First Time XC Training My 5YO - Advice please

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randira

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Hi Guys, myself and a couple of other forum members are going XC next week and it's the first time for my horsey. She is rather bold and quite fit atm so just wondered what peeps would recomend doing/jumping first. I wont be doing long canters between jumps as she isnt ready for that yet (brain wise) Any tips for a constructive day? Rx
 
Well it will be Snoops first time next weekend too. I plan to ride him into everything at trot, rails, tyres, logs.
Once he has completed 3 or 4 then i will link them all together and build on that then go and add a few more. take him for a splash through water and over a ditch and up an over a bank.

Just make sure you have a more experienced horse to nip in front of you if your horse has a bit of a wobble at a certain fence.

If hes jumping boldy at SJs just ride him positively like you do when youre jumping the colour poles. Again just be quick to slip the rein and grap the neck strap if he throws dodgy jump etc. Repeat everything until its easy
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well that basically waht I will be doing......or at least trying, will alos try and ignore mine if it starts leaping and rearing
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Ooo where are you going?Im hoping to xc school next week at either chilham or lodge farm ( not been there yet).

I went to chilham a few weeks ago and had a lovely time.

School ove rone fence at a time poss on a circle to start with and then begin to string a few togther. Take it in your stride and enjoy it.
 
Chilham actually !! How bizare! I'm really looking forward to it - lots of trotting for us I think - I know she wll love it its just keeping her calm - she loves challenges so I'm hoping to try a little one of everything, I am very lucky that she learns very quickly so I can give her little brain a work out. Were on the 10th so see you there if your going Rx
 
Id love to come but dont want to gate crash your party
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. Ive not been on here long and only know a few peeps but it always lovely to meet new people from my area.

The ground there was very soft the other week and it had been a few days fo dry weather so pray for a few dry days next week.

Not all the course is open at the mo all the mobile fences had been put in the schooling area and the water was open.

Have you been to chilham before? Its lovely im still trying to build my confidence up but i did the baby fences there last time.

Im sure youll be fine, just take it at your own pace.

I can post some pics from the other week if anyone wants to see the fences?
 
Hey, I'm a newbie too and recently moved back to Kent from Herts so it's great meeting horsey peeps in the Kent area
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I'm taking Lady Magoo's horsey, Star to Chilham on the 10th. Be great if there was a bunch of us.

p.s hi Randira, I'll get to meet you on the 10th too!
 
We were trying think of people to invite anyway but all my horsey friends are in Herts, luckily Lady Magoo knows Randira and she agreed to come along
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the more the merrier! It will be my first time taking Star x country, the aim is to see what she's like so I know how much I'm going to have to hang on during the RAF ride haha.
 
Would echo exactly what BB's has advised, use an experienced horse as a lead to start with, and pop everything from trot.
We always start the youngsters this way and hiring a course and doing all the baby fences builds their confidence. Try and persuade a mate to video the session too as it's invaluable to watch later on and see what if any problems there were.
 
Just keep everything chilled out and calm. Dont ask much of him on his first XC outing, just keep it really easy and small. And like others have said, there's no harm getting the odd lead if need be but dont just follow over everything or he'll get dependent.

Try and enjoy it! Make sure you ride defensively and have a martingale strap or something to hold onto if he makes any big jumps. I LOVE taking youngsters XC'ing, its so much fun seeing how they deal with it all!
 
hiya...your welcome to come and join
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the more the merrior...Its booked for 10am so if you can meet us then excellant!!! Should be fun seeing what they are all going to be like. Star has been XC before with her previous owner and loved it so she should be good hehe. I'll take my hat and if im feeling brave after Rach has had a go then ill have a go to hehe...

Im such a wimp XC...lol
 
Do you mind if i join you ?. I feel like a fraud as i dont know any of you but i like to meet new peeps.

Im the biggest baby out of all of you
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, but id like to come and see if i cant get over my bogie fence ( the skinney brush ) as it will be in the hunter trail and im not to go get eliminated again because of it
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This is the link to the pics and vids my friends took the other week.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v410/claireandcappelli/Chilham%20xc%20schooling/
 
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