showpony
Well-Known Member
So I had posted up earlier in the week that between myself & my instructor we decided for me to hang back from jumping my youngster for the next couple of mths... She is a complete power house & unfortunatly I just dont have the seat & lower leg position to basically keep myself safe & do her any justice lol...... So I have a WAY more experienced rider who is doing a jumping lesson on her once a week and will be taking her out a couple of times a month for me.
Now my Mare Is my pride & joy & we have been through a heck of a journey together with tons of support & we are a great team but as am only back in the saddle 17mths after a 12yr break with no experience of bringing on a youngster ( expecially one with massive potential jumping wise ) I feel it was the right decision... In saying that I have had continued support since I bought her last year with weekly private lessons etc & on the flat I am a million per cent confident but the fitter she gets the more of a powerhouse she is over fences which has un-nerved me which I am not ashamed to admit it.... She is as brave as a lion, looks at NOTHING but at times is too brave for her own good....
So the other day myself & my instructor/coach put together a schedule for us - I will still be riding her 4 days a week & focusing on striding, collecting her canter, adjusting stride etc but just with poles on the ground aswell as starting more advanced lateral work eg leg yielding in canter... A total weight lifted off my shoulders after all of this was decided - I had a fab lesson on her mid week where I knew there was no pressure & bingo as soon as pressure lifted I totally relaxed... We are doing lots of canter & trot work in point 2 position which is literally killing me but will help stableize my lower leg ... and next wk will introduce working without stirrups....
At end of that lesson I was so so relaxed rode her out of yard & went down road for 20mins on a loose rein before turning for home - for the FIRST time ever.
So onto the new boy!!!! after xc last sunday my jeep was out of action so he was off work until Friday when jeep finally back on road - bloody alternator!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a dude - he was bought as a confidence giver over fences with a history as a been there done that over 1m10/20 tracks , so bought with the intention of getting my confidence up jumping....
Was slightly nervous as he obviously hadn't been ridden in couple of days but had had plenty of turnout.... rode him early morning & the poor chap had everythig thrown at him, RS horses being hurded past arena, stallion galloping up & down in paddock hidden by bushes so he couldnt see him... he is the " Looky type" & we got a lovely half pass movement past a spooky water tray lol..... I learnt fast enough that he really chills out on a loose rein so even though he was tense , by riding him on a loose rein none of my aprehension was transmitting through the reins.... We worked on rhythm & line over poles in both trot & canter in point 2 position and finished session with popping couple of jumps...
Rode him over the weekend & he really is starting to listen to me, have started riding corners as squares & just putting leg on if he spooks or looks & yesterday we had a fantastic session on out own with him riding into every corner & listening to me despite exceptionally high winds & lots of rain...
So all good, I look forward to the next few mths...... Some may think I am weak re not jumping my mare but I needed to do it for us as a team... I literally had the best weeks riding as was totally chilled & relaxed. So for anyone else with confidence issues there is hope & its never a bad thing to need help along the way.
Now my Mare Is my pride & joy & we have been through a heck of a journey together with tons of support & we are a great team but as am only back in the saddle 17mths after a 12yr break with no experience of bringing on a youngster ( expecially one with massive potential jumping wise ) I feel it was the right decision... In saying that I have had continued support since I bought her last year with weekly private lessons etc & on the flat I am a million per cent confident but the fitter she gets the more of a powerhouse she is over fences which has un-nerved me which I am not ashamed to admit it.... She is as brave as a lion, looks at NOTHING but at times is too brave for her own good....
So the other day myself & my instructor/coach put together a schedule for us - I will still be riding her 4 days a week & focusing on striding, collecting her canter, adjusting stride etc but just with poles on the ground aswell as starting more advanced lateral work eg leg yielding in canter... A total weight lifted off my shoulders after all of this was decided - I had a fab lesson on her mid week where I knew there was no pressure & bingo as soon as pressure lifted I totally relaxed... We are doing lots of canter & trot work in point 2 position which is literally killing me but will help stableize my lower leg ... and next wk will introduce working without stirrups....
At end of that lesson I was so so relaxed rode her out of yard & went down road for 20mins on a loose rein before turning for home - for the FIRST time ever.
So onto the new boy!!!! after xc last sunday my jeep was out of action so he was off work until Friday when jeep finally back on road - bloody alternator!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a dude - he was bought as a confidence giver over fences with a history as a been there done that over 1m10/20 tracks , so bought with the intention of getting my confidence up jumping....
Was slightly nervous as he obviously hadn't been ridden in couple of days but had had plenty of turnout.... rode him early morning & the poor chap had everythig thrown at him, RS horses being hurded past arena, stallion galloping up & down in paddock hidden by bushes so he couldnt see him... he is the " Looky type" & we got a lovely half pass movement past a spooky water tray lol..... I learnt fast enough that he really chills out on a loose rein so even though he was tense , by riding him on a loose rein none of my aprehension was transmitting through the reins.... We worked on rhythm & line over poles in both trot & canter in point 2 position and finished session with popping couple of jumps...
Rode him over the weekend & he really is starting to listen to me, have started riding corners as squares & just putting leg on if he spooks or looks & yesterday we had a fantastic session on out own with him riding into every corner & listening to me despite exceptionally high winds & lots of rain...
So all good, I look forward to the next few mths...... Some may think I am weak re not jumping my mare but I needed to do it for us as a team... I literally had the best weeks riding as was totally chilled & relaxed. So for anyone else with confidence issues there is hope & its never a bad thing to need help along the way.
