PANIC!

silvershadow81

silvershadow81

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So ive only gone and agreed to do cross country bank holiday monday at the same course i swore i would never go back too!

It was the last time i ever did XC (Which was about three years ago!) and there is this
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HORRIBLE
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coffin complex, really solid and up to hight (All 2'9 of it!) and last time my plan was to go slooooow into it so she could suss out what to do.......

We got about two fences away (at the same time turning for home!) and she took off.... i changed tactics (dont think this was wise!!) and rode really strongly into it, we flew the log and she applied her famous ABS breaking system which worked a treat, sending me flying into the ditch!
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So ive got this ALL AGAIN in less than six days time!
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This time i am doing pairs and my friends horse dosnt have issue with these fences, so the plan is for her to lead. My girl hates being behind and i am really scared she will throw her head up and run..
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my question you all you helpful people is (thanks for getting this far!!)

what is the worst that can happen if a horse dosnt see a ditch (i dont know if i ACTUALLY want to know the answer to this, but i kinda have to know!)

would she be able to muddle over it, even if sideways! as i know she can jump the log the otherside from possibly a standstill.... my other plan will be to aimlessly ride past this demon fence and hope no-one notices!!
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if a horse does not see the ditch they ay well go in it. I would not recomend that.


why dont you lead till a couple of fences before and then swap so you only get a lead for the fence before and the coffin.

also I would not go into XC position for the fence to avoid the fall off, which course is it?
 
That was our tactic, for her to lead just that one fence, but i do think this will add to her not concentrating... and then not seeing the ditch!

Its Trumpington Hall... joy oohhh joy ohhh joy!!

i think i may have a neck strap, martingagle and brestplate to hold on to and i definatly will not be xc positioning it... its just that when she stops im sure her eyes go down to ditch level for a close inspection! you know how short in front she is- theres nothing to stop me heading out the front door.... at a thousand miles per hour!
 
have you got a pelham rounding to stick on the front d rings and grab that as you jump the first eliment so you can hold on more (neck strap will work too)

P.s. I HATE that course (sorry not much help)
 
thats another strap ill be adding to the pocket rocket's tack!

honestly, if i dont feel confident i think i am going past it, so many people hit the deck there last time, its a big complex for a novice.

just want to be able to get through the finish line this time... and get a nice piccie of her doing XC at 20 yo!
 
Have you got time to hire a different course with lots of ditches & have a little practise, starting with the v v tiny ones & working your way up?
 
Sadly no! I am lucky enough to have got the lift to Trumpington. I have been hacking out loads and going ditch hunting! I have started with the little ones (really little!) she dosent even see them and just walks over them and wonders why im holding on for dear life!

The larger ones (well 1/2 foot wide!) which i have found she also dosent jump... i think i need to ger braver and put her in front of something she HAS to jump, not walk over but i am scared she will hurt herself.
 
oooh I am jump judging there - in the morning too so will probably be doing the pairs. Re the coffin - could you tell your friend to slow up before it so that you are not racing each other, then pop over the first element & start kicking like mad as soon as you land!! Hopefully she will then just follow the other horse over the ditch & last element! She should be able to fiddle over it as long as you are not going so fast that she doesn't see it until the last minute!
Good luck!
 
My old horse did that to me once, but then had the bl*ody check to jump over me, laying in the ditch, and pop the fence on the other side... could of killed him!
 
em1- could you request you judge that complex and then 'turn a blind eye' as we go over!!!?? only trying my luck!!

I think (from what i can remember) that there is a good stride before and after each side of the ditch so if i keep low i hope i will stay stuck down! i definalty would perfer to take it really slow... even if we stop the first time she will be able to see the ditch and know for the second attempt that it is there Though i hope she can cast her mind back three years ago and remember it is there!)
 
Yep - no problem - would love someone to do the same for me sometime
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Anyway, last year I was so busy writing down all the details of each horse - they ask you to write down horse colours & riders' jersey colours to avoid problems later - that it was easy to forget to watch if they actually jumped the fence or not!!
Sure you'll be fine. Hope the weather is ok for it!
 
How far along the course is it? If it's near the middle to end would it be any help to horse's mind if you took turns over who led over each jump right from the start so she doesn't think something's up because you've suddenly stuck her head under other one's tail just for that one jump? Does that make any sense at all?
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Mind, you'll have to work out course numbers else you might find yourself in the lead at the Coffin!
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That would be a good idea! that way she would be much more used to following..

.... however the demon fence is (if i recall correctly) about fence number 7, so quite early on.

when we walk in on sunday we can suss out what to do!

I am feeling a little more confident with it all, plan B is to go round it so if i decide i do value my life more than my pride, thats what i will do!
 
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lexiedhb - at least he was brave enough to jump it!! i think these fences are rider scarers more than horse scarers??

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Oh entirely... I think it was me thinking ,........ ohhhh big ditch, was lovely to see his feet and belly and he promtly jumpoed over me... cheeky sod!
 
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