Need some advice (long!)

miskettie

miskettie

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I have a 6 (almost 7) year old, 14.2, arab x quarter horse. I've owned her since she was 4. When we bought her she had only been broken in for 3 months. I fell in love with her instantly and let my heart rule my head. I have been riding for 12 years but mainly hacking, so I am not the strongest rider schooling/ jumping wise.

I have lessons with her and have had everything checked. We just don't seem to be moving forward, I know she is still young but haven't had much improvement in 2 years. I've had a few successes but these have been very few and far between.

Yesterday I had a group jumping clinic (jumps were about 2ft6-2ft9) and I completley broke down (very embarrasing). This is not something I would normally do! I am not the hyperventalating type...in fact this was the first time in my life!

Anyway our problems jumping (and probably schooling) are 50/50...50% is my inexperience and 50% is hers...in this way we do not make a good team. Really I should have gone for a school master, so that I could improve my riding instead of going for a youngster. In jumping our main problem is refusing and jumping the jumps in bizarre ways.

Now Ettie will make an amazing endurance horse, as out hacking she can go forever, but jumping I am worried if we keep going we'll be stuck at 2ft6 (as I was with my first horse who could only jump up to this height as she was elderly) or one of us will completley loose our confidence.

I don't want to sell her, yet I really want to advance in jumping and actually win sometimes (have been competing regularly for 10 years at up to 2ft6 and have never come 1st). I want Ettie to be happy as well - she loves jumping but maybe she is just a horse that likes jumping small.

I was wondering if anyone had any advice? I could send her to someone who could jump her for a few weeks and maybe help her where I cannot.

I also wondered whether I may be to big for her? I am 5ft5 and 10stone. She is lightweight but a cross of two breeds that are well known for carrying weight.

Sorry for the outpour...just want to sort things out.

Thanks
 
Yes, you should have bought an experienced horse, but you can't worry about that now.

Personally I think group lessons are a waste of money. Have a one-to-one lesson on a regular basis. Think about having the trainer ride your horse for a large chunk of these lessons. Think about having lessons on a schoolmaster so you can concentrate on your own position etc.

Accept the fact that an Arab x QH is probably not going to set the world on fire when it comes to jumping.
 
If it were me I'd sell her to an endurance home where it sounds she would be happiest, and buy a jumping schoolmaster.

It sounds like your having a confidence crisis and believe me confidence is a really hard thing to get back once it's gone
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If you have someone you totally trust to teach you both then get her some tuition first so that she (and you) are confident she can jump bigger heights. Whilst that's going on get yourself some tuition on a confident horse so that you get your own confidence up. Then get some tuition together.

OK it's not the cheapest solution but if she's "your" horse in every other way it might just save the situation.

btw, if you've been having lessons on her for a couple of years now and don't think you are improving any then you need to find a different instructor before sending her away for schooling. I know this adds to the complication.
 
It sounds like you are putting too much pressure on yourself and I personally would take a step back and decide what your riding goals are,

If you decide she is for you I would find a sympathetic instructor and build your confidence and enjoyment that way, horses don't worry about what they learn and when as long as they have trust in the rider

or
secondly if you decide you'd like to jump but feel ponio would make an endurance horse you may consider selling her and buying something else.

Good luck its never easy.
 
i think if you can find a jumping trainer who you really trust and can help and inspire you then you will be 90% of the way there.

how big do you want to jump?
unless you want to jump Foxhunter or higher BSJA then i don't think you need another horse.
 
I agree with Tracey01 - one to one lessons with the right instructor can make all the difference. My RI has worked wonders for us & for my confidence. That way, you and your mare can learn & progress together.

Even if you can only afford lessons twice a month, it all helps. I've also found watching my RI ride my mare really helpful.

Hope you can find a way to move forwards again
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First piece of advice - don't be too hard on yourself!

Everyone has ups and downs with their horses - whatever the horse's age and experience. The only way forward is to develop a strategy to get to where you want to go (and be realistic about your aims!) then put the previous problems behind you to get to them.

I would suggest finding a good instructor who can get an improvement - if you've been having lessons 2 years and it's nto getting better then your instructor is not a good one :-0

You need to find someone you trust, who understands your horse and who has the experience and patience to get the improvement you are looking for.

I've personally tried 3 instructors for solving my youngsters jumping issues before finding my current one, who is ace. She understands the horse, is prepared to work around her quirks (or should that read temper!) and we always progress in the lesson. Nothing will do your confidence more harm than continuing on badly week after week - and paying for it! Far better to save the cash and have 1 lesson a month on your own with someone good (and that does not necessarily mean expensive).

I'd also recommend you join a local riding club - the extra support you'll get will be invaluable (and will remind you that you're not the only one facing problems!)

I'd given up jumping this time last year, as my mare was getting so dangerous on the approach to a fence that friends and family were pleading with me to stop! I was lucky enough to get a lesson with Mark Todd through Horse magazine, and he discovered the cause of our problem was her basic lack of forwardness - we were second in our first BE event with follow up help from my own instructor. Anything is possible!

Good luck :-)
 
I would find someone confident and experienced to jump her for you every now and then, maybe an instructor or maybe just a friend if you know someone suitable. That should help to get her jumping more confidently.

While she is gaining confidence jumping with someone more experienced get yourself some lessons on a school master and get your own confidence back and improve your technique.

Then start having lessons on her again possibly with a new instructor and preferably on a private basis at least at first while you are getting your confidence together.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice.

I don't want to give up with her and sell her, but I also want to do lots of things that I can't with her (well at the moment I can't).

I want to be able to do 2ft9 - 3ft courses and eventually join BSJA and do a bit of BE maybe.

I have just started lessons with a new instructor, though she is really only flatwork. Perhaps I should find someone to jump Ettie, while I have lessons on a schoolmaster....lots of lessons!
 
Ok sorry for double post.

So after that does anyone:

a) know someone who will school my horse over jumps?
b) or anyone who has schoolmasters that can school me over jumps?
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I'm based in Sussex.
 
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