Trying to convince my niece a walk (disabled rider) class isn’t pointless

[Mary3050]

Hi guys,

My niece has also had a new pony he’s not even been here 6 weeks. She a competes in para-dressage. She has her first competition booked on the 6th . She had set her self a target of doing two classes basically they are the equivalent of a intro but slightly more complexed .

However since the pony’s arrived she had a few set backs … nothing major just the pony settling in . For example he went out for the first time on the grass and got f? meaning my niece couldn’t ride him he had to be schooled . Then she been Ill.

She had to do her entires tomorrow . But she isn’t where she needs to be yet to get through the tests. I think the easiest why to explain is that the walk and trot she doing is like anyone else buying a new horse and going to do a novice in 6 weeks .

My suggestion was that she did a walk class and a walk and trot too . Then she can focus on having a good first time out in the arena . And just see what her feedback is for the walk and trot so she can work on it for next time . She can’t seem to find the value in just a walk test . I personally think two trot test on a new horse is just to much for her .

Surly there’s value to just walking the horse around the dressage boards in a completion environment .

 

[AmyMay]

I’d just let her do what she wants….

 

[Cob Life]

I wish I could do walk classes!

I have a mare who trot Classes will be too much for at the moment but I want to take her companion competing so I would love if there were walk classes for her to do

 

[[153312]]

it's her horse, surely it's her decision? you can just make a gentle suggestion so she sees the pros/cons in both options. Equally I don't see the harm in her doing a walk/trot test?

 

[Wishfilly]

How old is she?

What's the worst that happens if she does the second walk and trot test?

 

[honetpot]

Walk is the most important pace in the dressage test, if you do it right, sometimes you get double marks.
It gets the pony used the markers, which for some reason become monsters, and the alien judge box or car.
It gets your eye in for markers, and working out how soon you need to give the aids to turn.
Will settle nerves, it will be so easy that you will be relaxed, if it goes badly, puft, you get another go.
Treat it like clear round jumping, and everyone does a warm up class, if you are going to scrub up and travel for one, you might as well for two.

I have had girls and it is like arguing with a clam, but if you are putting in the time, surely she can spare a few minutes. I would be putting my foot down.

 

[ycbm]

How old is she?
.

 

[ihatework]

Well she is the one riding the horse and if she is capable of walk & trot tests then I can kind of see her point.

Seems quite quick to get out on a new pony, why not just delay the debut until she feels adequately prepared?

 

[Leandy]

How old is she? When you indicate they aren't up to it yet is that because you think the pony will be too much for her and so there is a safety issue, or just that they need more time to be competitive at the classes she wants to do? If there is a safety issue then absolutely you need to be firm. Either she does the walk class to see how it goes or they wait until they are more of a partnership at home before they go out. There is however certainly benefit in them trying a walk class as the first attempt at a show with a new pony. Then you all have a better gauge as to how much further work would be required to get to where she wants to be. I'd put it that it is the pony who needs to do the walk class for their first time out, not that it is her who needs to do it. Tell her professionals often take horses out to compete at levels below what they are capable of at home because that is the best way to build confidence in the horse as the competition is well within their capabilities. It is great for riders to have ambition and want a challenge but they need to consider how best to give the horse a good experience to build on for the future and the is what great horsewomen do.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I'm with the others , let her do which classes she wants!!

 

[Widgeon]

Assuming your neice is a child or teenager then I think your idea is very sensible and realistic but there's probably no point trying to persaude her of that. Assuming there's no safety issue, i.e, you're afraid she'll get decked, I'd just let her do what she wants and then what's the worst that can happen? If the wheels really come off she can always have a trot round the arena for the sake of the pony's experience and bow out?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would talk to her about the test being for the benefit if the pony, to allow the pony to settle into his first arena away from his new home. Stress that it's not for her benefit but the pony's.

 

[ycbm]

I would talk to her about the test being for the benefit if the pony, to allow the pony to settle into his first arena away from his new home. Stress that it's not for her benefit but the pony's.

Great idea. Possibly better still, get someone from outside the family to say it.
.

 

[J&S]

Get her to watch some of the Para walk tests on U tube ( I am sure there must be some) and suggest she tries to match the quality of those tests!

 

[oldie48]

I don't have a disability apart from being old but I thoroughly dislike anyone trying to tell me what is best for me unless I have total respect for them and even then I make my own decisions I've no idea how old your niece is but I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to have limitations. Taking risks, making bad decisions, having a totally rubbish day is part of life and should be the same for all of us whether or not we have a disability. I'd say my piece and then totally support her in her decision keeping my fingers crossed that's it's all OK. It's what I did with my daughter, she didn't have a disability but she learned a lot of useful things.

 

[Skib]

I thnk it is worth saying that some of us come to riding and other things in life without wanting to compete. And definitely averse to competing, rosettes and that side of riding.
I have never had the stamina to ride a dressage test through from start to finish but I did enjoy very much a series of lessons in which we worked though the individual movements required at each level, culminating with me riding a (requested) flying change.
There are many things one can do in walk/halt which present a single challenge and a focus of interest.

 

[[153312]]

OP's niece is 19.

 

[Lurfy]

She should do what she wants.

 

[Gloi]

If she's 19 and not severely mentally disabled it should be her choice. I was thinking at the start of the thread that it was a young child not an adult.

 

[ycbm]

19? She should make what mistakes she chooses at that age, assuming her disability is physical.
.

 

[TPO]

I agree with your POV OP.

I don't think it's relevant that's it's para dressage or what value your niece sees in a walk test. It's about setting the horse up to succeed and putting pennies in his confidence jar.

As they've already had a couple of setbacks and they are a new partnership doing a walk test and then a walk & trot, if that went well, sounds like a fairly sensible (& obvious? ?) plan to me ??‍

 

[Mary3050]

I don't have a disability apart from being old but I thoroughly dislike anyone trying to tell me what is best for me unless I have total respect for them and even then I make my own decisions I've no idea how old your niece is but I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to have limitations. Taking risks, making bad decisions, having a totally rubbish day is part of life and should be the same for all of us whether or not we have a disability. I'd say my piece and then totally support her in her decision keeping my fingers crossed that's it's all OK. It's what I did with my daughter, she didn't have a disability but she learned a lot of useful things.

I am disabled too so we don’t have the issue of questioning if it’s being said because she disabled . It’s been said because even if she wasn’t in the para class I would be saying it’s to much for her . I am more concerned about her mental health . She’s put pressure on her self to take the horse out on a set date, do a set class it’s become unhealthy. I am more concerned that she has a big qualifier class on her other horse the same day. I know what she like she will push herself to do to much and then not do her best with the other horse . Thanks

 

[Mary3050]

I agree with your POV OP.

I don't think it's relevant that's it's para dressage or what value your niece sees in a walk test. It's about setting the horse up to succeed and putting pennies in his confidence jar.

As they've already had a couple of setbacks and they are a new partnership doing a walk test and then a walk & trot, if that went well, sounds like a fairly sensible (& obvious? ?) plan to me ??‍

After discussion with her coach she decided to do the walk class and then the the walk trot . Instead of both walk and tort classes .

She really struggled over the week just to ride the horse in trot to keep him forward and round . She just been to tense in the reins . I watched her ride yesterday she was so much more relaxed. Best she rode him since he arrived . She did say she feels better knowing she’s got a walk test now ?

 

[Mary3050]

Walk is the most important pace in the dressage test, if you do it right, sometimes you get double marks.
It gets the pony used the markers, which for some reason become monsters, and the alien judge box or car.
It gets your eye in for markers, and working out how soon you need to give the aids to turn.
Will settle nerves, it will be so easy that you will be relaxed, if it goes badly, puft, you get another go.
Treat it like clear round jumping, and everyone does a warm up class, if you are going to scrub up and travel for one, you might as well for two.

I have had girls and it is like arguing with a clam, but if you are putting in the time, surely she can spare a few minutes. I would be putting my foot down.

She decided to do the walk class before the walk trot and now her ridings improved because she not as tense as before she was stressing the trots not good enough ?

 

[oldie48]

I am disabled too so we don’t have the issue of questioning if it’s being said because she disabled . It’s been said because even if she wasn’t in the para class I would be saying it’s to much for her . I am more concerned about her mental health . She’s put pressure on her self to take the horse out on a set date, do a set class it’s become unhealthy. I am more concerned that she has a big qualifier class on her other horse the same day. I know what she like she will push herself to do to much and then not do her best with the other horse . Thanks

Always difficult to respond to any post without knowing the full situation but glad that she's listened to you and decided to do the walk test. I hope it all goes well for her.