XC schooling – the bogie fence!

[LFD]

**All photos were taken by my friend and I have permission to post – not great as on a phone and the weather was bad. **

I took wee Corks up to Gleneagles last weekend and had a great time minus one fence!

We schooled round the 90 course with a sneaky run out at a skinny (our old bogie fence) but sorted it out quite quickly so he was happily locking on and flying over.

We also then tried a few of the pre-novice as he was feeling great.

Here is a video of the water and shots of a few jumps.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10151986384261504&id=581451503

We got a problem with the jump below (log over ditch).

Cantered up, started to back of a bit as we got closed (both him and me unfortunately) so we ended up clambering over it rather than jumping. Corks is usually really bold and brave so it really throe me. We both got a wee fright but were ok. I then just jumped the ditch on its own an few times next to the jump which he wasn’t keen on but we got there. I then tried the jump again but he was having none of it and to be honest, I probably wasn’t riding as strongly or positively as I could. He has just turned 7 so I didn’t want to upset him any more so we just moved on to the rest of the course. He was immediately back to his brave self and was flying through water and up and down steps. We finished on a high, both happy but I can’t get the bogie fence out of my head.

Should I just put it down experience, go back and try again?? Any advice welcome!

 

[TGM]

Can you find a course where there is a similar fence but smaller for you to get your confidence back over?

 

[Sheep]

Lovely pictures, very handsome horse!

I am no expert at all with xc, but I would say that firstly, you recognise that you probably weren't riding as positively as you could be which is important - if you were backing off a bit from the fence then its understandable that perhaps he wasn't keen either - but! you rode round other fences happily and finished on a good note. My boy relies heavily on me for confidence when jumping so any time that I am not 100% committed to a fence, he is likely to duck out. (says I as if I have actually jumped horse recently lol - he hasn't been jumped since last year due to various issues)

To me, ending well is the most important thing. So in your shoes I would chalk it up to experience, work on ditches and when you are both more confident with them add the extra element of the log. Easier said than done and I could well be wrong, but that is most likely what I would do... you are very brave regardless, XC terrifies me and excites me in equal measures!

 

[ArcticFox]

as above, I think it will be fine. its a fairly decent fence and one I hate jumping when schooling there and I usually avoid it as I need us to have our adrenaline up to jump these things. you'll be fine and it won't have dented confidence.

 

[LFD]

Thanks all. I think practicing over ditches sounds like a good idea to get us both more confident. ArcticFox - if you don't like schooling over it I've maybe just asked a bit much of both of us too soon and will avoid it in future!