Natalie_H
Well-Known Member
I had a 13.2HH pony for 13 years throughout my teens & early twenties. Used to jump her all the time - she was fab! Just had to point her at the jumps. I lost her when she was 26 (and was still jumping 3ft 3 with her a month before-hand BTW!).
That was 4 yrs ago. I re-homed a 4-y-o ex racer shortly after. He has hurdled. Had a lot of problems with him, so our progress has been very gradual - really taking my time with him. We have no all weather surface, so flatwork has been limited to when the ground is good (rare!), but his flatwork is good now & we did our first dressage test last year. I have jumped him over small obstacles when we are out which do not cause too many problems, but on the odd occasion I have put our singular poly jump up in our small paddock he is a looney - obviously unbalanced & very green. Made me realise that I have no clue where to start with him, or how to teach a horse to jump!!
So - we are off to our first jumping lesson on Saturday! He is nearly 8 now - very late to start this I'm sure you will think! I am absolutely petrified! When I was a teenager I was fearless & had a competent steed so never really thought about it too much. It doesn't help that the only other time he has been in this sand school he was super-spooky! My horse could really do with the variation in his exercise, & I would love to jump again but am so out of practice & he is such a pig at times!
So.....any tips on how to stay calm!! The instructor is a v. good one & knows our situation - I just havent jumped show jumps in a school or done grid work for over 10 years! Any advice greatly appreciated?!!!! Cannot believe how petrified I am & I only found out I was having the lesson 30 minutes ago. Sorry for the long post!
That was 4 yrs ago. I re-homed a 4-y-o ex racer shortly after. He has hurdled. Had a lot of problems with him, so our progress has been very gradual - really taking my time with him. We have no all weather surface, so flatwork has been limited to when the ground is good (rare!), but his flatwork is good now & we did our first dressage test last year. I have jumped him over small obstacles when we are out which do not cause too many problems, but on the odd occasion I have put our singular poly jump up in our small paddock he is a looney - obviously unbalanced & very green. Made me realise that I have no clue where to start with him, or how to teach a horse to jump!!
So - we are off to our first jumping lesson on Saturday! He is nearly 8 now - very late to start this I'm sure you will think! I am absolutely petrified! When I was a teenager I was fearless & had a competent steed so never really thought about it too much. It doesn't help that the only other time he has been in this sand school he was super-spooky! My horse could really do with the variation in his exercise, & I would love to jump again but am so out of practice & he is such a pig at times!
So.....any tips on how to stay calm!! The instructor is a v. good one & knows our situation - I just havent jumped show jumps in a school or done grid work for over 10 years! Any advice greatly appreciated?!!!! Cannot believe how petrified I am & I only found out I was having the lesson 30 minutes ago. Sorry for the long post!
