3Beasties
Well-Known Member
At the start if the summer I was having real problems with jumping. It was before Charlie had been diagnosed with his virus and I was having loads of problems with him in general, he was nappy in the school and majorly nappy out hacking. When jumping he would regularly stop and run out, not because the jump was scary but just because he didn't want to jump. If he did jump it he would either knock it (he literally sent poles flying more often then he left them up
), Jump awkwardly or p!ss off after it. The jumps weren't even particularly big, probably averaging 2'6".
I didn't realise it at the time but it definitely knocked my confidence, I was always expecting him to throw in a dirty stop and I was beginning to think we would never get our jumping back on track.
Anyway today I had a great ride on Charlie, took him in the school and did some schooling first. Then I put up a small spread. As I was trotting him round the school he kept spooking at the jump and wouldn't go near it so I thought that I would have trouble getting him over it. I cantered him into it, felt him back off, and instead of freezing and waiting for him to stop like I always tend to do
I actually used my LEGS and he flew over it
Did it a few more times before I put it up to about 3ft and again he flew over every time.
Feeling very brave I decided to push my luck a bit and put it up once more (Think it was about 3'6). As I cantered him towards it I though 'eek that's quite scary
' but before I wimped out I pushed him on, he met it perfectly and flew over it. I had the biggest grin on my face
Just to make sure it wasn't a fluke I did it twice more (both times he cleared it even though we got the striding wrong on the 2nd attempt).
Afterwords I jumped straight off and gave him the biggest kiss ever, I was so, so pleased with him, I felt like he would jump the moon for me
He didn't knock a single pole all day
I know that's not a very big jump for some people but I really didn't think Charlie would jump well again!
Can't wait to take him X-Country schooling now
Cookies and Hot Choccy if you made it to the end
I didn't realise it at the time but it definitely knocked my confidence, I was always expecting him to throw in a dirty stop and I was beginning to think we would never get our jumping back on track.
Anyway today I had a great ride on Charlie, took him in the school and did some schooling first. Then I put up a small spread. As I was trotting him round the school he kept spooking at the jump and wouldn't go near it so I thought that I would have trouble getting him over it. I cantered him into it, felt him back off, and instead of freezing and waiting for him to stop like I always tend to do
Feeling very brave I decided to push my luck a bit and put it up once more (Think it was about 3'6). As I cantered him towards it I though 'eek that's quite scary
Afterwords I jumped straight off and gave him the biggest kiss ever, I was so, so pleased with him, I felt like he would jump the moon for me
I know that's not a very big jump for some people but I really didn't think Charlie would jump well again!
Can't wait to take him X-Country schooling now
Cookies and Hot Choccy if you made it to the end
