tbh I just want to get back to enjoying being out and about with my horse, riding club etc, cant wait to get back out doing hunter trials. It's been a rocky year or 2 with falls and tears. I have a far off dream to do a BE80 but Im not putting any pressure on myself there these days as I have realised I dont have the time to put in the preparation required at the moment. I used to think, omg Im 34, Im getting old therefore I must do it this year.... but the more time goes on the more I see people out there having a blast competing in their 40's:D
 
You both look smashing, well done :D

If you don't mind my asking, aren't you worried about him studding himself without a stud guard? Maybe I'm just over protective :o
 
Well done! He looks a lovely sort!

Didn't you have a dun horse or am I mixing you up with someone else?

I too am 34 and have those horrible feelings of running out of time, I feel if I don't get going soon I will never get my confidence back!
 
Thank you! :D nocturnal - I've never thought about a stud guard at the megre level I'm at, if I thought there was a chance dazzler would need one id def get him one although previous horses haven't. I will def keep an eye on it now you've mentioned it tho ,I'm a paranoid sort too,lol.

Marmalade- I know how you feel but I've found it makes you add more pressure on yourself :( I'm sure we'l get there tho :D yeh,I used to have a dun,that was me.
 
Nice to see you getting on well but i must say i did cringe a bit at the bits you pony club boot him with the spurs on.
 
Thanks glayva, it wasn't the prettiest or ideal I admit. He is capable of being a real brat though and had been as such in the round before,it did the job though and got him forward and over which was my preference to being catapulted without him :o we do have avery long way to go though but hopefully he is being to take me more seriously and it will get easier,I hope!
 
Just a note, my horse was quite nappy (well, he can still be) but the thing that has improved him ten fold has been schooling him off the leg, doing nothing else in the school except transitions at every single letter, if not more,

The worst thing I tried to get him moving forwards..? Spurs, he HATES them, he just bunches up into a little cross ball, no sign of impulsion. I use a jumping whip to back up my leg (although I really only need to do this once a month).

Personally I don't think he's ready to be out jumping, I'd work on your flat work for a few weeks have lots of lessons with a good instructor and then get him out jumping, taking him out and doing rounds like that will just make him sour.

Finally, how on earth do you get a grey so clean?! :D
 
thanks callyH:) he is 100% fine, not a mark on him and as I said before Id rather we ended on a positive and actually got round which we wouldnt have otherwise on this occasion.

Dizzle said:
Just a note, my horse was quite nappy (well, he can still be) but the thing that has improved him ten fold has been schooling him off the leg, doing nothing else in the school except transitions at every single letter, if not more,

The worst thing I tried to get him moving forwards..? Spurs, he HATES them, he just bunches up into a little cross ball, no sign of impulsion. I use a jumping whip to back up my leg (although I really only need to do this once a month).

Personally I don't think he's ready to be out jumping, I'd work on your flat work for a few weeks have lots of lessons with a good instructor and then get him out jumping, taking him out and doing rounds like that will just make him sour.

Finally, how on earth do you get a grey so clean?! :D
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thanks dizzle, totally 100% agree about the schooling off the leg, we are working on it and having lots of lessons, I only got him in June however. He doesnt react well to spurs out hacking with a true 'nap' either, I've found tight circling is what helps and as you say, making sure he is really infront of the leg. I found getting cross or trying to send him forward off my leg when he's like this just makes him back up or rear more. Regarding being out jumping, he isnt always stuffy like that, he was just trying it on, nappy, but in a different way hence I popped the spurs on for the 2nd round. We've had previous rounds on other occasions that were lovely and flowing and no spurs, only reason this was our first proper clear was because he's had poles down before sj. He was super at the ODE we did a few weeks back, 1 pole down SJ and clear XC with only a hint of a nap going in. Whereas the SJ we did a couple of weeks prior to that we were rearing on the way into the ring:o - went on to do a nice round though:rolleyes: As I said Ive not had him long but he has been there and done it and is far too clever for his own good. If he was to carry on like he was last night fair enough but I honestly think it was just another case of 'see how much I can get away with' somewhere else new.

I have to admit he is in a fly rug all the time,thats the only reason he is so clean:D
 
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If you havnt had him that long d take the pressure of him a little learn to enjoy him and not push him have fun out hacking and school as much as you can out hacking and e should relax a bit and be more responsive when needed
 
Well I hope this one works out for you and things improve. It's hard not having any confidence, and you were brave to choose a horse who could be nappy when you're trying to rebuild it. He looks sweet - good luck :).
 
Thanks m&s:) We're getting on really well and Im very happy, wasnt thinking along the lines of hoping theyd improve:o Im like this:D it was jumping confidence I've lost and you're right , it's not easy :(, his bratty nappy strops don't bother me although tbf I had no idea he had it in him until I had him home,I'm quite happy sorting him out though and he's trying it on less, infact he is great fun to hack. He is also lovely to jump and I've regained more confidence already than I thought I would, we managed a 4th at the ode the other week and I LOVED the xc :D Long way to go but I'm chuffed to bits!
 
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He is a beautiful horse, and congrats on the win!

A wee bit of constructive criticism, though; instead of just sticking spurs on and crossing your fingers, though, you might think about going back to basics for a bit and doing some work on stabilising your lower leg. You CAN'T pony club-kick with spurs on! He's obviously a lovely honest horse, because he's still doing his best for you despite getting some almighty socks in the mouth and having his sides walloped like that. I think before you try BE80 you might want to have a few lessons to work on position and stability, before he gets sour.

My old mare would have disembowelled anyone who'd tried those pony club kicks while wearing spurs!!!
 
trundle said:
He is a beautiful horse, and congrats on the win!

A wee bit of constructive criticism, though; instead of just sticking spurs on and crossing your fingers, though, you might think about going back to basics for a bit and doing some work on stabilising your lower leg.
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thank you for the lovely comment trundle :D I totally agree I have to work on my lower leg and have been, am doing and will continue to do so. I do, believe it or not have very regular lessons and I have no intention whatsoever of BE80 anytime in the next year even, haha Im nowhere near ready, honestly who knows, it used to be an ambition but now Im just loving each day. I do realise as you say sticking spurs on and crossings ones fingers isnt the way forward :cool:

As well as flatwork and jumping lessons I work out hacking in 2 point position and also do an exercise where I balance in 2 point in trot. Im also hoping to sign up for a 'fit to ride' course which looks at core stability and strength. I used to have a really rock solid lower leg so its really frustrating. Any other exercises you'd recommend?



Meandtheboys said:
why oh why.........................if you read post she only put them on in the bigger class so piccies could have been from the ist class

what a pointless post................................
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Meandtheboys said:
Sorry forgot to say well done for the rosette and great positive riding!!
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thank you meandtheboys, it wasnt the best but it was an important step in my confidence to know we can do it - or should I say that 'I' can do it. Really havent stopped beaming since:D
 
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"Fit to Ride" sounds interesting, do you know what it involves? Is it on- or off-horse training? I'm sure everything will come together in time.

If I were looking for exercises to improve both core and leg stability, I'd do loads and loads of no-stirrup work. Obviously building up your core strength is really important, but if you're likely to need to use spurs on him regularly then you need to focus on stabilising your lower leg as a priority. There were points in that video where you were almost taking your legs out horizontally and then walloping your heels straight into his sides, and honestly, he WILL get sour if you carry on like that (and you'll fall off!!).

Ask your instructor to take away your stirrups and possibly your reins as well, and do as much grid work as you dare! Don't worry about height, just concentrate on getting your position right without fiddling with reins or stirrups. Seriously, that will sort out your position better than anything else.

If he's a really nappy jumper, and you are struggling to get impulsion with your legs alone, I would consider carrying a stick and giving him a quick wallop or two. It may not sound very nice, but a quick smack is better than continual jabbing and nagging with spurs.
 
trundle said:
"Fit to Ride" sounds interesting, do you know what it involves? Is it on- or off-horse training? I'm sure everything will come together in time.
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non of it is on the horse, its a mixture of training with a fitness instructor working with gym balls and the like and some sessions with a sports psychologist.

trundle said:
If I were looking for exercises to improve both core and leg stability, I'd do loads and loads of no-stirrup work. Obviously building up your core strength is really important, but if you're likely to need to use spurs on him regularly then you need to focus on stabilising your lower leg as a priority. There were points in that video where you were almost taking your legs out horizontally and then walloping your heels straight into his sides, and honestly, he WILL get sour if you carry on like that (and you'll fall off!!).

If he's a really nappy jumper, and you are struggling to get impulsion with your legs alone, I would consider carrying a stick and giving him a quick wallop or two. It may not sound very nice, but a quick smack is better than continual jabbing and nagging with spurs.
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oops,yeh I forgot to mention work without stirrups, now I do work on this when I school in the field at home but hands up i admit, not as much as I should and definitely not as much lately so thanks for that, I'l get back to it. IVe found the balancing in trot was what really helped me before as well.

The thing is, he actually isnt a nappy jumper at all, and Im not likely to use spurs regularly, as I said, I havent at any other comp and hadnt started out with them on the night in question. Can we put this to bed now guys? He was off form that night and its the only time Ive ever done that with him! To be fair as well, although it may look like that from the vid, actually I can assure you my heels were not turned in and I dont think the spurs even made contact with him when I kicked;) I can also assure you there isnt a mark on him and HAD I actually made contact with the spurs as I kicked I know he WOULD have reacted. I always carry a stick, and use it but it's often ignored.

Of course I obviously dont intend to ride him like that as a rule and I have no intention of carrying on in the same way! It was an out of character off day and we got through it and Im pleased, hence I shared. I have regular private lessons and attend regular lessons and clinics with my RC.I know Im very rusty and have a lot to work on. Hope that clears up any concerns people obviously have. We dont usually have a problem with impulsion at all, but thank you for your advice.
 
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Gosh, some harsh critics out there ;)

I boot my horse and I wear spurs, just because you have spurs on does NOT mean you are booting the horse with spurs active, I know I can boot without my spurs being active, and you look to be doing the same, you are not turning them in, you are not jabbing, the horse is not reacting in a *oh ouch* way so I have absolutely no crit for you on that front. True, your lower leg could do with some more stability, but that will come and I know you are working on it.

You go out and continue to have fun and enjoy yourself - for someone to say you shouldn't be jumping him is just not on IMO, you both look to be having a whale of a time, well done :)
 
Meandtheboys said:
why oh why.........................if you read post she only put them on in the bigger class so piccies could have been from the ist class

what a pointless post................................
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actually, I was waiting for an answer.. I wondered if it was because it may of been an incident to the horse from the awful pony thellwell type kicking in the videos.....with spurs! so not pointless thankyou :rolleyes:

I personally would go straight back to basics, if you had ridden like that in my local RC with spurs on you would of been pulled aside.

If booting with spurs on, and carrying a whip was having no the opposite effects and causing nappiness I think I would definately get back to basics before the horse is ruined
 
Weezy said:
Gosh, some harsh critics out there ;)

I boot my horse and I wear spurs, just because you have spurs on does NOT mean you are booting the horse with spurs active, I know I can boot without my spurs being active, and you look to be doing the same, you are not turning them in, you are not jabbing, the horse is not reacting in a *oh ouch* way so I have absolutely no crit for you on that front. True, your lower leg could do with some more stability, but that will come and I know you are working on it.

You go out and continue to have fun and enjoy yourself - for someone to say you shouldn't be jumping him is just not on IMO, you both look to be having a whale of a time, well done :)
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you shouldnt be wearing spurs full stop in your lower leg has any signs of being unstable;), I would work on leg before wearing spurs. They are most definatley turned in on occasions. The horse is very honest if you ask me!
 
trundle said:
If he's a really nappy jumper, and you are struggling to get impulsion with your legs alone, I would consider carrying a stick and giving him a quick wallop or two. It may not sound very nice, but a quick smack is better than continual jabbing and nagging with spurs.
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I would go with this aswell
 
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