Hullabaloo
Well-Known Member
Took my horse to at hunter trail today. He hasn't been xc for 2 years due to injuries, but we did go schooling last weekend when he was fab.
The course was 2'6 - 2'9 and wasn't big but did have a few questions in it.
Anyway, it became clear after about a minute in the warm up that brakes were going to be an issue. We did our schooling quite happily in a snaffle last week, but he was a bit over excited today! Still, he pinged the practice fences and we went off down to the start.
About 3 strides out from the 1st fence I felt him backing off. I went to give him a slap down the shoulder, but before I got the chance he has spun round and was carting me back towards the lorry park. I lost a stirrup and really thought I was coming off but managed to recover and eventually to pull him up.
Took him back to the start and we set off again. Jumped the first 4 fine, although gave them about a foot each. Got to no 5 which was quite a tricky double and had a run out at the first element. Had a couple more goes at getting him over, but he was getting more wound up each time and trying to piss off again. Decided to skip it and jump the second element and carry on. A couple of fences later he decided to duck out of a simple post and rail - think it was just to see if he could. That got me really angry and he got a real telling off. After that he flew round.
When I finished I was really torn - he finished the course in great style, but had played me up over the first half.
What frustrates me is that I know he is perfectly capable of jumping clear at this level (even with the muppet on board). However, he has always been a quirky horse who gets a bit overwhelmed by situations he's not used to.
Anyway, I'm not sure how I feel now - some elements were great, but others were awful. Did I just expected too much after a 2 year break?
If you've got this far, please join me in a large glass of wine.
The course was 2'6 - 2'9 and wasn't big but did have a few questions in it.
Anyway, it became clear after about a minute in the warm up that brakes were going to be an issue. We did our schooling quite happily in a snaffle last week, but he was a bit over excited today! Still, he pinged the practice fences and we went off down to the start.
About 3 strides out from the 1st fence I felt him backing off. I went to give him a slap down the shoulder, but before I got the chance he has spun round and was carting me back towards the lorry park. I lost a stirrup and really thought I was coming off but managed to recover and eventually to pull him up.
Took him back to the start and we set off again. Jumped the first 4 fine, although gave them about a foot each. Got to no 5 which was quite a tricky double and had a run out at the first element. Had a couple more goes at getting him over, but he was getting more wound up each time and trying to piss off again. Decided to skip it and jump the second element and carry on. A couple of fences later he decided to duck out of a simple post and rail - think it was just to see if he could. That got me really angry and he got a real telling off. After that he flew round.
When I finished I was really torn - he finished the course in great style, but had played me up over the first half.
What frustrates me is that I know he is perfectly capable of jumping clear at this level (even with the muppet on board). However, he has always been a quirky horse who gets a bit overwhelmed by situations he's not used to.
Anyway, I'm not sure how I feel now - some elements were great, but others were awful. Did I just expected too much after a 2 year break?
If you've got this far, please join me in a large glass of wine.
