My horse is an absolute star

[Erehwemos]

I love her to bits, I truly do.

We went on a fun ride today, and although I had fully intended to jump, when I saw the first line of fences my nerve failed me (yet again) and I chickened out! I have tried so hard to get my confidence back, but every now and again I just have a panic about what could happen if it went wrong...

Anyway, a couple of miles on we came to more jumps, this time set at large-ish distances around the edge of the field, more like a proper XC course. I didnt do the first, but then some horses ahead of me started to jump so Ellie and I tagged along behind. She jumped every single one!

Even better, we then came to a yard which owns a large field full of XC schooling jumps, who had kindly allowed us to jump round the course as many times as we liked - I couldnt believe it! Again, we set off doing the tiddly ones - completely on our own this time - and she flew every single one, to the point that my confidence grew a bit more and we started doing a couple of the middle/bigger sized ones

I know this isnt a huge deal to many people, but I have always been hugely anti-XC, always scared of the solidness of the jumps. Ellie has never done XC properly in all her 14 years - we did go to PC camp twice, but both times I tended to chicken out of most of the XC sessions

SJ was our thing, but when we had our nasty fall I lost all confidence, and swore I'd never jump again. It seems ironic that I am now getting braver, albeit over the fences I used to dread even when we were doing well show jumping!
I am definitely going to enter a hunter trial now

Will someone please remember this, and remind me I said it if I have a confidence wobble in the future?!?

Off topic, it never ceases to amaze me how some people hammer their horses on these rides

And also, how some are so blissfully ignorant of basic horsemanship, even if they are polite with it! Two ladies came careering into Ellie's back end without warning, almost like they were using us as a buffer, and although she didnt kick, she pulled a very nasty face at them. I shouted at them to please keep a distance or come past (there was plenty of room, we were in a field) and all they said was, 'Awww that's a nasty face isnt it! Are you enjoying the ride?' Very nice and polite, but lacking common sense I think....it has actually made me think I might put a ribbon in her tail - not because she kicks out of habit, but more to just make people think twice

Anyway, that's enough moaning for now

The bottom line is, my horsey jumped clear round a XC course today, in spite of a total lack of experience and having to lug a trembly, incompetent lardy lump around

She's an absolute angel - and I dont even mind the fact that she wouldnt let me catch her again tonight!

 

[Irishcobs]

Woohoo well done you. I did think the first lot of jumps were a bit big to start with, the last fence of the line was 3ft!
I love that jumping field, we know the owners, its great for getting yours and the horses confidence up as they can just run on to the next fence. Did you jump any at the end? The the blue numbered fences are part of the 2ft6 hunter trial!

Ets, we had some idiots gallop up behind us as we were jumping the jumps before the schooling field. They flew past cutting us up and completely ignored the fact the little 10yr old with us couldn't stop his pony

or the fact one of us had a green ribbon on! i just wished they tried to use Hattie's bottom to stop coz she would of sent them packing!
Not one of them called out or said sorry as they galloped past!

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]
Woohoo well done you. I did think the first lot of jumps were a bit big to start with, the last fence of the line was 3ft!
I love that jumping field, we know the owners, its great for getting yours and the horses confidence up as they can just run on to the next fence. Did you jump any at the end? The the blue numbered fences are part of the 2ft6 hunter trial!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah the first ones were huge werent they!

I got all downcast about it, the secretary had promised lots of jumps, but I'd have been gutted if they all turned out like that.....thank goodness they didnt!

I actually have the advert for that yard and XC course on my fridge at home - now I have seen it properly, I would deffo pay to go round again, it's wonderful!
At the end, I chickened out of the coffin jump

I went to take her just over the ditch but was giving all the wrong signals (ditches and water were always my bogey fences - I ended up in them more than over them

) Bless her, she stopped dead and snorted as if to say, if YOU'RE scared, there's no way I'M jumping!

So we went round it, slap my wrists! But we did do the funny elephant jump, where the photographer was.
Do you know when the next hunter trial is there? And is 2'6 the smallest, or do they do an even smaller course? Twas nice to see you btw - it threw me that we suddenly emerged on the same road - I'd completely lost my bearings after going round the XC course! Mum kept ringing me and saying 'where are you now?' and I was like, 'I dont have a clue...'

 

[Eriskayowner]

Sounds like as good a time as I did!!! Took Jazz to a fun ride today as well. Where was yours?

Well done for jumping! I haven't ever really jumped Jazzy, but the little (I mean little - 1'6"?!) logs at the sides of the tracks were too appealing!!

Glad you had fun x

 

[Irishcobs]

They have 1ft 6, 2ft, 2ft 6 and 3ft.
The next one is the 20th Sept.
Have a look here.
That elephant trap is up to height so if you can jump that then you will be fine doing the hunter trial.
I nearly missed you on the road, my friend had just said to me 'look at the bay with all the sheepskin, she's pretty' and I realised it was you!

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]
They have 1ft 6, 2ft, 2ft 6 and 3ft.
The next one is the 20th Sept.
Have a look here.
That elephant trap is up to height so if you can jump that then you will be fine doing the hunter trial.
I nearly missed you on the road, my friend had just said to me 'look at the bay with all the sheepskin, she's pretty' and I realised it was you!

[/ QUOTE ]

Awwwww bless!!!

We're easily spottable, arent we

Thanks for the link - I'd really like to do it!! We'd probably do the 2ft course, at least to start with. And I might have to go HC so I can still carry on and school round if I get eliminated at the coffin

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]
Sounds like as good a time as I did!!! Took Jazz to a fun ride today as well. Where was yours?

Well done for jumping! I haven't ever really jumped Jazzy, but the little (I mean little - 1'6"?!) logs at the sides of the tracks were too appealing!!

Glad you had fun x

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL many of our jumps today were 1'6

Hey, they're still jumps!

Our ride was at Bromham, in Wiltshire

 

[Eriskayowner]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Sounds like as good a time as I did!!! Took Jazz to a fun ride today as well. Where was yours?

Well done for jumping! I haven't ever really jumped Jazzy, but the little (I mean little - 1'6"?!) logs at the sides of the tracks were too appealing!!

Glad you had fun x

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL many of our jumps today were 1'6

Hey, they're still jumps!

Our ride was at Bromham, in Wiltshire

[/ QUOTE ]

That's true. Was very apprehensive - had never really jumped him (the only time I have he managed to jump me off) and he does have a tripping/stumbling habit due to nerve damage in his foot, but it felt brilliant - adrenaline up and get on with it!!!

Ours was Somerset/Devon border. Roll on the next one!!!

 

[Irishcobs]

You won't. That coffin jumps really nicely if you do all 3 parts. The ditch is so shallow she could walk through it, if needed.

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]
You won't. That coffin jumps really nicely if you do all 3 parts. The ditch is so shallow she could walk through it, if needed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmm, I guess so!

I must conquer my fear of ditches - I managed to overcome a similar phobia of water trays when SJing, so this is no different really!

Do you know who was doing the photos today? Was it DPI again, or a different person?

 

[Irishcobs]

Not sure who the guy by the elephant trap was. Probably DPI.
David was taking photos by the first lot of jumps but I don't no if that was offical or not. I'll PM you if he puts them on his website.

 

[Erehwemos]

[ QUOTE ]
Not sure who the guy by the elephant trap was. Probably DPI.
David was taking photos by the first lot of jumps but I don't no if that was offical or not. I'll PM you if he puts them on his website.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you!

I noticed a photographer up in the top corner of the jumping field - was that the same lady as the Erlestoke ride?

 

[Irishcobs]

I didn't see the lady, so I don't think it could of been Irene as she would of called us over. Not sure who it could of been.

 

[lauraandjack]

Ditches are rider-frighteners! Don't look down, and kick on! Small ditches are one of the easiest things for a horse to jump, as all they really have to do is lengthen their stride without putting in much height. You can do it!

 

[Annagain]

A ditch tip I was given was to fix your sight on a point in the distance, a tree or another fence and just ride towards it looking at it the whole time - that way you don't look down at it. If you have a lead for the first time fix on the tail of the horse in front and ride as if you're trying to catch up with it.