Is he suitable?

[MyEventingAddiction]

I own a 12 y/o, 14.3 hh Welsh D and I'm 12 year old. I finish school at 4pm everyday and it's hard for me to get down every day and ride him as he isn't within walking distance from my house! He absolutely hates fillers and after nearly a year we have only just managed to get him over green barrels and a board when jumping at home but he won't go anywhere near the water tray! I'm wanting to event him eventually, but I don't know any fitness programs to fitten him up over winter (planning on having him lunged once a day for 10-20 mins when I can't get down to the yard)! Does anyone have any ideas? Also, anyone know how to prevent his filler fear more �� I have never taken him XC but I'm expecting him to be naughty as he hates water as well! Any help would be appreciated as I really don't want to give up on him as I've grown attached with his cheeky personality! He also likes to walk away and try run off when you take the headcollar off him when tacking him up outside his stable �� any help for that would also be appreciated Thanks for any help [Content removed]

 

[spookypony]

Do you have the help of a good instructor? It's very sensible of you to be planning your winter work now, and I think that there's a lot you will be able to do, even if it's dark too early to go for long rides, in terms of building his confidence.

Regarding the filler-fear, try not to think of it in terms of jumping at the moment, but in terms of building his confidence in you when approaching strange objects. You can try lots of different things, such as groundwork, schooling around jumps without jumping them, always trying to break down whatever you are asking into small tasks, and rewarding him whenever he gives you a hint of doing the right thing. This is where a sympathetic instructor would be really useful.

It sounds like he's become aware a bit when you are not as confident (say regarding the water, or the headcollar thing), and you could use some help to nip this in the bud---not through violence, of course, but through working on your own confidence and handling skills, so that he understands what he needs to do (and that it's not a matter of choice).

As to the fitness question, probably the best thing you could do over the winter is to go hacking regularly, somewhere where there are hills, if possible. Out on a hack, you can also work on de-spooking him by asking him to step over small logs or negotiate natural obstacles, especially if you're with someone on a more confident horse.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Have you got a bike, it is a lot faster than walking.
I agree with him being a bit cheeky, horses will always work out what is best for them rather than you! You need to "man up" when tacking up Someone can show you the best way to deal with this.
If you can get a book called 101 exercises for jumping [25 do not involve jumping!], you will see that you need to have a little plan, he needs to get used to going in to his fences and enjoying his work rather than looking for ways too avoid work. The best way to do this is to make the jumps inviting [ie small] but interesting [ie small courses or combinations .. two or three jumps in a line.
You need to know the correct distance between jumps, usually the rider steps out the distances before the jumping.
Don't bother about fillers at this stage, keep him on crossed poles, use ground lines to help him, and also do oxers, where he is asked to jump a bit wider.
You can also do "ground handling" where he is asked to do little exercises like walking over poles, tarpaulin, this will help with water and fillers, he also needs to "man up"
You could consider finding an experienced rider looking for a share a few days a week, they will not put up with any nonsense and will also keep him fit.