Section D Question

E

express_75

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 July 2007
Messages
556
Location
Wales
Visit site
Hi
I have a Section D mare & she's 5. Im a novice rider & TBH, im struggling with her when it comes to school work as ive only been used to "ready made" types...I bought with my heart not my head.

My question is to those of you who have had a young Section D - how old were they until they became nicely schooled?
I have lessons on her & she is also schooled by an experienced rider who is working on her walk & trot work.
I just find my confidence is getting so low with her in the school that ive decided just to hack her & let someone else do the school work.

Im really thinking of selling her & getting an older Section D, one thats been there & done it all so we can have fun together & gain my confidence back.

My mare is stunning & a big, chunky D, plenty of bone & has been ridden in the Royal Welsh but aside from this..im over horsed:( and its so sad.

Any solutions out there???
 
You haven't said what it is that she does wrong, and I assume she does something that scares you.

There is no magic age that a horse becomes a well mannered and polite ride, that depends on how much time has been spent on their schooling. I have ridden 10 year olds that were horrible.

To be honest horses are very expensive to keep and also take up a huge amount of time. If this horse is too much for you and you don't enjoy her, then the best thing for both of you, is to sell her and buy something else.
 
Keep working on your schooling, we all have down times and maybe you will learn from the experience. Its probably worth speaking to an instructor and friends who can see you with your horse and give you honest opinions.
If your considering an older welsh section D why not look around at what else is out there and then think about putting your horse up for sale if you think you might find something more ready to do what you want.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
 
sell her...

it costs just as much to keep one you're happy with, as one you are not.
grin.gif
 
In the school I find it near impossible to flex her on a left bend & when I’ve been having a lesson; my instructor is explaining what do ask for next & im all over the shop. She’s solid on the left, she doesn’t look where she’s going & I find it so hard.

I’ve had two horrible falls on her in there; one where she totally leant on me in canter, pulled me out of the saddle & I ended up in hospital for a week and then two weeks ago during a lesson, she bolted & I was thrown onto the post & rail. She’s so strong at times. I get nervous now & it goes straight thought to her so it has now become a vicious circle.

There are lots of brilliant things about her but as a first horse I think she is unsuitable. This isn’t how I had it planned. I wanted a horse for keeps & I feel I have let her down. I hate the thought of her being sold on but I admit that im struggling.

Im having a lesson tonight but on another horse, an older horse, I can relax on her & concentrate on position & seat.
 
It sounds like your confidence has taken a real knock - hugs.
I think you probably know what you want to do.
I'm sure with time and work you can get over this but it is up to you to decide if you want to tough it out. Don't feel guilty you aren't letting her down, you can find her a more suitable home where she'll be happier and get yourself something you can enjoy.
 
I replied to your last post - sorry to hear that you are still struggling
frown.gif


In reply to your schooling question, my friend has a 6yo Section D who was backed late so her schooling is about that of a 5yo. My friend (experienced rider) has worked hard to get a really nice walk and trot in a good outline but is still working on the canter and struggles to get her to strike off on the right leg sometimes. However, friend feels totally confident with her youngster, enjoying the challenge of the schooling and is really having a whale of a time with her doing RC type stuff. She is turning out to be a fab hunter and has a great jump in her. It is possibly her favourite horse she has ever owned.

As a novice rider who has had her 16yo fab pony for 3 years, I think I would struggle to teach this mare what my friend is teaching her, especially the schooling side, I would be okay hacking. Not impossible without the help of a good instructor, but hard work. However, in a couple of years she would be my ideal horse - if she was a gelding
tongue.gif


I've thought about buying a youngster in the future (purely because I can't afford a ready-made and don't want another oldie) but I'm really not sure if I'm up to the challenge.

Speak to the people that know you and your horse most and whom you trust, perhaps your instructor, YO, best horsey friends? Ask them to be honest, should you sell your mare?

If you decide to sell her I'm sure you could find a lovely home for her - to someone a bit more experienced like my friend who enjoys the schooling. Then you could find yourself something a bit older etc that you can have fun on.

If you decide to keep her I wish you all the luck in the world - you sound like a lovely genuine person who wants the best for her horse
smile.gif
 
Are you still reading this thread? Hope so.

I ride a now 7 year old Section D, and it has taken 2-3 years to get him to the point where I believe he would now do a decent prelim dressage test. He has come up with evasions not previously known to man nor beast, and taken one step forward and 3 back many a time. However persevering was worth it with him.

Section D's are renowned to be "not for novices" - unfortnately if your name is anything to go by, derwen lines are one of those particularly thought to be firey.

The breed is often extremely intelligent and don't always apply this to the benefit of schooling, can be bargy and generally a handful. They can get bored easily and suss out their riders instantly.

However if you get them on your side then they can be the most loyal and protective of horses. It takes time, patience and a whole lot of consistency to get there.

If your instructor is confusing you maybe you could try a new one?

TBH if you decide to sell her then I'd advise you to rethink about sticking with the breed and try another of our brilliant natives!
laugh.gif
 
I have a 6 year old D. I've had him 3 years and started him from stratch... I have been VERY lucky to have ended up with a sane and sensible horse, who is also rather well schooled now!

Sounds to me like you're over horsed, and judging from the damage she's done already I don't think you'd be wrong to call it quits with this one and sell for something more established.

That said an older D will not necessarily be any better for you. I'm guessing you know what the breed can be like!!

Good luck with what ever you decide to do!
 
I had a 5 1/2 year old Section D as the first horse I ever owned (as opposed to having on loan) - he had only been shown before I had him, and for the first six months he walked all over me. Then suddenly one day on a hack I finally had had enough of him taking the p*ss, and gave him a firm smack with the whip, and shouted 'you WILL go past....(whatever the scarey object was)' From then on we had a totally different relationship, and things were fine!

I sold him at just turned eight years old, having won the last Prelim dressage competition we entered for with 73% - I was dead chuffed with that
grin.gif


I tried to explain to the woman I sold him to that with Section Ds if you give them an inch then they will take a mile, but if you are firm (not cruel, just firm) then they are fine. Sadly she didnt listen and ended up selling him on 6 months later without telling me, but he went to a lovely home with a mother and two sons who didnt let him get away with it, so he thrived
smile.gif


So at the end of all this ramble I think I am trying to say - if you feel you can psychologically stand up to your mare then you will be OK, if you are past that stage now then I would sell her now and buy something you will feel more comfortable with
smile.gif
 
SOUNDS like your confidence has taken a knock......would it be possible to send her off for some schooling somewhere?? if you are really unhappy with her the i would consider selling, you won't let her down and i'm sure someone will enjoy her and you can go and find something you really enjoy and can relax with....
 
I got my section d x dales at 4 years old and it was a stuggle at first but she is the sweetest, kindest horse you could ever wish to meet. I'm glad I kept her and worked through the issues even though I felt a bit out of my depth at the time. I had private lessons then she went to a professional to be schooled for a few months and then I continued having private lessons on her. She's 16 now and a horse of a lifetime. I can't tell you what to do only you know whats right but I'd be inclined to try other option ie different instuctor before you make any final decisions?
 
I would sell, and TBH I wouldn't look for another Sec D either. I have one (out on loan to someone else ATM) and although he's adorable, everything is on his terms or not at all. The loaners get on brilliantly with him but it took me years to get him on side. I bought him at 7 and by 10 he was doing a decent Prelim test. I was quite novice when I bought him and can honestly say it was a huge mistake at the time. Too sharp, too difficult, too opinionated.

I love my boy to bits but I would never have another sec D! If I was in your position I would sell her and buy something older, quieter and more experienced.
 
i've got a 6yr old Section D and he's getting there with the schooling. Had him 6mths now and he can just about skid his way round a prelim, although at home he is perfectly capable of doing it very nicely. He thinks white boards are going to eat him alive, has no confidence and is certainly not a novice ride. I think it will be quite some time before he's confident at shows. My old Section D on the other hand was a complete angel in the school (devil to hack but that's another story) - he was the perfect schoolmaster up to Elem level.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top