How to undo an enthusiasm by-pass!! HELP people!

[Bumblesticks]

Hi All,

looking for some tales of positiveness, I'm sure we've all had times of enthusiasm by-pass with our horses and training. I am currently having one!!! In a former life I was a competent dressage rider/trainer, but having had limited funds I always took on re-hab or green horses. Consistently re-training upto Elementary, however for what ever reasons they would either go back to owners, retire due to old age, or need a change of discipline due having reached their peak in dressage. I trained with some amazing trainers and had soem amzing moments, my best being a very dificult mare, written off as a nightmare happy hacker, who after 2 years was qualifying for championships at Novice and working at Elem at home, she was an absolute star, but she had got as far as would go physically so she was retired. I gave up for 2 years knowing I wouldn't find another horse so perfect.

Then I took over the re-training of a horse I ahd owned 6yrs ago, the owners no longer wanted her, so I had her back. A big well moving Han, haviong showjumped for 5 yrs and having had a yr at grass, she came back completely out of shape and is proving to be hardwork to bring back to full work. I just feel tired of re-hab/re-schooling horses, just want one ready made!!! am too old for all this!!! Help someone get me back on the straight and narrow, I know we've all been there at some point! Thanks

 

[kerilli]

I think you have to try to be happy with every good moment you get, and think 'if we only improve 1% every time, eventually we will really get somewhere". I know the feeling though, it's a long time since I had a good experienced horse (and all mine have been homemade!), and sometimes the ups and downs with the young horses can be a bit much, but if you still enjoy your riding, then it's worth it even if it is challenging. And when the horse has a lightbulb moment and you get a really great bit of work, you can think "I made this happen, this horse is improving because of me!" which is a great feeling.
Also, the young/tricky ones test the rider more and if anything improve the rider more, I think, I'm sure it's lovely to sit on a made horse (I wouldn't know!) but young/tricky horses keep you sharp and focussed! Maybe book a lesson to get a few new ideas or a definite aim, just a thought?

 

[Goldenstar]

Honestly all my youth I had cheap difficult / problem horses when I had the opportunity to have ready made I was bought one she was lovely I enjoyed her when she was finished I found myself new friends all projects for some reason I understand now I just enjoy making them the very best they can be .its a rotten time of year in the spring all will seem possible again take a step back. Take a day away from horses do something different then come back and start anew.
Good luck with your big girl
A book I read once which got me thinking and inspired me was That winning feeling by Leonie Savoie might that be your thing but I enjoyed it .

 

[toomanyhorses26]

I totally understand where you are coming from - for various reasons 9 months ago Ihad to put my pride and joy out on lon - a 16.3hh ex racer who I have retrained who fits me like a glove and I just love him to bits not to say he cant be a complete arse at times but I can read him pretty well and it never really escalates. I ended up having to keep possibly the mos difficult horse I have ever dealt with as a) i didnt feel I could sell her knowing what she could do and b) the market was awful and I felt he would stand a high chance of falling into the wrong catagory. So I was left with a horse who would explode in the school with no notice - broncing,bucking etc - has left me on my head more times than I care to remember - culminating in me stropping out the school after falling off again , refusing to go anywhere near her and telling my best friend to call Potters :S Don't get me wrong - I take falling off as part of horse riding but when you are coming off 4/5/6 times an hour it begins to grate a little. The only thing she ever liked was to hack - so thats what we did - hack for miles 4/5 days a week - and slowly we have built a relationship of sorts - I think most of her issues are humn made so I dont know if she will ever stop the explosions but by taking the pressure off both me and her has helped - I purchased her partly becuase she was soooooo cheap and partly because when she was turned loose for me to see she has the most fab paces for a TB - total and utter stress head when under saddle in the school (back,teeth,feet,saddle etc all 100%) she just acts like she has had some proper socks in the gob at some point.

I guess what I am trying to say is take some pressure off - have some fun- fun rides,sponsored rides etc - the proudestmoment I have had with this mare is that for some reason I decided to take her showing (god knows why) and she was angelic all day - I guess because I expected nothing from her

It will come back eventually - dont push it - If i dont feel like riding I dont - generally becuase I will transmit all that to her and she lets me know it so I ride when I am in the right frame of mind and I think we might just be getting there

PS still can't wait for the boy to come home though

 

[MissSBird]

Not sure if it's possible with your current arrangement, but perhaps a change of discipline might give you some fresh enthusiasm? I primarily do showing, but do the odd dressage test and it always boosts my focus a little. Even trying to do more things like beach rides/fun rides can help...

 

[Bumblesticks]

Thanks all, very much appreciated...as it stands I don't ride her, as I know we will frustrate each other. I have a friend who does roads and tracks 3 times a week and I lunge and free school 2 days a week. So all pressure to school has been lifted from both of us! But as a result haven't ridden for over a month and think thats whats getting me a bit down. But as mentioned above, getting out of school and taking schooling pressure off will hopefully make all the difference in time.

Plus I had a baby 8 months ago, so have a general lack of balls, so have enlisted a recommended local dressage trainer to school her for me for the next few months, as my floppy post baby abs are no help when she has a good buck!!! Just feeling abit blurrrr, as these re-schooling jobbies allways seem to cost the earth in physio's, maintainence, time and patcience, but again as mentioned above all the hard work will be worth the journery!

But right this moment a nice pre-schooled easy number would be bliss!!!