SJ went wrong again last night - should I give up trying to event?

[FestiveSpirit]

Feeling really

today as I went to do TINY SJ last night (2'6") and it all went wrong. Bob seemed fine in the warm-up, was a bit sticky and looky but nothing unusual, but went into the arena, jumped the first then ran out/stopped about a dozen times at the second fence (a double). We had never been to the venue before, it wasnt that busy, and the fences were Jump for Joy but this particular fence had the same filler as we have at home

The organisers were lovely, took down poles etc so I finally got him over it, but I just feel useless now

I have regular lessons at home (at least weekly) and he jumps fine at home, but when I compete he seems to get into a terrible stress about SJ-ing. Back/teeth/saddle have all been checked and he has been passed 100%

So I am beginning to wonder whether I should just abandon ideas of trying to event? We started him at an Intro with my experienced friend riding him and even she found him awful in the SJ warm-up. Amazingly she managed to get him to jump clear until the final fence (a double) but she said she has no idea how

Went to S Lovell to do the training class and he was awful in the warm up again (several contributory factors such as awful weather) then went in and had 3 down plus one run-out (which was completely my fault)

We are heading for Ascott u Wychwood on Sunday to do another training class, then an unaff training class at Sapey the week after. If things go OK then I am aiming for Intro at Shipton Moyne and Cheltenham.

But now I am wondering whether I should just give up trying to event until I can get his SJ sorted? His dressage is coming along in leaps and bounds and is really pleasing now, and he is always clear XC

 

[ihatework]

My honest opinion is that you should maybe postpone your eventing plans until you have built up a better relationship with Bob. It is too expensive and just throwing money down the drain.

If I were you I would take Bob away from home for his lessons, try a few different instructors to see which one gets to the root of your problem. In addition to that I would get yourself down to Talland (or similar) for some jumping lessons on a schoolmaster.

 

[Joss]

Nah Splotchy you will fit right in with lots of the rest of us eventers we are crap at SJ too. Just keep practising the SJ. Obvously if your Training Class & unaff ODE dont go well then I wouldnt be going to the Intros.

What happened once you got him over the scary filler? Did you get a chance to jump it a good few times more? You wont ever get a double as the 2nd fence at a BE event if thats any consolation. Keep going out to those wee jumpings & you will get there. If at all poss see if you can hire a course somewhere, so much more helpful than at a competition if you have a prob.

 

[FestiveSpirit]

I've been through three instructors already in the 6 months I have had him

They assure me that there is no problem other than his (and my) competition nerves

I kind of agree with you, I just really baulk at throwing away my very expensive BE membership and making no use of it

 

[dieseldog]

Join a Riding Club and do group lessons. This should get him used to riding with others and also you can go to different places that aren't your home.

You'll get there.

 

[louisevictoria]

I would keep going at it - trying to get him out and about to as many places as possible and stick with the lessons.

We all get nerves, in my first season doing BSJA I used to get so nervous I would nearly be throwing up before I went in the ring (and this was only doing British Novice so it wasn't huge) and that season I think we only managed to get one double clear outdoors

 

[little_flea]

Maybe try a calmer like Nupafeed which counteracts adrenaline? (or maybe an instant calmer, like Oxy Shot which a lot of people swear by for these types of situations) Sounds like he gets stressed in the competition environment.

And maybe some Rescue Remedy (or betablockers if you can get them!) for yourself!

 

[Nando]

I was just going to suggest Oxy Shot (or similar) -does wonders for taking the nervous edge off but you don't lose any of the performance. It will also help him massively in the warm up = more chilled out you!

Can you get to a local course hire with an instructor so you can regain your/ponies confidence around a course but without the stresses associated with a comp? Should be a good way to break the cycle

 

[connie1288]

I have been through similar with Tink, the oxy shot has really helped, also lessons at different places, now been to Arena UK a few times and jumped a proper course, it has helped both our confidence.
Are there any venues near you that have schooling with a trainer there for help if you need?? These can be fantastic as it is like a mini show but less pressure and help if you need it.
Re the competing, it is a hard one, the BE is very expensive, but at the end of the day the problem is when you are at a show, either you keep going with the eventing at BE80, stick there until you think hey this is all easy, or just go and do some BSJA, we have 70cm classes round here, I say BSJA rather than unaffiliated as to a certain extent you know what you are getting, i dont think i have ever met a double as the 2nd fence at BSJA or BE.
Chin up and good luck!!

 

[kick_On]

I have a horse that is very stressed out and about.

You need to be able to find what stresses him out - Is the crowds in warm up??? is it the noise???

There are more way to warm up than jumping - use lorry park - use dressage area. Do you have to jump (warm-up) for yourself or him????

and also i have to ask are you getting him stressed aswell??

Personnel i would carry on with A-U-W cos you've spent money - then i would really get honset opinion from trainer..........

Also have you sat another rider on board at comp????

Summerhouse run very, very nice BSJA comp and before comp they run clear round - ideal for you???? As very quiet and low key BUT beautiful tracks - if you want to pm me i very often pop along and could if required give help?

 

[Bertiegolikely]

Hi, just read your post, and it wasn't that long ago that i felt like that myself. I've lost count how much money i have lost going to events and being eliminated in the show jumping. The best advice i can give you is do as much unafiliated show jumping as you can, also see if your trainer can go with you to help you warm up at these competitions, and if it does go wrong make sure they are honest with you about what it is thats going wrong, most riding clubs and competition centres are happy to hire out their areas the next day and will leave the course up for you, so you can practise where you went wrong. Its up to you to make it a learning experience, and for you and your horse to come away with a satisfied feeling afterwards. Try different trainers, many people have new ideals and different ways of dealing with problems.
i would suggest that you do your next training level comp, if you can get your trainer there to help you, also use the advice of the trainers there, as thats what they are there for.
Be under no illulsion through, your trainer should be able to understand your horse's way of going and your riding, and their lessons should help both of you, so there is a marked improvement with each lesson and if something does go wrong they should be able to fix it straight away, im always wa <font color="blue"> </font> ry of trainers that just let you bob along in the lesson and dont push you that little bit harder.
I hope you find this useful and you do well at the weekend, good luck for the future and remember failure is just success waiting to happen.

 

[1928sky]

I agree with kick on about the warm up thing- you seem to be from other posts getting in a bit of a tizz about it being the "SJ warm up" although you said he felt fine yesterday?
Seen as you find cross country more enjoyable could you warm up over jumps in the xc area and ride how you would warm up for that in a more forward canter so he hopefully relaxes and then go straight into the SJ ring? Obviously if it blows his brains thinking he is going xc v. bad idea but if he seems to settle and relax it may help!
Or would it be possible just to go into sj warm up and pop a couple of fences and come immediately back out and walk around lorry park just to tick him over until your time, if something goes bad in the warm up the temptation is just to keep trying to get it right but instead it is just upping the tension and stress.

 

[ester]

just a thought is he 100% happy with doubles at home? My mums mare is now 9 and has never been 100% happy with doubles, particularly one strides and she is better if it is later on the course. She is just not that confident with them and I think she panics a bit like not sure how she is going to get out again.

Have done lots of lungeing with different distances and if I am helping my mum out I will adjust the striding lots so that she has to think but also discover she can do it.

 

[millitiger]

take himout every weekend if you can- both days if you like!
do really tiny classes so you can make him go over from standstill if necessary (should be able to do that at 2'3ft).

perhaps get someone else (instructor?) do to one round and then you do one afterwards HC- i used to do this with some clients as they felt much more confident having watched the horse do exactly the same course.

 

[MagicMelon]

How often do you jump at home? I remember a pony I had years ago - he'd jump anything at all at home, never ever refuse then we'd get to a show and he'd be refusing all over the place. I worked out I was over-jumping him at home (I jumped him maybe 2/3 times a week, which is what you do as a kid!), as soon as I stopped jumping him at home - he began jumping at competitions! Weird I know. As a result, I very rarely jump any of mine at home - that includes my Novice eventer who also does 1.20 BSJA

He never refuses so I must be doing something right! I just find they are far better fresher, horses can become easily "stale".

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Thanks for all the replies

I shall open this thread on two tabs to answer everyone, so....

Joss - couldnt agree more about waiting to see before entering for the Intros, I have set myself a reminder for after the weekend to have a think about entering for S Moyne. But PMSL at the idea that all eventers are crap at SJ

Once I got over the double I jumped a couple of other fences reasonably nicely then called it a day - mainly because there was a row of kids on their ponies drumming their fingers on the fence as they watched me, waiting to go into the next class

I now realise I should have schooled there before trying to jump a class there, so will go back next week to do that

DieselDog - I like your RC idea, but dont know which one to join

Anyone got any suggestions for the north Glos/south Herefordshire area please? Maybe Hereford RC? Or Cheltenham?

Little_flea - yep I have tried him on Oxyshot and NAF Magic (powder not instant) when I started dressaging him, and both made absolutely no difference

Similarly Rescue Remedy doesnt work on me - I may resort to chocolate this weekend which usually helps

Although having thought about the Oxyshot etc not working, what DID work was just taking him dressaging over and over and over and over again until he and I got used to it, so maybe that is the answer with the SJing

Nando - unfortunately my instructor is lame at the moment following a kick yesterday, but as soon as she is sound again then I shall be hiring lots of local courses and practising

Kick_on - the thing which seems to stress him is just the idea of being somewhere new? It was dead quiet at Tack Farm last night, lovely and low-key for him, but as soon as he went into the strange arena then "things" started jumping out at him from all angles

I am going to try the clear round at Summerhouse so will drop you a PM when I sort myself out to get there! Only problem for me is that it is during the week when I am at work, and I need to build up some flexi time before I can take more time off

Bertiegolikely - I would love my instructor to come with me to my events, but unfortunately she events herself and doesnt always go to the same places as me

I am getting a tad frustrated with instructors, I cant seem to find one who really wants to help in the way I would like them to - unless I am being too demanding I suppose

I_love_duns - I like the idea, but unfortunately he gets a bit excited about going XC (10 minutes napping and running around backwards at Stockland Lovell, the regional director asked my instructor if I actually had any control and was I safe to go XC

) I do try and really restrict my jumping warm up now to a few fences and not do anything which might challenge/stress him - whether that is the right idea or not I dont know!

Ester - nope, he is nappy with doubles at home too - I do wonder how much SJing his previous owner did with him, he does appear very green! Hopefully the BE course will be kinder on Sunday and the double will be later on/at the end!

Millitiger - I have had the same idea I think, I will be taking him different places as often as possible but not being too ambitious and sticking to REALLY tiny classes so he goes over everything!

Magic_Magpie - he jumps absolute max twice a week at home, usually just once a week If that) now I am trying to get him out and about more

Phew - sorry its so long!

 

[kirstyhen]

There is Forest Of Dean RC (but it's this side of the A40, six fingers on each hand and webbed feet not required

)
They have lessons on the first sunday of every monday at Huntley with Jo (who has the big wolfhound). The only thing I say is if you get in a group situation she tends to concentrate on the ones that are respoding well. I had a brilliant lesson with her, had Hen going amazingly, but my friend was pretty much left to her own devices on her ex-racer, but then again it has done nothing!

Give Nupafeed a ring and chat to them, they will explain to you exactly how it might help, the quantity and quality of the Magnesium is much higher than the NAF Magic.

 

[Rafferoo]

Splotchy - I have just read your post and have decided to enter the unaff at Sapey on my horse too. He is also an ex-racehorse that sometimes gets rather overwrought and I am a nervous wreck in the SJ!! We have done a couple of intro's but last one was not so good so decided to do some low key stuff before entering another one at end of June. Maybe we can do mutual moral support - I'll be the one jogging sideways towards the warm up arena on the ginger menace!!

 

[ColouredFan]

Keep going he needs to be out Show jumping a different course at least once a fortnight, one a week if possible. aim for low key venues where they wont kick you out of the arena before you make it round!

Frankie was 6 before he jumped a clear round Show jumping this was at 2'6 (running out was his trick both SJ and XC!). I had a lesson at least once a fortnight and took him to every local show for clear round 2'3/2'6 once he had jumped a clear round SJ he stopped running out completly (touch wood!).

 

[kerilli]

i'd take him to somewhere with a minimus or similar of about 1'6" (small enough that you really can stay totally relaxed about it), limit yourself to jumping the x pole once or twice in the warm-up (since it sounds as if you might get a bit het up in there, don't i know all about that... the answer is to do less, warm up on the flat and do just a FEW jumps, he already knows how to jump! you're only doing a couple to loosen him up.) then gradually build up to smaller courses.)
also, i'd think of going somewhere, and taking him into the arena with all the jumps, and just chilling for a while. see if he gets het up just wandering around the jumps?

 

[Jane_Lou]

We were having nightmares with SJ, B was different to Bob in that it was blowing his brain and he was running through his fences with his head in the air and then loosing confidence. We jump him at home once a week always starting with a small grid which I keep changing so he has to keep thinking. I use small cross poles and uprights of only about 60cms. I build it up and then break it down again so that he ends up jumping a double still on the shorter athletic distance, round to a single fence. I then pop the double and single fence up and then finally pull the double out to a normal distance. We have gone from cricket scores last year to 1 down at his first 2 events and he jumped a super clear in the Addington Derby last weekend.
The other thing we do is hire the grass course at a local centre and go through "competition practice" so warm him up outside the ring, come in and jump round at about 80cm, he then has a short break and I stick it up to 90/95 and go through the whole process again. This has given them both great confidence. We always jump at home the day before an event now, all this seems to be working!
Do you have someone "useful" coming with you Sunday?

 

[TarrSteps]

I think the common denominator you can see emerging here is people who have licked these problems have a plan in place and keep tinkering with it - and sticking to it - until they can manage the situation effectively.

I hate to say it but I think you really do have to find someone who can come with you at least a few times out schooling and then to an actual show, if only to see what's going on and talk you through addressing it in the environment that causes the problem. I know you're finding it tricky to find someone but perhaps even an interested friend?

I know you have spoken to your instructor and she has concluded it's all just nerves but I find a huge part of dealing with nerves, especially in adult amateur riders (or whatever the term is here) is skills. You have to have absolute understanding and confidence in your ability to do whatever you might need to do. You have to be working above what you will be asked in the ring. You have to know and have practised what you will do when it goes right and when it goes wrong. In other words, you have to KNOW you can do it not just think you can do it. Some people are better at winging it than others but if you're not one of those people don't worry about it, just manage yourself just like you would manage a horse.

If I were you I'd look at getting someone else to ride the horse a few times, preferably at home and then at a competition. This will give you confidence that the horse can do the job and insight into what might need to be done differently in order for you to succeed too. Conversely, a good rider should be able to tell you where the holes are, even if he/she gets the job done, and give you some idea what needs to be stronger in order to stand up to the pressure of competition. Is there anyone on this board in your area you might approach about doing that or recommending someone who can? I think it can be a very useful - and often resisted - invested. It's not "failing" to find a solution. Plus, think of it from Bob's point of view - he's clearly tense about the situation and not clear on what's expected. Having someone show HIM a bit will likely help you both.

As mentioned, RC lessons and clinics, where you ride somewhere else but don't have the pressure of competing, are a very good way of getting out and about. Spend your money there until you're a bit more confident. I see the reasoning of continuing to show for the experience but if it's stressing you out more, worrying about the money and about what other people may be thinking (they aren't, they have their own problems, but most adults can't let it go quite that easily) then it's not helping.

 

[FestiveSpirit]

[ QUOTE ]
Splotchy - I have just read your post and have decided to enter the unaff at Sapey on my horse too. He is also an ex-racehorse that sometimes gets rather overwrought and I am a nervous wreck in the SJ!! We have done a couple of intro's but last one was not so good so decided to do some low key stuff before entering another one at end of June. Maybe we can do mutual moral support - I'll be the one jogging sideways towards the warm up arena on the ginger menace!!

[/ QUOTE ]

LMAO

I am doing the teeny 80cm class on Bob

I will be the one on the gorgeous compact little bay gelding.....who is running backwards around the XC warm up area having completely fried his tiny little TB brain

I shall drop you a PM when times are up to let you know when I am going

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Oh I love HHO, you have all come up with some fantastic suggestions and ideas on this thread for me

And thanks to those who have PMd me too

I agree with TarrSteps that I need to have a plan, and stick to it... my main problem seems to be finding an instructor/trainer who I can get to come to competitions with me, to assess what goes wrong and what we can do to correct it? I would hope that I am a good customer in that I listen to what my instructor says, act on it (thats not just me saying it, my instructors comment on it!), I pay promptly at the end of each lesson and have frequent lessons

but I cant seem to find anyone yet who is actually that interested in helping me improve? The search will continue, I've had some really good suggestions for possible new instructors today

I will definitely progress the riding club idea, and also follow the suggestions about going to clear round classes at absolute mini height so we can get established as a team at jumping courses properly before we try &amp; go higher. I will also be hiring local venues to school at different places - I like Jane_Lou's idea of a mock competition, it is something I had wondered about trying!

Thanks to you all for your comments and suggestions, I do actually feel like there is hope for me and Bob finding a solution to all this after being so despondent this morning! I know it wont happen overnight, but there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel

PS - I shall stick to going to Ascott u Wychwood and Sapey unaff as I will lose my entry fees if I withdraw now

but I will treat them as schooling sessions not competitions... and I am buying some rescue remedy tomorrow, it might not work in time for Ascott but should be taking effect by Sapey

I also have some Oxyshot left so I will stuff that into Bob before the SJ on Sunday, even if it just as a placebo for me

 

[Jane_Lou]

I would seriously think about finding a "useful friend" to help you both at home and at events. Someone calm and unflappable who is useful at building fences at home and calming you at events. K was having jumping lessons (and still does every couple of months) but we found that we are actually doing better ourselves! As B is quite scopey the instructor was overfacing K who's fears were communicating to B and it was falling apart rather than getting better. It is not easy to find someone to teach you and help you at events unless you base yourself on a competition yard. With the work we do together at home I am then much more able to help them keep it together at events.

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Hmmm - I am moving yards at the end of the month, and there seem to be a lot more people at the new yard who are like me (one horse owners who compete a bit, but not necessarily at a high level) so maybe this will open up a few possibilities

At my present yard there is a rather odd mix of people who are semi-pros, have several horses to compete and are madly busy or people with one horse who are happy hackers?

Sounds terribly defeatist I know, but the one person I could really rely on got another job and moved to Surrey damn her

I do agree Jane_Lou that it would help... and hopefully I could do the same for them and help them too!

 

[Jane_Lou]

Do you have someone useful going with you Sunday?

 

[FestiveSpirit]

Unfortunately no

I am going for the guided XC course walk tomorrow at 4pm, so I am going to firmly introduce myself to the BE trainers, apologise, and explain I will be relying strongly on them for the SJ element on Sunday! Oddly dressage and XC dont bother me at all.....

I suppose I will have a distraction element too as my mother/sister/niece (6) and nephew (1) are all coming to watch

 

[MillbrookSong]

Right!!

Dont worry - it will all click in to place - maybe not quite yet but it will.

Have you tried him on the equine america calmer - you gove it to them 2 hours before - dont know if it will work on Bob but it was the best thing i ever found to calm Goggles down.

We will have a right little outing next Sunday - Busters out doing his 1st ODE and im in your class!!

We may be going to Bromyard next wed (10th) before the ODE of you fancy coming along - if you do ill see if i have any clamer left that you could have for sunday.

xxx

 

[SpruceRI]

What a shame you're not in Kent/E. Sussex area as I can recommend an excellent trainer who would be able to help you.

She's excellent for people who get the occasional 'collywobbles'. Teaches both adults and kids and everyone loves her lessons!

Whatever your level she advocates gridwork as the way to instil confidence in both the horse and rider.

She doesn't shout or flap or make you feel small.

She puts a about 6 small jumps up and keeps them low until you've jumped them several times and looked perfect over all of them.

If you have any trouble - even if you wreck the whole lot, she puts them all back up, tells you to do whatever, and then off you go again.

Your horse then thinks doubles are easy as he's used to doing sextuplets!!

It worked for me. I hate being shouted at and made to feel like an eejit which I've experience with other teachers.

Can you find anyone like this? Even a good friend?