lost my temper last night and feeling bad! bit long!

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stacey_lou

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As above I was schooling my 8yo in the field last night and our field had a derby bank in it a small log and a xc step up and down and some jumps set out, Nothing big just a few doubles and spreads between 2'3 - 2'6 so any how shes going really nice in my hand and nice and collected around the field were jumping the double and spreads lovely and the planks then i go to take her over the straight and she refusses so i take her around agian this time in trot and she just stops.
So I gave up so not to stress and took her over another jump same height but a bit wider no problem
Then she decides to be a stubborn cow and any where near that red jump she wouldnt go over she stops, even if i wasnt riding her to it any where near it she'd stop dead in her tracks and at one point i was using Pony club kicks and nothing,
I got so annoyed at her just stopping when I wasnt even asking her to jump it that I cracked her with me reins and now I feel bad.
To finish we jumped the planks then log then double in a combo to leave it on a good note.
But I feel so bad beacuse I know that for her age and greeness I shouldnt have done what I did.
No point to this really just had to say it allowed.Now I look an evil cow but we did have a cuddle after
 
Considering she was jumping everything else, with out problem, unless she has history with this particular fence or the sun was at a funny angle I get the feeling that she was taking the mickey and you were quite entitled to give her a wack.

We all have out bad moments and horses are incredibly forgiving esp when carrots are involved in your guilt =)
 
I don't think you did anything so bad, except a lack of consistency. I've been having SJ lessons with a BSJA coach and have been told to always give my horse a tap with the whip if he refuses no matter what - even if it was rider error or the horse is green. I see loads of riders who do nothing or even give their horse a pat, and I admit this would be my natural response if I get it wrong, but when you look at it from the horse's perspective this must be so confusing! One minute they are being told it's fine and good to refuse, the next they are reprimanded for it! I think it is better all round if the horse knows exactly what is expected of him. My horses are used to me carrying a whip and don't get stressed out when I use it.
 
I still felt bad so I allowed her to pub her ears and nose on my white shirt which made it all dirty and manky lol.
She had a shower got a cuddle and went to bed.
She was getting so seated up that continusing with this jump problerly wouldnt have done me any favors, I even jumped of and made it smaller
 
One smack with the reins won't do much harm if she's being silly. Have often seen it snap a horse out of messing around and over reacting especially in a dangerous situation. Repeated hitting etc would have been wrong but that's not what you did. If that's the worst you've ever done then i think your horses will be fine and quite happy to have you.
 
I kind of did it then sat back in my seat and though s**T shouldnt have done that, I know I need to keep a cool and relaxed mind espically with such a green horse but something diconnected.Suppose we all learn from mistakes.
Ive seen some top event riders properly lay into their horses though.
 
Everything needs a smack occasionally no matter what age or experiance otherwise they will take the piss constently, dont worry about it
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