What should I do?

[nomini]

In 2 minds at the moment about what to do with my mare. She jumps amazingly at home and she has so much scope she makes 1.20 seem small. She is very easy to do, has a nice temperament, very level headed etc. She jumps nicely at our local show centre and is quite often in the placings.

However, if I take her anywhere else (especially now most shows are indoors) we usually get eliminated...she doesn't seem really spooky, just makes up her mind she's not going to jump a fence and thats that. I'm jumping BN and disc on her at the moment and its the first horse I've jumped at this level so I don't have a lot of experience.

I'm really in 2 minds about whether to sell her to someone with more experience and buy something a bit easier or whether to hang on to her for a bit longer and see if we improve. I know not much is selling at the moment so I wouldn't probably sell her until spring/summer but just wanted some advice really on what would be the best way forward.

Sorry for the long post, cookies if you got this far

 

[HLB]

it is a pain when that happens, i had a horse like that, its really embarrecing

. Have you a trainer to help you out? also could you hire that centre for a wee while to get her to calm at the centre, get her head around things.

if not you may have to sell - mine would not budge he just stood there only at a show jump 120 at home- it was canter to fence "oh mum look a jump shall i stop" and he did; to the point where i couldnt even walk out the arena without getting off and leading him out, anyway didnt want to sell so did Dressage instead - he loved that god rest his soul - and it got me more into dressage- dont know if thats was a good thing??

 

[Skhosu]

I woul dlet her do a different career, I have a pony at home who did that, he would jump at home but stopped at shows, through being overjumped, nothing particular really.
He doesn't do it so much now that he is a happy hacker/v. low level competitor

 

[BID]

My horse would jump the moon at home but just couldn't cope with jumping in competition and as my heart is in eventing I decided to sell him, he is now at a lovely home where he is loved and happy as he isn't being asked to do something he doesn't want to. My trainer and I perservered for 5 years until the day came when my trainer said I think enough is enough. It was heartbraking selling him but he had turned me into a nervous wreck when jumping in a competitve enviroment. I now have a horse that loves his jumping and I am really happy.

 

[nomini]

Thanks for your help guys. I have a lesson with my instructor tomorrow so I will speak to her about it. I have hired out the local centre many times and she jumps fab there, but everywhere else is a bit to far to hire just so I can get her used to it. I really don't want to sell her but thinking it may be for the best, for her and me.

 

[happihorse]

It sounds like you have a fantastic horse - personally I would rather make the effort to hire out centres further away to get her used to more venues than sell her.