Rubbish, rubbish hunter trial today

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fidgeuk

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Went to kingsclere hunter trial today, 2.9 class. Got as far as fence 4!! And that was after a stop at fence 3! Been riding my horse in a Pelham just recently cos he can be very strong but he was backing off the fences and not a happy horse so I retired before parting company later on!! Lost a stirrup and nearly fell out the side door at fence 4! Feeling flat and disheartened :(

Still there's always next year! And a winter of schooling!

Decaf tea and Special K breakfast bar for reading my drivel x
 
Have you jumped him in the Pelham before? I only ask as I once changed my horses bit on a competition day. It went awful. OH went mad as I hadn't schooled XC in the bit beforehand to see how the horse reacted.
 
That has happened to me before too, twice. One time new bit, didn't 'go' in it, so retired after 1 stop, no point carrying on if you don't feel right. The other time, for the life of me couldn't 'get' what was wrong. Horse just was going on the spot. Fell off, refused, the works. Retired. Found out then that wasp/bee had stung her between the front legs and the martingale strap was rubbing on the swollen spot. Took that off and she was lots better, but being honest she did try so hard for me to be good.. how she didn't react worse to it I'll never know.
Always another day, each day we learn new things, so don't feel too bad.
 
I made a subtle change once from a snaffle to a slightly skinnier snaffle with a little link in it. My horses jump instantly deteriorated 100%. Even with the reins slack he was very very unhappy. Sometimes you're just better off with a horse thats strong but keen and confident into the fence rather than one thats backing off too much.

Onwards and upwards, and if it makes you feel any better I went to a HT once and refused 18 out of 22 jumps despite having spent weeks xc schooling. My horse was just petrified out on the course on his own. And it was just the last 4 jumps we didnt refuse as he realised he was heading back to the box. So i know that deflated feeling very well
 
I went today for the 2'3 if it wasn't for the fact they didn't mind me carrying on I would of been eliminated at fence 4! So know the feeling! My boy used to fly over 3' HT with ease a few years ago and today was just plain disastrous. (Bloody saddle problems!) This included 2 stops at the first fence which he could of walked over it was that tiny!! Very disheartened. Hope your boy feels more up for it another day!
 
Oh dear. In my ponys only ever hunter trial he stopped at every single fence on the way round (bar two I think!) He deposited me at the furthest point on the course so I could check out the tire fence solo whilst he ran back to the start to get back up. I ran the half mile back, fetched pony back to the tires where he accepted my apologies for surprising him with such a diabolical fence and jumped it, then stopped multiple times at the rest of the jumps on the way home. It was all just too overwhelming for him. Luckily the organisers were happy for me to school him, so I took him round again and he flew everything the whole way without hint of a stop. Some days you just have to treat it as a learning experience!
 
Thanks so much for your replies and honesty :) I had jumped him a couple of times in it and he seemed ok but out on the course today he felt stuffy and not at all forward going! I was so worried about jobbing him in the mouth I decided retiring was the best thing to do!
I really dithered about his bit, I was going to keep his loose ring snaffle in but listened to YO advice and went with the Pelham instead, should've gone with my gut feeling. I'm so annoyed with myself.
Only just got his saddle sorted on Friday And I've had to go for a synthetic one because it was the only one to fit him! I do like a leather saddle though so somewhat disappointed with that as well.
Oh well, onwards and upwards!
 
Thanks mulledwine, very kind of you to say so :) my horse is my everything so I'm not going to rush things! We'll get there :)
 
fidgeuk said:
Only just got his saddle sorted on Friday And I've had to go for a synthetic one because it was the only one to fit him! I do like a leather saddle though so somewhat disappointed with that as well.
Oh well, onwards and upwards!
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Are you sure it's not the saddle rather than the bit?
 
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