Waffle help post. I can jump one pony, but not the other! Wuss alert?!

[dressagelove]

Okay, so this may be a bit gobbledigook, see if you can make sense of my chatter.

So I used to event, and have a lovely event horse, who is an ex racer, and I had never ever known him to stop. He just doesnt stop. He can get so deep that he has to climb over the fence, yet he never stops. And this is what I need. I am a complete wuss when it comes to jumping. Before Archie I had a horrible mare who was a right witch, and if you got a stride even slightly wrong, she would stop, and it completely ruined my confidence, now I just dont trust horses and expect them to stop. except archie, cos I know 100% he wont stop!

However, I have another horse who is a bit lazier! He is my dressage horsey, as he is ace at it. But I dont like jumping him, mainly because im a right scardy cat and dont enjoy it. I do trust this horse, but aim me at a fence on him and I just back off, and he needs riding right up to a fence, otherwise he jumps well!

I feel bad because I feel like im depriving him of jumping. He doesnt seem particularly fussed, in fact i think he prefers dressage. I do lunge him over fences sometimes, as I feel it is a useful training exercise.

I guess my ramble is me asking, does it matter that i dont want to jump on my second horse? would it help him a lot with his flatwork if i jumped him properly? When i do jump him (me riding) i only jump like 2ft 9 cos i bottle out! I annoy myself with my cowardice!

However, put me on archie, my other one, and honestly i would go for a 5ft hedge, because i know he will have a go!

thoughts? sorry this is so long! wotsits for you!

 

[PorkChop]

Of course you don't need to jump your other horse, he obviously has a happy outlook on life and his work.

We sometimes try and put human emotions on our horse's, and while it is certain they have feelings and emotions they do not need to be fulfilled in the way that a human might.

 

[kerilli]

ditto, why put yourself through it? he's fine, he won't care if he never leaves the floor again i bet. prob less chance of him injuring himself too.
having said which... while i totally understand what you mean about your tricky one having wrecked your confidence rather, a good instructor will help you improve your canter and approaches so that you get better spots (even on your super honest one) and your confidence will grow again...