XC schooling tomorrow - is this a good or a bad thing?

[SouthWestWhippet]

Swinging between excitement and nerves here as I'm off XC schooling at Pontispool with my pony tomorrow - it will be the first time I have gone XC since my accident.

Polly and I have only done a bit of XC together (we jumped loads of the XC fences at Stockland Lovel when we did the fun ride) and although she is a total XC expert, I'm rather less experienced. Half of me is thinking that she'll look after me for sure and I'll have an amazing time... but we've been having some problems with our SJ at the moment because I keep getting 'grabby' with her when she takes me in to the fences(post accident nerves - nothing serious but irritating and persistant) and I don't want to make the same mistakes tomorrow.

Well I'm gonna make sure I have a martingale to hold on to but if anyone has any useful XC advice, I would be very grateful. Are you supposed to look for strides XC? Or am I better to just sit still and stay in a rhythm?

 

[samp]

I would concentrate on just keeping your canter in to the fence (nice and consistnet pace - no fiddling) and always looking up and ahead, remember to keep your lower legs in a secure position and shorten your stirrups 2 holes from what you SJ on

 

[MagicMelon]

Stay in a rhythm. I find I worry way too much about striding for show jumping, but come XC Im totally different. We very very rarely cock up the striding because you can take them on a much more forward stride so its much easier. Just think forward but at the same time, let each fence come to you.