Is this a bad idea? (sj after a break)

[katie_and_toto]

It's a long story but basically both me and Toto have bad confidence at shows, he is very spooky and rushes, I freeze up, think he's going too fast and forget to leg on, so we end up with refusals. We haven't showjumped in a while.

At the moment he hasn't jumped for about 4/5 weeks, due to the ground being too hard (although we've had lots of rain now) and the arena being too deep at the moment. We're moving yards this weekend so have been packing everything up and getting stuff sorted and just haven't got round to jumping.

I was thinking of entering a 2ft class at a local show next Sunday, but then remembered that he's had a break from jumping, and it will have been 5/6 weeks by then. But, I was thinking that the break might have done him some good, and we might have a better outlook on the show ring, he loves his jumping at home, so he might be more willing to go forward if he's a bit fresher? He's not really the sort to get mega silly though if he's had a break, so I think he'll be ok brakes wise

Is this a daft idea?

 

[Kokopelli]

Why don'y you go to the show warm up and see what he's like over the practice fences, you may find you do one fence and don't want to do the class which is ok just have an amble around the show ground for the fun of it

However, you may jump the practice fences and he may be brilliant then you will feel confident doing the class maybe jump him a couple of days before aswell and see how it goes?

 

[katie_and_toto]

Why don'y you go to the show warm up and see what he's like over the practice fences, you may find you do one fence and don't want to do the class which is ok just have an amble around the show ground for the fun of it

However, you may jump the practice fences and he may be brilliant then you will feel confident doing the class maybe jump him a couple of days before aswell and see how it goes?

Yes forgot to say I will probs pop him over a few small fences at the new yard before the show

Yeah he's going to the show anyway to do a ridden class in the afternoon That's a good idea, if he's really naughty then I won't, but he's quite a chilled out dude most of the time so I can't imagine he'll be too bad

 

[nemo_]

Ditto Kokopelli!
If he's had a break, it wouldn't hurt to just get him out again. I've done this before with mine and it's worked, like you say, their outlook changes and it becomes different and more fun. If it's only a small show, could you just use it as a schooling round to just get him jumping again?
Good luck with the move and the sj if you go! I'm sure you'll be fine!
Let us know how it goes

 

[katie_and_toto]

Ditto Kokopelli!
If he's had a break, it wouldn't hurt to just get him out again. I've done this before with mine and it's worked, like you say, their outlook changes and it becomes different and more fun. If it's only a small show, could you just use it as a schooling round to just get him jumping again?
Good luck with the move and the sj if you go! I'm sure you'll be fine!
Let us know how it goes

Thanks
Good to know it worked with yours, lets hope it works with Toto! It's a shame that he's so spooky, as he really loves his jumping at home I'm really excited now!!

Will post a report next week!