South of England PN - should I withdraw? Please help!!!

J

jennystreek

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Just wondering if i could get your opinions here...

My gelding (hamlet) did his first season of eventing last year, albeit probably only about 5 intros (due to the cancellations plus silly me broke my ankle), and then I took him to Munstead Pulborough PN at the end of the season ,where he was clear XC (infact only ever one stop at his very first intro, then consistently clear). I then bought another horse in september that has required a great deal of work, but I wouldnt say I have taken all my attention off hamlet (they both get equal amounts of work, 6 times a week).

Over the winter i havent managed to do that much xc schooling, but the one time i took him to munstead (last december) he flew round the course! So i entered for Munstead PN a few weeks back, and the week before I took him to Lodge farm schooling and he gave himself a bit of a fright when he knocked his legs over the drop water fence. he then started to back off the jumps a bit, and even refused to jump the corner fence, so i just took back over the little fences as felt his confidence lacking. At the end of the session though, did feel that he had enjoyed it.

So, on to Munstead PN, and as we came out the start box i really had to kick him on, which is so unlike him. He was really backing off the fences, so much so that he cat leaped over fence 3. I then decided not to attempt the corner at 5 and take the alternative (2 little fences set out as a double) but he decided he wasnt going to jump and so i got eliminated!!!

I then took him to a local hunter trial (only 2ft9) last week, and again we had a naughty run out at barrels which were only 2ft 6!! Its just so unlike him. Taking him to chilham park this sunday to just try and let him enjoy himself, but im seriously concerned about SofE.

Is it a nice course, and do you think it would give him confidence again?

What would you all do?

the week after i have entered tweseldown intro in case all goes wrong at SofE.
 
if he still doesnt feel himself at chilham then personally i would withdraw, and hopefully he'd have fun at tweseldown and build it back up from there.
 
Yes I would withdraw. He has knocked his confidence - and at least you know why, so you really need to restore this before you do any more PN (particularly as he was not really established at that level having only done a couple of events).

I'm sure if you drop him back down to Intro he'll get his confidence quickly and there is certainly no point in going out at PN only to have stops or get eliminated.

Good luck and don't worry he sounds like a genuine sort who will get his confidence back given a bit of time.
 
Def drop him back to Intro and try to work on him enjoying himself, jump his favourite jumps a few times and then gradually start adding in the ones that he backs off at?
I'm sure he'll get his confidence back, and since he sounds like he's a bit un-nerved now, he may be un-nerving you in turn and you may be expecting him to stop? Its a bit of a domino effect but you have to believe he can jump it, and he will believe it too.
 
S of E is a lovely course for a horse that is confident XC, it rewards the bold, forward going horse but offers alternatives for the less confident combinations. Personally if this was me in this situation i would withdraw and consider doing Mattingley and Borde Hill intros and see how it went. S of E will be up to height, all of its fences ride well but they are built very solidly and some are quite imposing (well they were on a 15hher
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A decision that is totally up to you and if you do decide to go to S of E ill try and come and say hi
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and if you dont very good luck with bringing his confidence back at lower heights and fingers crossed he's back on form for the rest of the year
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I had a similar problem with Shadow last year. At the end of August I went XC schooling at Firle and she didn't jump very well. I had entered a 3ft ODE (incidently it was at S of E) the weekend after and decided to go anyway and see how she went. On the XC she stopped at the first fence then we were eliminated at the trakenher, we were allowed to carry on and then we got to the quarry and she wouldn't jump it. In hindsight I shouldn't have taken her because it destroyed her confidence - a few weeks later we did a 2'9'' hunter trial at Mayfield (which we had gone clear round the previous year) and we got eliminated again. I took her back to tiny stuff and she's gradually getting her confidence back. Sorry I didn't mean to ramble on that much!

I personally would withdraw because one event really isn't worth risking losing your horse's confidence. Maybe you could go XC schooling again and then if he goes ok do Tweseldown Intro. It's entirely up to you, good luck whatever you decide.
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Id withdraw- its not worth knocking confidence of either horse and rider at the moment and there will be other events.

Im going to chilham on monday to do some schooling i love it there- was going to lodge farm tomo but ive entered dressage now,

Good luck at chilham and if he's not 100% happy pull out for both of your sakes.
 
i would withdraw myself and get him really going again. they had to ballot loads at SoE so do it asap and you might get your entry completely refunded.
 
i'd go xc schooling one day before then if you can.dont ask him to do anything you wouldnt find at pn. even just jump around the tiny fences and not attempt anything particularly big/technical. just boost his confidence a bit. then i'd go to S of E and at least do the dressage, and maybe SJ if your happy, then decide when you've walked the course whether you want to go xc. you could just withdraw after the dressage...what a confidence boost it would be if it all went well?! but that is just my opinion!! totally upto you! good luck! xxx
 
Thanks for all your opinions...

Just one other thing, are you allowed to swap horses? I mean, if i dont take him i could always take the new mare who is BE registered, but cant imagine i'd be allowed to do this?
 
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