I'm fed up!

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FunkyFilly28

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*Warning: long and rambly rant! Advice and support much appreciated!*
Just got back from a combined training having been eliminated yet again. At the moment I wouldn't care if I had every fence down I just want to finish! This problem started back in the summer where my horse stopped a the 3rd fence and wouldn't go anywhere near it after. Took him to PC camp and he was naughty again - being really nappy and stopping on XC and SJ. He was however really good when being schooled etc. In September we went SJ and he won the first class but was eliminated in the next two - at jumps he had already done. Took him to a hunter trial and I fell off twice at different fences so was eliminated.

Since then I have fallen off twice at home because of his stopping. He is 16yrs old and has evented up to PN level so I don't really think 2ft 3''-2ft 6'' is that taxing for a 15.3hh tb. I sat up at every jump and got him straight so didn't ride any differently at those he stopped at. I think he's being a bit clever and using fillers etc/ as an excuse because at home he'll jump the scariest of things. So, any advice as it's really disappointing to fall of almost every time I jump and be eliminated from every class, I am only 14 too.

He is fine physically i.e. fit enough, tack and back ok etc. and he has got a super jump - just not every time I want it! I have lessons too and was told to sit up but didn't work today and people said that I did ride well as normally I would blame it on myself.
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Lots of chocolate if you get this far.
 
To be honest and sorry if this sounds harsh, but I suspect that the probelm may be with you and not your horse.

From the sounds of it you have had a few falls recently wich is bound to have knocked your confidence. One of my horses will ditch the rider just befor take off if the person on top is not 100% committed and confident.

My advice would be to get your self a really good instructor who can take you right back to basics and give you both your confidence back. Also, dont do any more competitions for a while to take the pressure off. See if you can hire out a cross country course and take a friend with you. Just go and have a jolly.

At 14 you are still very young and allthough you may have been riding for a while, you probably are still quite in experienced. Dont give up, we've all been there! xxx
 
Thanks for your advice tictac. I would have to say though that I was commited to every fence and my yard owner and parents really noticed an improvement in my riding. He is fantastic when being schooled and used to really show off at competitions and do his best, I just feel as though he's not trying as hard for me anymore.
 
If the YO was watching the class do they have any suggestions as to why its happening? It's hard to give advice without seeing it.

I've had disagreements with my RI before as she said that it was my fault D was stopping and that I didn't look convinced about the jump. I argued that I was but actually looking back she was completely right, I just wasn't admitting it.
 
Thanks for your comment dwi. YO blamed it on him not being fit enough but I found him sparky enough as he wasn't breathing very heavily after and is much fitter than when he was junping clears beofre. I had a lesson and was told to sit up but I did today and he still stopped.
 
Have you had his saddle checked? Little Lad has taken a dislike to jumping due, we believe, to the points of the tree digging into his shoulders on landing. Jumping him became pot luck as to whether he'd put in a stop on the last stride
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Have you tried putting someone else on him at shows?
 
I would get a really good instructor (ask around for recommendations). I definitely think you need help from the ground to address this. Also if they can ride to get a feel of your horse/possibly deal with problems by riding themselves occasionally, then this will be a real help. This is most definitely what course of action I would take. Good luck and keep at it.
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