Update from the girl who is 'ruining her horse' part 2

Well done OP I vaguely remember your original post and at the time I remember thinking I hope all the critics were wrong and horses can sometimes be stubborn and difficult as my mare really is! Not to the extent of yours mine tends to use spooking in the school and planting out hacking as her avoidance techniques but actually she loves jumping.

However this week (touch wood, looks for 2 magpies) I feel we may be starting to understand each other after 2 years and a helicopter ride to hospital and now your post showing that with hard work and taking your time you can achieve your goals.
I am also 34 and was starting to think I don't feel any closer to my goal of joining a riding club and getting out doing some local level competing and now maybe I'm too old! Well you have given me hope (on top of the little achievements we have made this week) and I am going to email the local RC today and go and have a look to see whether we would feel comfortable there.

So massive well done to you and thank you for being brave enough to post again and show your improvement. Ok you might not be perfect I learnt to ride the same way you did but have now found a fab instructor who says let's get her over the problems and then worry about the technical side of your position.

Keep up the good work xx
 
Well done you!! I can't really add much to the other posts who have praised the improvement &your determination&how beautiful she is (I agree!) but you are an inspiration for anyone struggling with anything! I hope you both go as far as you wish to:)
 
Well done you! I think posts like this are very inspirational especially if, like me, you are having a tough time at the moment. I know nothing about show jumping but I think you are a lovely rider, very sympathetic but firm and that last video is a tribute to all your had work and dedication. :)
 
WELL DONE!!!!! XXX

You should be so proud of yourself and of her!! x Course the riding could improve...but couldnt we all improve somehow! x I think you've done really well.......almost cried a little bit when your video finished!! x :D

Keep it up and send us the next video.......this could be the start of lots of rosettes for you!! :)

You pushed her forwards when needed and she has her ears forwards, shes pulling you into the jumps and really pleased to see the massive praise at the end! Well done!! x
 
Didn't see the previous thread but unfortunately people on here can be downright rude. Yes Dizzle I mean you.
Have you taken into account that this mare looks very diffcult? The marked improvement in the rider and horses confidence compared to the first video. Horses are supposed to be FUN, its a HOBBY :rolleyes:
And if her lower leg were that insecure and her spurs jabbing the horse in its sides, I think this mare would have something to say about that ;) But she popped that course as sweet as a nut :)
OP - a tremendous improvement! You have come a long way and I have no doubt that you will continue upwards! You are NOT runing your horse, you also have a decent seat and an arse like glue! (In those first video clips I fear I would have gotten off and gone home :D) Keep going!! :D
 
The Virgin Mary said:
Well done (made me cry soppy sod that I am) :)
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hehe me too.

She is gorgeous and there is a huge improvement which you deserve after all the time and perserverance (and money!) getting all those physical checks done and the lessons rather than just giving up - who knows where she would have ended up being that size and that pig headed.

I hope she realises how lucky she is to have you but they never do haha :p
 
Wow, I was rooting for you on every jump! Well done for sticking with what looks like a beautiful and talented but stroppy and sometimes naughty mare. You can't always sit and look pretty when you are having a battle with your horse and your stickability is amazing! You should be incredibly proud of what you have achieved, your mare is a beauty and can really jump. That round was brilliant, you rode it just right. Look forward to seeing more videos, ignore the bad feedback - there are a lot of armchair experts out there who assume that everyone else is doing it wrong and that their way is the only way. I'm sure many of them would not have persevered and coped as well as you have.
 
Dizzle said:
I think if the OP had of posted the video without showing the first video this thread would have been utterly different.

Sorry but I think it's unfair on the horse to have legs with spurs flapping like that (unless they are dummy spurs then I apologise) and you need to work on relaxing your elbows more which will help your hands, think about going with the movement of the horses head more.
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Both horse and rider are a work in progress reciving regular proffesional tuition- what more can you ask?
IMO,if the OP's instructors are happ with her progress/use of spurs ect it's b*gger all to do with anyone else!

Well done for working through the troubles OP. Looks like you have a lovely horse in the making! :)
 
Firstly, massive well done, she is clearly a bit of a sod (can I say that's the Irish Draft in her or will I be shot down in flames, lol!) and you've done REALLY well to stick with her. Some babies are just down right resentful for no reason.

Now.. constructive critism, firstly, WELL DONE for keeping her in a good rhythm, this will really pay dividends as you start to do more and jump bigger... also I think you have the right approach coming back to trot, she is a lot of horse to hold together and trotting corners to balance her is a good idea. I do agree though that a neck strap, or holding the mane halfway up would help your hands "give" as she jumps though.. this would also help you fold (tummy button towards pommel of saddle) rather than go up (appreciate at present this is because she may still stop, in which case you are safer not folding so much). As she starts to jump more fluently you'll be able to concentrate more on what you are doing and less that she is going to stop/ reverse/ buck (I know how you feel, I've been sat on more nappy youngsters than I care to remember)!

Well done and keep going!
 
well done!!

I also vaguely remember your first post, I can't believe how big an improvement there's been! She really enjoyed that round when she got going!

such a beautiful mare, well done for sticking with her! You're a very good rider, as someone else said, not once in the previous video did you look even close to coming off, can't say the same would be said for me lol
 
Oh well done that is great progress.
Take no notice of those who had a go at you first time around, honestly some people cannot fathom that some horse are naughty just for the hell of it and the reality is that some are absolute sods (trust me I know :))
It goes to show that with patience and determination you can get through it.
Lovely horse I am sure she will be more than worth the hassle she's caused.
 
Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!! Not often you come across anyone with that level of determination and dedication to their horse :D Inspirational.

Love the fact that you are also so happy to be open about your riding skills (which look fairly good to me) and are happy to take constructive critisism, means you'll potentially be a far better rider in the long run than those who think they know it all!! We all have so much to learn after all!!!

Please keep us updated on your progress with your beautiful girl!!!

ps. I will be showing both your videos to my daughter later as an example of how you shouldn't give up! She has a lovely but strong willed 13.1 new forest that is 4 :)
 
Some people can be sooo cruel!! Your horse looks just like mine he is the same NAUGHTY!! But like you I have kept going whop whop and he is going well like yours!!!! Congrats give yourself a HUGE PAT ON THE BACK!
XX
 
Well done - a massive difference. I have been through the same with my stubborn Sec D - people said to me no one would blame you if you had her PTS! You should be really really pleased with yourself xx
 
I don't know about your first thread but seriously well done!!! We also have a big grey mare who is just as marish and obnoxious as she was, I just hope we manage to do aswell as you
 
Switchthehorse said:
Ok, so i caused a bit of mild hysteria on here back in the summer when i posted the video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2VzzTxoUw4

At the time i posted it because I wanted a few people who were having problems with their horses to have some encouragement that they were not the only ones - plan kind of backfired - got loads of criticism, concern i was ruining my horse, hurting her, that she was in pain, i was being cruel etc etc. I also though got a large amount of encouragement and some private messages that literally made me cry (soppy sod) because they were so lovely and kind. Probably a fool to post it again but anyway!!!

At the time I hope I explained that my girl who is 7 is VERY obnoxious and VERY big - 17hh IDxWB... she is a tank. A couple of instructors had basically said to me to give up. I had had everything checked and she was in no pain, I tried just about every bit under the sun, nothing worked, she tanked, she napped, she ran out, she stood up, she refused etc but there was no technical reason for it, I maintained and will still to this day that she is a single minded mare!!

Roll on four months, no I havent given up on her, yes I continually get things checked and still all ok, I have been through my fair share of instructors but finally found one who is willing to stick with me and an excellent flat trainer as well. I have schooled schooled schooled til we were both sick of it. I have pole worked, I have taken her religiously almost every weekend to shows to try and break the habit and every single weekend I am eliminated!! Never finished a course!! And cried most weekends out of frustration :)

This weekend was the start of the indoor season round my way - I went for 'schooling', didnt expect to get past fence three to be honest as was eliminated there at least 4 times in the spring!! My plan was to trot between fences, make sure she didnt lose her shoulder round turns so less likely to nap and NOT let her run out...

Anyway here are the results.. why am I showing this?? a) to show off a bit of course :) b) for pure comedy value - keep the volume up - there is a bit where the commentator speaks and c) mainly to say thank you to everyone who did support me, and those of you who are always sure that it is pain related in a VERY small number of cases it isnt necessarily, there are such things as difficult, mareish/obnoxious horses!! I ruddy love mine and I know there is still a long way to go but after 4 years we finally just finally got our moneys worth from a show!! :) Oh and she is beautiful even if i say so myself - her only saving grace at times!!!

Oh and yes my hands waggle when i am trying to get her to go forward and my legs go too far back!! I am far from perfect and don't panic i am still having lessons!!! Please feel free to feedback and cc as always!! I just hope I dont start the row I did last time :)

So thank you everyone who was lovely!!! And Don't give up if you are in the same position!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwQjpornSkw&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

PS - you will see from my other videos she isnt quite 'fixed' still a long way to go!!!
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hiya i havent read all the posts but can i just say when i watched the first video nothing made me think the horse was in pain! just having a sense of humour i have one that wont let me put his headcollar on in the field yet will let me catch him outside the field ! so horses are sometimes comedians!! also she is a big girl and there is not a lot of you! when i saw the second video i was very pleased for you! and was quite glad that you stuck to her also warmbloods arent that easy and combined with a irish draught makes a big horse!! with attitude! so keep going your way take advice that suits you and keep on enjoying your lovely mare and laugh at her as she is quite funny really xx
 
Switchthehorse said:
This weekend was the start of the indoor season round my way - I went for 'schooling', didnt expect to get past fence three to be honest as was eliminated there at least 4 times in the spring!! My plan was to trot between fences, make sure she didnt lose her shoulder round turns so less likely to nap and NOT let her run out...

!!!
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Its funny that you mention that as you relax a lot more after fence 3 :-)
 
At last. Someone who is riding a downright naughty horse through the problem instead of hiding behind the teeth/back/saddle excuses. Bl00dy well done.
 
I've not had time to read all the replies but I think you've done a cracking job in building both your confidence and def relax after she's tried to nap / refuse - maybe up to fence 1 and 2 you're anticipating something is coming and once it does you take control - you must be so thrilled - well done - what breed is she?
 
Well OP I didn't read your other thread, and I haven't read all of the above posts. I don't jump myself so I wouldn't presume to comment on your riding technique, but one thought does come to mind, i once read that it is not "Talent" that makes someone successful and that the world is full of unsuccessful "talented" people who gave up at the first hurdle. There are, however, plenty of successful people who didn't start off with any talent, but the one thing that all successful people have in common is that they don't give up, they do whatever it takes to make themselves better, they pick themselves up when things go wrong and try again, and again, and again until they go right - somehow I get the feeling that you've got the right idea, so enjoy your success and thank you for sharing it with us!
 
Well done :) Loved the showing video too- she is a stunning horse, and goes so nicely!

I get 'nervous hands', which I think you get too from that video and so have a neckstrap about 4/5 inches up the neck to grab when I need to calm down and stop fiddling. I does really help me- in lessons, my hands are still. At comps, they have a mind of their own!!
 
I didn't see your first round of posting and being shot down in flames, but having seen some of the responses to some threads on here, I'm not surprised!

There's a difference between advice and criticism. There's not anyone posting on this forum who couldn't benefit from advice now and again, and criticism is never helpful, just demoralising. And I'm sure you've had enough of that to last you a lifetime.

It can be an over-used word, but you really are an inspiration. Not all 'problem' horses are in pain or suffering from nasty past experiences - just like people can be difficult, cos that's their nature, so can horses! She's a credit to you, and it's lovely to know that you've found an instructor who's sticking with you.

She's beautiful. I bet you felt like you'd won that class! Well done you :D
 
Well done you - you are an inspiration. Because of your post, I've just filled in my RC application form, and have re-found my faltering enthusiasm for getting my jumping problems cracked (on my chestnut possibly ID x mare!).

Thank you for posting.

xx
 
I didn't see your original post but i did watch the first youtube film and i have to be honest i did think ' just give up mate' but you've proved that with a little determination and loads of patience , you can actually get a pretty good tune out of your girl , i'm no expert whatsoever but even i can see that you are sitting in a much better posistion , your lower leg is really secure and you're just keeping her going at a nice pace and letting her work it out for herself , in stead of pushing her , maybe cos you're more balanced now , she feels more confident to get you both over in one piece - well done x
 
My new boy naps and can be difficult to the point of dangerous at times, I have seen huge improvement in the severity of his behaviour in just the 3 months I've had him but doubted how far we would get. This has given me a bit more hope. I'd like to think it would not take quite this long, his behaviour is less extreme and he has a lovey pop which he seems to enjoy.

My boy is in no pain, all checked regularly. However when he came to me he had very displaced hips which the physio advised could have ben causing him discomfort for a number of YEARS!! He has learnt that he can frighten people with this behaviour and get out of doing whatever it is that hurts him, he has then worked out he can do it whenever he doesn't want to do something, painful or not.

I'm quite impressed given how intellectually 'special' he appears to be!!

WELL DONE!! She looks great.
 
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