Little down at the moment... advice?

[floradora09]

I'm in the pony club and like to compete and have fun with Bramble, who I've had for nearly three years now and love to bits. However, he's only 14.1hh and 20 years old, and I only jump him about 2'6/2'9. I probably would be happy with this normally, but all my pony club friends have amazing ponies that they jump a lot bigger (they're of a same or similar age to me) and quite often I feel like I'm getting left behind and am not as good as them.

I'm not allowed two ponies but I love Brams dearly and don't want to give him back to his owner, but I also often get frustrated and feel silly that I'm not jumping as big as my friends. What do you advise? Feeling a little down atm

Thanks x

 

[Rudey]

What an awful situation! Is there any chance someone needs their horse exercising and take up that as a ride? What about put Bramble on part loan? xx

 

[PnO]

I kind of know how you feel, i'm nearly 20 and although I have a perfectly capable horse (15.2hh) he is quite a complicated little chap and I just don't have the money to afford tutiton every week and to go to shows all the time. Whereas everyone else my age at PC has nice big horses, and can afford to compete all the time and have excellent tution and have everything paid for by mummy and daddy! So I decided not to re-join this year

 

[LauraB123]

Aww thats awful! I used to have a similar sort of situation. My parents couldn't spend a fortune on a pony for me so I had a couple of projects. It ment that while I was falling off/struggling my friends were having fun! But I kept going because I loved them too bits, although I wasn't doing as much I was still learning and I loved both of them too bits! If you are happy doing what your doing and really love Bramble then don't worry what your friends are doing. However if you really want to start jumping a bit higher etc then maybe consider asking Brambles owner if you can find him a new loan home or part loan so atleast you'll know he is happy etc still ?

 

[gg68]

Watch the others on their ponies and learn from them, you may only be jumping 2"9 but if you do it in good style you can be justly proud of yourself and pony. You may not win the highest jump prize but you could win admiration for your style. And who knows who else is watching, someone may need a good and effective rider for another horse. Your day will come if you watch and learn. Anyway 2.9 is very respectable. Cheer up and be happy

 

[floradora09]

Thanks for all the support

I kind of compete 2'6 and on a good day push on to 2'9, but often have a pole down. Lots of people have said stuff to me about how it's more important to do it with good technique/style etc but for some reason I can't get that into my head, all I can see is how much bigger everyone else is jumping how much better they seem! Also I don't have an awful lot of lessons and although my riding is hardly bad, I often feel that I could really benefit off just a few lessons and that could really boost my riding further. They're on my xmas list!

But I think what gets to me is what PnO said, sometimes the attitude seems to be that if a pony isn't able to do what rider wants to, it often seems a case of just buying another horse, done! And parents not horsey so we don't have transport just beg and borrow of others, and try to compete or go somewhere most weekends but need lessons too. Also forgot to add that last october, just when I'd really got into the swing of things and had gone XC schooling for first time, Brams did shoulder ligament in and was off all through the winter (what a miserable winter that was!) and didn't compete again until late may. We've had a fab summer but I had spent the whole winter just plodding him out on hacks, massaging him and waiting for him to come sound while everyone else was carrying on, and lots of friends' ponies go lame and they just seem to get another one! That frustrated me a little too!

Don't get me wrong I'm so grateful even for having the chance to ride and care for such a sweet amazing pony as my family are not horsey at all, but often I find it hard and at the moment a bit in a muddle! Thanks again xx