What should i do? :/ ?

ShowJumperBeckii

ShowJumperBeckii

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so if you saw my last post you know my problem
iv been told im getting too tall and i know its not about height but its effect my riding then its going to effect ebony
he said its ok at the moment but im 14 so two more years off growning still already 5.9ft
and where my legs are long im siting too far back in the saddle so i guess thats not comfortable for ebs back?

i was thinking of getting a younger bigger horse and just working on it ect? for a year and compete ebs for a year and then after her bsja mebership runs out her her a nice rest for jumping and start with my younger one?

just not sure :/ i dont want to sell her anyone?

Big bar of chocolate for anyone that reads and helps :) x
 
The idea of getting a youngster to bring on ready for a years time sounds good if you can afford two. My daughter has very long legs and we used to get all sorts of comments when she was younger. As long as you are not too heavy then try to ignore people as much as possible. If you have a successful pony then sometimes it is jealousy anyway!
 
Just answered your lesson post, re height of you and horse so won't repeat myself here! I don't think you should worry about your height, have seen some of your videos and it certainly doesn't look like you are too tall for your horse. I wouldn't get another horse, just enjoy the fab one you have! If you feel it is affecting your riding then I think it would be worth calling your saddler and chatting through your needs. (oh is needing a new saddle as his mare is very compact, but he is a great lanky thing who loves jumping - so they are getting a jumping saddle that he can fit himself on, but that isn't too long for his mare - you would be amazed the difference a saddle can make to your balance on the horse and your leg position).
 
well not a youngster as such around 5 ish and just do alot of schooling and lessons ect?
i weigh around 10 1/2 and i know its bad but her back im worryed about because weere i sit? thanks alot xxxx
 
How tall is your horse? I'm the same height as you (5'9") and by 14, I had pretty much stopped growing (I was finally able to fit into my mum's fancy size 8 shoes!).
Maybe the saddle your in, isn't the right fit for you anymore? I know there are some saddles (like Thorowgoods) that make me sit how you are describing. Some saddles do not work for those with long legs.
 
Continuing the idea on saddles as I'm looking for a new jumping saddle at the moment. Most saddles I try are too small and my knees shoot off the front. I've got around this by riding in an 18" saddle and going for something quite forward cut, also worth looking at saddles with thigh rolls as opposed to knee rolls - I've found these fit me much better. You can also have saddles with bigger flaps to account for longer legs which will help.

When I was younger my main horse was 15.1 TBx and I rode in 18" stubben sigfried and this fitted us both, I was similar weight to you and taller so worth looking into this before taking on cost and work of another horse
 
Your height should not be effecting the way you sit. If your legs are too far forward and you're sat at the back of the saddle you need to have some lessons with an instructor who's hot on position and you'll be able to correct it. Just sitting on a larger horse won't correct it. Look at William Fox Pitt. He's incredibly tall on his horses but has an excellent position.
 
I replied to your lesson thread about possibly trying a different saddle.
Another horse is lovely idea as long as you have the money and the time, especially with GCSE's coming up.
I don't know if you have any experience of youngsters, but they do take a lot of time and patience. My old boos always used to say teenagers and youngsters don't mix. I don't agree with this and had a number of youngsters as a teenager. However I didn't really have the opportunity to compete until my late teens so I never felt I was missing out on anything not going to shows. Depending on how young the horse is it may not be ready to go out and compete regularly in a year.
I hope that doesn't sound horrible, but I have seen it go wrong many times with people buying a youngster and then getting bored hacking out for months on end.
 
I think you are really lucky ATM in that you have a really honest, genuine little mare who really tries for you - even when you make mistakes such as not getting the best approach to fences, or coming in a bit fast.

Speaking from experience, I have found that bigger horses tend to be much less forgiving than something crossed with a cob or pony breed, they need much more correct, confident riding, especially as youngsters.

With this in mind, in your position I would make the most of Ebony while you can - have all the lessons you can afford, gain as much competition experience as you can - remembering to focus on riding a nice, balanced round in a good rhythm, not going hell for leather for a rossette. Your instructor has said that your height isn't causing a problem YET - so make the most of it and enjoy her while you can!

That way, a year or two down the line you'll have much more valuable experience to bring on and compete a youngster successfully. If you buy one now, you might have a very steep learning curve as this one might not help you out the way Ebony does. And the last thing you want to do is put yourself in a situation where you end up losing your confidence, because once its gone, its gone - trust me. I haven't jumped for years after losing mine - I'd do anything to go back in time and undo the mistakes I made. :(
 
I do sort of see your point, I'm smaller than you at 5'6 but my little TB is only the same size as yours, maybe she's 15.1 ish but again small and fine, short neck etc and I do feel like there is not much under me, a bit perched shall we say, but I'm 31 so I'm only going to grow outwards. :D

In a way I can see the logic in your idea, at 14 I do think you'll grow and eventually in the future I dare say you'll no doubt want something bigger, I think something bigger for yourself will also help as a rider to improve if your wanting to jump to a good level, the more comfortable you are, obviously the better rider someone is.

But having two on the go is very costly and time consuming, specially if your bringing one on and you have to be prepaired for certain pit falls and things not always working out to plan, as well as lessons to keep you both on the straight and narrow.

Personally, if I was you or for example a 'horsey mother of a teenage daughter' (god help that poor child :D), I would probably have a good think about the options, getting something bigger would be the way to go for me but also parting with one that is being outgrown would be also, if your wanting to compete affiliated then you do have to think about competition and training costs as well, otherwise what's the point of getting something bigger if your not taking it anywhere.

That's how I'd look at it.
 
Here is me on my old little mare

prillypants.jpg


She was 14.2hh, I am taller than you :D and weigh about the same, give or take.

I think you should try your hardest with the pony you have got. The mare ^^^^ jumped round a couple of affiliated tracks with me, she was AMAZING, she is now doing really well with current like sized owner.

William Fox Pitt etc are all massive - it makes no difference to their horses who still jump round 4* and win :D It is all to do with your balance and ability.

I have no doubt you will grow but do not feel pressured to get another horse - why dont you prove how well you can do on your mare, try to qualify for some championships/second rounds etc, get some rosettes and then see what your options are? When I was your age (many years agooooo I am so old) I had my 14.2hh JA pony till I was 18, but had some amazing (free) rides given to me on some super horses, probably becasue people could see that I was keen and would work for it :D
 
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Remember younger means less experience and more likely to make mistakes. 50% of the riding time is boring because you are doing things that *you* can already do and have done hundreds of times over, but the horse can't and hasn't so you are stuck to doing basics for months - circles, small simple cross poles.

Even when you DO start competing you aren't going in to win - you have to be willing to know when enough is enough - meaning not going in the jump off even if you have qualified, withdrawing after your young horse has done well. The first few times you won't even be going in a class - just taking them there to get the hang of being in a new strange place with lots of other new horses to meet and be friends with.

You have to be very sympathetic with your riding, allowing the horse to find it's own natural stride and rhythm, yet supporting and encouraging. The ABSOLUTE WORST thing you can do with a young horse is rush, kick into a fence or pull back on the mouth - it's about weight shifting, holding with the thighs and lots of pats.

If you think you have the patience and time to put in, then do it. It is very rewarding, if not as exhilarating and fun as an experienced, fast little jumping pony/small horse.
 
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Look, the idea of a bigger horse with more scope is quite exciting if you want to continue jumping and a lot of your post is about justifying the need for this.

You don't need a bigger horse now, you just need a saddle that will correctly accomodate your leg so you aren't pushed to the back of the saddle and you and your pony can continue to work together for at least the next two years while you both progress.

Later, when you are sufficiently skilled, it may be time to move up - but not yet
 
A saddle that doesn't fit you WILL make a difference to your position so if you are not sure, then its worth getting a professionial opinion. I didn't quite follow why you wanted to bring on another horse - being very altrusic about it, if you carry on with your current mare and continue to do well with her, then that must be adding to her value when you do come to sell her.. and give you more at that time to buy a bigger horse. I do echo about the time taken to bring on a young horse - more because if you are used now to being able to go out/compete etc, then its frustrating to effectively give that up when you could be buying another horse that would allow you to go out pretty much immediately. I don't deny that it can be fun to bring on a young horse but it does take a long time !
 
When I was 14 a had a 14hh pony I was 5'8'' and 9.5stone. I looked silly big on him in, but in now way affected his back or way of going, we competed BSJA from him being 4 to when he was sold at 7, he is still doing it at the age of 20, so it caused him no probs at all.
I wish I had kept him and just done local shows and fun rides when I was out of juniors, as I have never had as good of horse since. Please think about that too. If you have a horse who you love and goes well for you, you might not be able to find a new one your happy with. And as said by brambleandmonty horses are way different at bringing on than pony types. I always had young ponies just backed at the age of three, When I got my horse who was just backed at three it was a shock, they are alot harder than younger ponies.
 
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