Showjumping homework (with a little report and pics)

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Ginn

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Today Till's went to a SJ RC rally with William Mifflin. We have done quite a bit of flatwork/dressage stuff recently but other than a brief jump last weekend its the first times she's properly jumped since early Sept.

I have recently realised just how much I am holding T back in the sense that she feeds off any fears and lack of confidence I have and in turn plays on it, so a truly wonderful friend has stepped in to help and is doing some things with T for me when they are outside my comfort zone to help put some confidence and mileage into her, expanding her comfort zone, and help me put some demons to rest and grow in confidence with her too. So today I was not riding - however I still have HOMEWORK!!

Todays homework is to list atleast 5 positive things about Tilly's outing today (as I am far too critical and good at finding all the negatives and forgetting the positives! :o) I apologise that most of these will sound completely trivial but its all the little things that add up!

:) She is improving on the loading/travelling front every time she goes out, not that she's ever been "bad" but we now walk in in 2 mins rather than 12 and today, after 45mins in the box, she unloaded dry and sweat free. She also stood quietly without any stomping/swaying for the whole journey up and was just a little squealy on the way home.

:) She walked around the lorry park and school quietly while waiting for the others in the group to join us with no nappy/mareish behaviour and not a single hint of a buck - yes she was looky but only in a green "ooooooh, shiney" sort of way.

:) Despite being in season she didn't so much as hint at kicking out or getting mareish around the other horses and was perfectly chilled around them.

:) She was sweet to warm up and the all the work we have been doing on the flat showed an improvement in her general way of going. Although quite flat and not as off the leg as we would like she worked nice and soft and round when asked, despite being somewhere new with A LOT going on around her too look at.

:) We now know that we need to get some shiney blue barrels (anyone know where we might get some??) as these were her only nemisis (and she wasn't even jumping them! Daft pony!)

:) We had NO BUCKING!! Not a single hint of the vile behaviour when I last jumped her back in September at a show. Infact if anything she was a little too chilled and lacked a little forwards oomph.

:) When she clocked the jump and had the engine going she flew and did it really nicely.

:) The instructor had lots of lovely, positive things to say about her and feels any issues are simply greeness, feeling insecure in herself and not seeing enough of the world and all of these *should* improve with time, mileage and positive riding!

:) AND MOST IMPORTANTLY I came away feeling even more confident with her, feeling that next time I should ride her and furthermore that I'd like to ride her as she looked fun and relaxed and not at any point like she was going to throw anything nasty or unwanted at me.
 
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AND ***PICS*** (You may well recognise my truly fantastic friend, I cannot thank her enough!)
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She looks so lovely- very grown up!
For the barrels, maybe ask at feed places or farm shops (as in places which sell farm equipment, not the food places :D) as they might have some... There are 2 massive shiny blue ones where we school our horses and I think we may be dragging them out some time soon to practise with!
 
Thankyou :) She is now rising 6 but has the brain and mileage of a 4 year old so everytime she goes somewhere new she is still at the eyes on stalks phase. I think (Hope!!) once she feels more confident and secure in a new place everything else will come together nicely as at home now she is lovely.

Oh, good thinking about the barrels! Have quite a few farm supplies places locally so will definately see if they have any. Out of interest, what normally comes in them??
 
You know what I never realised you lacked confidence, when ever I have seen photos of your riding you always seemed to be doing so well!

Great photos, she is really growing up, and makes a lovely shape over a fence. You definitely have to do it yourself next time!
 
Thanks Jo!! Unfortunately I have some major, deep rooted insecurities, many of which have been imbedded for years and years and I realised last time I jumped T away from home that I needed to do something about it as I was in danger of them having a negative effect on poor Till's. She is such a fantastic horse in so, so many ways that I do not want to screw the next step up and stop us both progressing due to my issues. Hopefully we are nicely on track to sorting us both out (my head and giving her some experience getting out and about) but one BIG thing I need to work on is thinking positive no matter what, even on a bad day I am not allowed to dwell on the negatives as it is just reinforcing my insecurities and lack of confidence. I'm pleased to say that 7 weeks on it is working and I feel more and more excited about doing stuff with her, rather than nervous and worrying about what might happen, and her having someone with the experience I just don't have to give her riding her is making a massive improvement on her attitude and general behaviour - she is visibly growing up and improving everytime she goes out and it is inspiring to see:) Onwards and upwards!!
 
She looks so much better everytime you post pictures!
What sort of things does Wil get you doing a rally, I was thinking of going to one but Lace is rising 5 and I was hoping he doesn't put up massive jumps.
Oh and I keep sending you the mag article and every time it won't send to your email address? :confused:
 
Would recommend Wil 100% Others in Till's group were much more capeable so he dropped the fences down or tweaked them a bit for her (e.g. the x spead was a normal oxer for the others) and definately didn't push her outside her comfort zone. He gave what was appropriate for the horse and listened to the rider too. That said, I know *when* horse and rider are more confident etc then he will push for more but not until both are ready.

I thought he had a lovely manner, oozed confidence and made everyone feel at ease, always found positive and constructive things to say and when things didn't go to plan had a million other ideas to try. I also liked that he sussed T out very quickly and was therefore armed with a plan of how to play things when she needed back up from the ground (e.g. jumping into the scary cluster of blue barrels corner! Lol!).

Have plans to go back!! Infact am planning to go back privately and I'd imagine Lacey and T would be at similar levels in terms of what to jump so if you want to share the cost of a lesson drop me a line as would be very happy to do that.

Will pm you an alternative email too. :)
 
Thanks A :)

Dressage next on Thurs and hopefully Sun.... I think all this work must come as quite a shock to the system :D
 
Whoops i'm a little embarrassed here. Right over that, i like your list and will give you, your 'confidence jar' on thursday eve. So you can keep filling it with positive notes. And keep the good work up, as I can tell she is get better every time we go out together.
 
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