Help with ditches pweaase :)

[482739]

Went xc schooling today and connie the horse i ride, hates them i mean HATES them, she thinks there are monsters in the bottom hehe.

We tried everything having a lead walking up, trotting up, cantering up to it, i even got off and walked her over it (well she dint move much) we even tried lunging her. Nothing worked and we had to leave it we were trying for about 30 mins. Any help would be apprectaited.

 

[Weezy]

Were you looking up and beyond the ditch ... be honest, many people cannot help but look in them and that means you haven't a hope in hell of getting over it!

 

[SpruceRI]

You need to read latest copy of Eventing magazine where Richard 'Max' Maxwell helps an Event Rider's horse who won't jump ditches.

Lunged said ned over the ditch first riderless until it was doing it without hesitation then rider back on board - lunged. Then rider had to go at it holding onto the buckle, and let the horse jump it at it's own speed - which was fast I believe, and therefore terrifying! Wouldn't fancy it myself so would get someone else to ride it for me!!

If it's any consolation for weekend riders like me, my girl wouldn't jump ditches for years. I've fallen off in them all. Used to hire a local course just to do ditch practice. Jumping back and forth until she did it without hesitation. Worked as she now does them fine.
In the early days when she wouldn't move - we did the 'sit it out and see who gets bored first' routine. Took forever and the initial jumps were huge launches so a sturdy neck strap was the order of the day!! I still fell off even then!!

 

[482739]

Thanks, yh i was looking up etc mite have to go get that magazine tomoorow thanks

 

[samp]

As said I would lunge them first over a ditch as a rider can hinder the horse here