Today I faced my fear...

Wow!!!! What a machine!
I'd LOVE to XC on a horse like him - albeit a little slower :p at least you know he is incredibly honest and LOVES what he's doing!!
No crit in any way as I wouldn't have a clue about XC :p but looks to me as though you have a fantastic seat and especially holding him back until you were ready to go over those last few jumps.
As someone's said before the only thing I'd worry about is him getting too excited and hurting himself getting himself in a tizz but he might calm down the more you take him :)
well done!!
K x
 
Well, after all the comments I thought I'd watch the vid (couldn't have the sound on though as at work!). I was expecting to see some manic horse going hell for leather but in all honesty, i don't think he was bad at all, just keen and I think XC schooling session are a heck of a alot different than when you get out on a course on your own and get into a rythm. God, my 14.2hh was manic and xc was at 100mph and terrifying to watch. I was 16 at the time though so I didn't mind and pony just flew at stuff. However, there would have been no way I could have got a trot at any point near a fence - pony would spot fence and, even though going at a decent pace would fight me an plunge and go up a gear on approach. He would bounce 1 strides and bounce water fences. All in all pretty hairy to watch (and ride). However, I only started getting problems when i tried to steady him. Then he'd refuse! If I'd known then what i know now I would have tried gping back to basics but i think he was ruined before i got him and was started too young and never been taught properly - it was all rushed and panicky!

That is not what i see in Andy, he is keen and looks confident and, as I said I think when you get into a stride and get up in your stirrups in between fences he'll settle a bit. The head up in the air is his only issue but again I think that's because he's being asked to really steady. A martingale may be helpful though (unless you already had one on - couldn't see on my screen).

Just enjoy it I say!
 
Well done for facing your fear would love to watch the video but alas they are banned at work and no pc at home, glad all is going well
 
He looks like he's having an ace time! For someone who was facing their fear you hide it really well! Can you work on grids with him to get him to bascule nicely and keep a steady rythum?

p.s. did I see you both at hunters the other weekend? If it was then he is looking ace! So much better than in pics on here, well in his way to being a nice weight, he is a lightweight little thing anyway isn't he!
 
"Come on Mum, let me at them!"

Andy looks like he really enjoys xc! Very bold and confident. Wouldn't want to be in the same hunter trials class as you this summer ;)

Keep it up - and I love your updates! :D
 
ladyt25 said:
However, I only started getting problems when i tried to steady him. Then he'd refuse!
Click to expand...

I had the same problem with my ace team chaser (bay in sig).

I did go back to basics and got him to the piont where he would canter round the fences steadily and on the bridle, but when we got to the fences half the time he just stopped. It's like he needed far more help to jump that way, help I was not good enough to give. So I went back to letting him do it his way and we had a ball and won loads.

I don't think that Andy is like that, he looks like he will jump no matter how you get him to the fence and OP just needs a bit of practice and polish!
 
i was looking to see if i could see how he has fattened/toned up but he was going too bloody quick! lmao :D

have to say you are a damn sight braver than me these days, you did really well. the only thing that would bother me (if i was riding him and besides the jumping) is the way he puts his head right up and bounces to the jump, very excited at doing it! lol

congrats on giving it a go and hopefully you will have loads more opportunity to do lots more.
 
I was terrified watching that and I wasn't even there :eek: But then I am a great big whimp ;) :p :D Well done you for going looks like you both had a fab time. Andy certanly looks to be enjoying himself :p :D :D Some of those jumps looked HUGE so I think you are realy very very brave :)
A friend of mine keeps trying to get me to take Herbs XC schooling and i'm fast running out of excuses not to go :(
Keep up the good work with Andy :D
 
p.s. second the suggestion for premier quine boots. I have the xc ones (got on sale last year!) and they seem to be fab - do the job and look smart.
 
Wow, great video, I really enjoyed watching you both.

Not sure about facing fear, you looked very confident to me!

I can see you have your hands full with him but I am sure you'll harness his energy and enthusiasm and make some excellent progress with him. I look forward to more updates and videos :D
 
Well done, you both look like you make a good team together, which is what XC is all about.

Can see what you mean about the rushing but I you can also see as the video gets going, that he settles into a good rhythm and is actually traveling well, a good pace for XC, you’re not going to jump a XC course like a round of show jumps but obviously you want complete control, for XC schooling however then I yes I would have things a little slower I wouldn’t want him getting too confident, as it’s about obedience, you can’t let him make his own choices every time as they may not be the rights ones but by the looks of things Andy knows his job and is a good jumper so you have that on your side, maybe when he finds it all a bit less exciting he'll simmer down a bit not get too ahead of himself.

Good luck this summer with him, I think you’ll both do really well at XC.
 
Well done, looks a lot of fun, well Andy obviously thought so, and not a hint of nervousness shown on your part.
All the best for the future. x
 
Wow, that's one of the nicest videos I've seen for a long time:D

That flyer he took at the downhill fence near the beginning :eek: and as for the hay rack type fence towards the end....:eek::eek::eek:. Brave person sitting on the ground as you charged up the hill too!

Well done :D:D:D
 
What a cracking little jumper and well done to you. Haven't got any more positive things to say that haven't allready been said really other than keep up the lessons with him. Some horses settle with familiarity other just get keener and I have to say that he looks the keener type. So as long as he doesn't frighten you, then go out and have fun with him :-)
 
Sorry i havent read all the replies. But is he like this doing SJ too? Mine used to be exactly like this - tried practising at home with trotting poles but he cleared the lot, i hoped with sge he may calm down - still at 18 he hasnt. :-)

your boy does look a eager type, could be down to the change in food also - or was he like it before?
 
I really admire your guts!! You look like a great rider doing that, especially if you were nervous. I wish I rode like that when I'm nervous lol!!! He does look speedy, just like mine when he jumps!!!
 
well done you certainly didnt look nervous :D

i think you answered your own question about control and saying all the starting and stopping wound him up, my mare was like that, though after going to xc schooling clinics all year she calmed down quite a bit though she hated following anyone would just take off and chase them! i found the best bet with her was to sit still and set pace then leave her alone, your reins shouldnt control speed constantly if that makes sense, i only corrected her if she sped off.

Premier equine boots are good value option :)

you should try xc shooling on your own too with out others - i did this every other session with my mare - no mates to show off too on her part!

well done again - super that you enjoyed it too :D
 
Thanks for the nice comments everyone!

He objects to martingales and tbh his head does look very high but when your sat on him it doesn't seem that bad, if that makes sense? I guess what I'm saying is the high head carriage doesn't bother me that much (unless we're doing a stressage test of course)

Nope he is a lot clamer showjumping, when we first got him that is how he used to show jump but he is loads calmer now and we jump in a snaffle. So I'm hoping eventually his xc will turn down a few gears aswell with a lot more practice. Will try and get out on his own aswell sometime.

Those who are saying I don't look nervous I was almost sick before getting on him and was crying before we left the yard saying I didn't want to go. As soon as I got him I felt tonnes better though! Before we started jumping he was walking around very chilled on a loose rein in a HUGE field which gave me loads of confidence.
Would you believe that a pony like Andy is a confidence giver? :p I know he will jump anything no matter how you put him at it and have so much faith in him.

The first couple of times he charged off I almost got off and refused to carry on but the RI is bloody brilliant and she kept me on. I'm so glad she did. She also used to ride Andy so she knew what he was like. :)

I think the air jacket also gave me some confidence. Those on the fence about getting one I can hugely recommend it as I feel so safe in it.

Seeing all the reports from everyone on here also made me want to get out and give it a go, and I knew Andy would enjoy it so was a bit of a treat for him. :)
 
I absolutely love that first jump where you're flying towards the fence at 100mph and your trainer is screaming 'HALF HALTS! HALF HALTS!' :D reminds me of my mum when my sister and I were kids and both our ponies b***ered off down a track leaving her behind on a 4yo Arab!! Great video though, I love me a speedy pony :)
 
I`ve been itching to get home from work to watch this!!!!
You`ve got yourself a cracker there!!! he`s looking alot better and really full of himself!!!!
What on earth was you scared of, both look great!!!! am a little jealous, :( Ayla would most definitely have me off around there!!!!
looking forward to more XC vids!!!
xx
 
god he certainly loves it doesn't he!!

he's looking much better to me and you make a lovely pair indeed.

I wouldn't stress about trying to slow him down, IMO it'll just wind him up. He looks like he knows what he's doing and is brave and honest.
 
Thank you everyone, glad we look good together! Got one of the photos through today taken by someone else there:



Do I need to try and stay out the saddle longer or because it was downhill this position is okay?

I'm still waiting for the brilliant picture she got of us going over the blue cart (the one where he launched himself) its hilarious! :)
 
Shizer he looks keen :)

He looks like so much fun though! Keen and fast but controllable and he looks like he does come back to you when you ask. If he hasn't done it for a while then maybe the more you go out the better he will become like in your showjumping.

I used to ride a little gelding that looked like Andy, and he was just the same. But I felt so confident on him as I knew he would come back to me, and he would jump everything no matter how you put him to it. I used to check him and let him go in between the jumps. If I tried to keep hold of him the whole way round I just had no chance and he would fight me all the time. At least he listened to me if I let him have his fun for a bit.

Much more fun than a horse you have to kick on all the time!
 
He reminds me of my mare, VERY similar! :D

I enjoyed the video, thanks!

No CC from me, I'm not an instructor, therefore NOT qualified to give you 'advice'.

Look forward to the next one!
 
You looked amazing! Good work!

I'm tempted to suggest an invite to the (I think its the cotswold vale one..) fun ride I'm going to take the big guy to with marmalade but fear you'll be howing me up!! No, seriously, well done and if you're looking for any fun ride friends over the spring/summer welcome to join!
 
Now there is a horse who has found his calling in life! Fairplay to you he looks fab and like he's having so much fun. He is obviously incredibly intelligent too as he steadies up lovely for the more technical things!! His condition is also improving fabulously. OH reckons you should go pointing on him lol
 
Aprilblossom- lovely gesture but I've only ever done one fun ride got totally fed up with people cantering past me, horse bronced threw me off and finished on his own. Never been on one since but if I get my nerve back properlly might take you up on the offer. :)

Haha Andy pointing :p he's only 14.2, he would get eaten up by the 'proper' horses. Although I was saying to some friends today I'd love to take him over some steeplechase fences.
 
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