Making schooling more interesting...

B

beginner_rider

Member
Joined
17 June 2014
Messages
19
Visit site
I am just about to move my pony to a new yard that is down the road from me (current yard is miles away on an irregular bus route and I don't drive) new yard is quite nice, great turnout, nice big stables with own tack room, gorgeous new menage, only downside is there isnt a great lot of hacking, and the YO is saying she doesn't allow jumping in the school in case it ruins her surface (????) Not a lot I can do about this, I'm planning to go out a couple times a month and hire a jumping arena somewhere so we still get to have a play.

My question is, how can I make schooling a bit more varied and exciting? We're allowed groundpoles etc...I'm just really worried both him and me are going to get really bored of constantly being in a school....I can't think of many exercises and ways to make schooling a bit different here and there!
 
You need to get some books/DVDs or watch other peoples lessons or buy the magazines with "lessons articles" in them and find lots of different exercises to ride working on various different things so your horse always has variety. Boredom is only caused by doing the exact same stuff over and over.
 
Invest in the book '101 Jumping Exercises for Horse and Rider' there is a section on polework and all the jumping exercises can be used as poles.

Honestly there isn't a chance I'd move to a yard where the YO says no jumping to protect the surface. Not only is that extremely restrictive, it also signals the potential for a whole host of other barmy yard rules. If you're not paying a massive deal less than other yards in that area, then there is no reason why you shouldn't be allowed to jump. You pay your livery to include the upkeep of the arena, and no decent surface should be 'ruined' by jumping if managed well. Smells more like an insurance issue to me.
 
You could try and practice some dressage tests. Even if I am not going to a competition then I often just practice a specific test so it gives a purpose to the session.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top