What would you do..?

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FunkyFilly28

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Well I'm fifteen and been loaning a horse since February last year. I'd only really ridden riding school ponies and done 1ft/2ft jumping classes on a pony I loaned before him. When I first got him, he would jump anything I asked of him. The quality of the canter and striding was all a bit off because I was still getting the hang of things but he was so honest and just jumped for me. So we had a fun few months going to shows and joined the PC Dressage Team where we came 10th individually. However, I took him to the Pony Club show and I fell off in the warm up arena because he stopped at a fence - very unlike him. I got back on and went into the clas but my nerves were rattled. He stopped at the first fence but then I really rode him and he flew around the rest. Then we went to a ODE and we got eliminated at the third fence - it had spooky fillers but he has PN evented with his previous owner and so has pretty much seen every type of fence there is. I was allowed to go xc and he went around the whole course locking onto each fence without listening at all to me - it was a rather scary experience! We then went to camp where he was generally very nappy and not listening to me when jumping but perfect on the flat.


He had the summer off and then we did a horse trials where I could not slow him down at all. He started being nappy and we manged to continue but I came off at the water trough fence, got back on before coming off at a fence later in the course because he wouldn't slow down so that he could realise it was a ditch. I did get back on and rejump it before they realised I should have been eliminated! That really knocked my confidence which was never really that good to begin with - I have always been quite a nervous rider. I also manged to damage my shoulder in the process but luckily it healed fine with a few weeks.

After that we were eliminated in a combined training but then he jumped three rounds sj the following weekend perfectly. Even at home he's stopping and I feel as though I'm falling off almost everytime I jump.

He's a 16year old tb so he has been there done that but his current owner who is in Russia at the minute only hacked him out. I don't know whether to give up and try a different horse or persevere with him. THe problem is that I love him to bits and he is so good natured on the ground and when schooling, I just seem to be riding a different horse when jumping.

His saddle is just being reflocked and he has had teeth checked, back checked and his feet are in good condition. He's jumped in a loose ring snaffle and running martingale. Sorry for this being such a long ramble but I just want to have fun when jumping again!

Any advice/opinions would be much appreciated!
 
Firstly, how much jumping are you doing with him? If you're competing him at the weekends and jumping him at home several times during the week he might just be saying "Actually I'm a bit fed up with all this".

Another thing would be if he's occasionally finding something uncomfortable, when he's next shod get the farrier to use his hoof testers and see if he's sore at all - I know his feet are in good condition but that's what caused our ultra reliable jumper to start stopping.

It would also be interesting to check his BE record to see if he's always been a bit inconsistent.
 
Umm from what you have said I would think that you have an experienced horse who is sorting himself out on the jumping phases. You say he isn't listening to you SJ, but if he's done PN and you've only done a little bit so I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't very confident in what you are telling him so is looking after himself.....especially from when you said he 'locks on' in XC.

The stopping is probably because he has worked out he is in control on the jumping phases and is being a bit cocky. I'd suggest you have some lessons - perhaps with a different teacher if you are already - and try to get up to his level and get back in control because otherwise I predict its going to get worse. On the other hand, how fortunate are you to have a horse on loan that has done PN when you are only 15. Great to learn from.... if you get to the stage where you are in control then look how much you will have achieved - wow. Lot's of people 'make do' with on loan horses that really aren't capably or able to do the competitions they want them to. If you want to compete, stick with this horse. If you just want to enjoy hacking then perhaps look for something else.
 
Also if you haven't got any control on the XC try something else in his mouth / noseband. If he used to event and then just hacked for ages he is probably thinking 'wow this is exciting' when you are taking him to events so is being a bit strong. How many professionals do you see doing XC in a loose ring snaffle? You could be making things a bit difficult for yourself.... If you are only 15 on a big TB you could probably do with something a bit stronger (don't go over the top though!)
 
I can't offer you riding advice, but would like to say 'well done you' for keep getting back on and persevering :)

The advice above sounds good, I know my friend who does ODE uses a snaffle out hacking but something stronger on the XC - I think they all get a bit excited and strong for the XC, if they didn't I guess they wouldn't be any good.

It does sound like he knows what he is doing, and you need to 'catch up'. A bit like me and my girl - she knows how to do dressage (I've seen her ridden by good riders), but I haven't got the hang of the aids yet.

Stick with him, sounds like you're going to have some fun.
 
Thanks for all your advice. I really do love him to bits and he is certainly a capable jumper. I think I'm going to invest in some more lessons and get him out and about more so that things seem a bit less exciting to him. A change of bit also sounds like a good idea! Thanks once again and I'll keep you updated with our progress!
 
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