bethwaldron
New User
I'm 15 and purchased Romeo last August. Before I had him he was a brilliant jumper and pretty much fearless until he suffered from a back problem, he had to had time off and during that time his owner made no effort to see him or bond with him.
His owner purchased him a new saddle ready for when he was back in action and supposedly had it fitted. She noticed a big change in his behaviour, he'd refuse jumps and would no longer jump just anything. She wasnt willing to put in any time with him and therefore he went up for sale.
I took him on and since have done much work with him. He was really nervous to handle but will now stand good as gold whilst being groomed. He's definitely learnt to trust me whilst on the ground.
Jumping wise we did okay, he refused and cantered off in the other direction a few times and it was common for him to refuse the first time I pointed him at a jump but I persisted. We had a change of yard so Romeo would be able to live out in the summer and get rid of some of his pent up energy I was experiencing in the school.
He was much much happier. His jumping neither improved or got worse. We went up into the school one day where a few jumps had been left out, higher jumps than we've ever done. I lowered one of the jumps to a crosspole our normal height and pointed him at it but he was having none of it, he cantered round the school full speed numerous times before stopping. That was a real confidence knock for me.
We had a physiotherapist out approximately 2/3 months ago and we were told his saddle had never fitted, that she was surprised he had not bucked me off as he was so sore it must be causing him a lot of pain to be ridden. I felt awful and as if I had betrayed him.
He had 6 weeks off and his saddle fitted and he's just recently come back into work. I've been having lessons and he's been such a good boy. He refused the first jump that he had in front of him, in fact it was barely a jump it was so small. He went over it eventually though, I did the same another time but this time without my teacher and he stopped numerous times as I kept pointing him at the jump.
I was really dissapointed if I'm honest, I had this image of the perfect pony I would have now he was no longer in pain and I just wasnt experiencing it. I want nothing more than to be able to bring him on so he can return to the fearless pony he once was but I could do with some direction, some exercises recommended to get his confidence up?
He's also rather spooky out on the roads and lacks in confidence when going over a simple set of poles on the ground.
I may have posted this in the wrong forum but help would really be much appreciated. xxx
His owner purchased him a new saddle ready for when he was back in action and supposedly had it fitted. She noticed a big change in his behaviour, he'd refuse jumps and would no longer jump just anything. She wasnt willing to put in any time with him and therefore he went up for sale.
I took him on and since have done much work with him. He was really nervous to handle but will now stand good as gold whilst being groomed. He's definitely learnt to trust me whilst on the ground.
Jumping wise we did okay, he refused and cantered off in the other direction a few times and it was common for him to refuse the first time I pointed him at a jump but I persisted. We had a change of yard so Romeo would be able to live out in the summer and get rid of some of his pent up energy I was experiencing in the school.
He was much much happier. His jumping neither improved or got worse. We went up into the school one day where a few jumps had been left out, higher jumps than we've ever done. I lowered one of the jumps to a crosspole our normal height and pointed him at it but he was having none of it, he cantered round the school full speed numerous times before stopping. That was a real confidence knock for me.
We had a physiotherapist out approximately 2/3 months ago and we were told his saddle had never fitted, that she was surprised he had not bucked me off as he was so sore it must be causing him a lot of pain to be ridden. I felt awful and as if I had betrayed him.
He had 6 weeks off and his saddle fitted and he's just recently come back into work. I've been having lessons and he's been such a good boy. He refused the first jump that he had in front of him, in fact it was barely a jump it was so small. He went over it eventually though, I did the same another time but this time without my teacher and he stopped numerous times as I kept pointing him at the jump.
I was really dissapointed if I'm honest, I had this image of the perfect pony I would have now he was no longer in pain and I just wasnt experiencing it. I want nothing more than to be able to bring him on so he can return to the fearless pony he once was but I could do with some direction, some exercises recommended to get his confidence up?
He's also rather spooky out on the roads and lacks in confidence when going over a simple set of poles on the ground.
I may have posted this in the wrong forum but help would really be much appreciated. xxx
thankyou all very much:')
