Next challenge - jumping on Pony

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Smallhorses

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Morning,

Pony had the evening off last night which was nice. He chilled with his field mate and ate some grass; I had sausage and mash whilst watching two and half men :D

The next big hurdle to overcome is on Saturday – the Clear Round Jumping competition :eek:

I haven’t jumped in about 10 years and I am a tad nervous – actually FLIPPIN’ nervous! :eek:

Its happening at my yard and people from all over are attending. My YO has made some beautiful rosettes and everyone is getting involved. We have a water jumps, wall jumps the whole shebang!

The jumps are starting REALLY big at just under 2ft!! :D There are 9 altogether. Pony is a show jumper; I am not. He is way more advanced than me. With all the commotion with his recent buckaroo behaviour I am not in the best of minds with him confidence wise but getting there but I feel I have to do this – I really WANT to move forward.

Is it just a case of hanging on and letting him do his thing?! :confused::D

My very confident friend is coming up tonight and I am doing a dummy run of the course. I have no idea how it will go :rolleyes:

I have never ever won a rosette and desperate to achieve something on him so I really want to do this, just have to get over my nerves (again!).

So, do you remember being in my position (have you ever been?!)? Any tips on jumping? Position? Should I canter round or trot? (although he is strong so trotting him might be mission impossible but if we canter it’ll be over quicker lol!!). Eeeeek!
 
Bless you!

Ask your confident friend to talk you through things tonight and go from there. If tonight doesn't give you confidence, then write off saturday.

I can understand the feeling of being desperate to achieve something but don't put undue pressure on yourself. You've not had him that long and have had some issues with him so don't set yourself unreasonable expectations.

I've had my horse since March. A rosette-worthy achievement for us at the moment is a short hack out on our own and back without major incident (minor incident is fine). In the school, if we manage a session without him losing his head and getting in a pickle then we award ourselves an imaginary rosette ;)

But good luck whatever you decide!!
 
I know this isn't what you want to hear but as you are still so nervous of him I think you would be far better off sitting this one out UNLESS you can happily pop him round a course of jumps without all the razzamatazz and hullabaloo of all the extra people there to wind him up. On the other hand if it all goes swimmingly tonight then fair enough, but personally I'd consolidate what I'd already done and consider that consolidation a great step forward.
 
I'd get your friend to go round first so that you can see what he's like before you commit yourself.

good luck & enjoy yourselves!
 
jemima_too said:
I know this isn't what you want to hear but as you are still so nervous of him I think you would be far better off sitting this one out UNLESS you can happily pop him round a course of jumps without all the razzamatazz and hullabaloo of all the extra people there to wind him up. On the other hand if it all goes swimmingly tonight then fair enough, but personally I'd consolidate what I'd already done and consider that consolidation a great step forward.
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im afraid I agree, it was only yesterday that you posted about spending an hr before getting on as you were so nervous, which is fine but do you really feel ready to do a course of jumps infront of a crowd?? why dont you book yourself a lesson and maybe just pop over a few teeny jumps at the end if you feel up to it? I think this pony might be too foreward going for you as I know when you went to look at it, you said he whizzed off with you etc. sorry if its not what you want to hear but there are so many potentially confidence building horses out there, why have one that wrecks your nerves?
 
pixiebee said:
im afraid I agree, it was only yesterday that you posted about spending an hr before getting on as you were so nervous, which is fine but do you really feel ready to do a course of jumps infront of a crowd?? why dont you book yourself a lesson and maybe just pop over a few teeny jumps at the end if you feel up to it? I think this pony might be too foreward going for you as I know when you went to look at it, you said he whizzed off with you etc. sorry if its not what you want to hear but there are so many potentially confidence building horses out there, why have one that wrecks your nerves?
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It wasn't nerves that stopped me from getting on straight away, it was the fact he had violently buckaroo'd my friend off that did swayed me to take it easy. Even she took 2 hours after to get back on.

I am not selling him :)

I think your advice on getting a lesson in beforehand is great - my friend is coming back up tonight to start me off small and then attempt the jumping course. I will set a target for myself of going round calmly in trott. If I can't achieve that I will sit this one out :(
 
Sorry to say, but if you have to set yourself a target of being able to trot around the school, then I think trying to jump a course infront of a load of people, with all the commotion going on is pushing it a tad too far. You are obviously having confidence issues with this pony, my advice would be to get a good instructor to give you some lessons, and also find a quiet hacking companion and get to know the pony outside the rather boring confines of the school. You might find he is fed up of endless circles, and behaves better when he has a view that is interesting, and you will probably relax as well. If not, then maybe he is not the right pony for you???
 
lhotse said:
Sorry to say, but if you have to set yourself a target of being able to trot around the school, then I think trying to jump a course infront of a load of people, with all the commotion going on is pushing it a tad too far. You are obviously having confidence issues with this pony, my advice would be to get a good instructor to give you some lessons, and also find a quiet hacking companion and get to know the pony outside the rather boring confines of the school. You might find he is fed up of endless circles, and behaves better when he has a view that is interesting, and you will probably relax as well. If not, then maybe he is not the right pony for you???
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I think you're right regarding boring confines of the school especially as he has been spoilt going out on the forest most days. I have been hacking him out and he has been as good as gold (so far!).

He is the right Pony for me. My confidence issues will be overcome :)
 
Suziq77 said:
That's the spirit, you sound A LOT more positive than your earlier posts :D

ps - I do agree about potentially sitting the jumping out this time, wait til next time and wow them all ;)
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I know its all me most of the time. I think I will be like this with any horse which means I would have to give up riding :( I will persevere. There was a time when I was absolutely fine and will get there again.

I will see what happens with the jumping. I won't tell you either way....maybe you'll see a picture of me with a rosette on Sunday....maybe you wont ;) :D
 
I presume your aim was to trot calmly round a course of jumps tonight, not trot round the school ???

If you can get round a course with your friend there, I don't see why you shouldn't have a bash at the weekend - provided you keep in mind that it doesn't matter whether you win a rosette or not, and if it goes wrong you chalk it up to experience and don't blame the pony!

Of course, that's the high risk strategy, most likely to result in personal injury. It's the one I'd take (assuming the pony's up to it and not likely to be set back majorly if it doesn't go quite to plan). There isn't really a right answer, you could play it safe and miss out on a fun learning experience, or you could gamble and end up on the floor. That's the nature of horses. I hope it's the fun learning experience though ;)

Ultimately, you have the right attitude, you're just getting on with it! If you want to, do it :p
 
If ur going to do this and pony is a jumper who knows the job and is relatively sane then yes. Steer. Think brave thoughts, try not to sock him in the mouth as he jumps and be grateful to him if he looks after u. Trust him to do his job, jump. U do urs, steer, stay on and be kind to him.
 
Confidence is a strange thing!! (Mine certainly is anyway). I think saturday you should get ready nice and early and ride him round the show area as people arrive, let the show come to the pony. If he keeps his cool and your happy have a go in the ring, even if you just trot round do 1 jump and come out.

Believe it or not it is a big deal for the pony to go away from his mated and concentrate on his own so be pleased if he responds to you.

Baby steps!!
 
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