XC Woes

[RHM]

Hoping to pick the collective hive mind! We have been primarily SJ since getting my mare two years ago and she is the most reliable horse I’ve sat on for going clear. This summer we have given Eventing a bash. And lord help me it’s been bad.

XC schooling she is a machine. Flying everything. Regularly jumping 90cm, took a while but is now confident jumping pretty much all fences I point her at.

However, get to a comp and she is a different animal. Still clear SJ but incredibly nappy XC. Stopping miles away from fences. I personally think it’s a confidence issue on her part and she doesn’t want to leave the other horses (extensively hunted in the past). However, she will hack alone happily.

Really difficult to work on at home as she is perfect in lessons! Toying with the idea of getting a pro on her to see if it’s a me issue.

Should also say, these comps have been well within her scope. They are 80cm, she regularly jumps 1m at home and 90cm SJ.
Help me!!

 

[paddi22]

xc schooling is very different to a real xc round. you see so many people who are amazing in clinics and schoolings but have difficulties on the day at events. I really think it's because people don't acclimatise the horses to the eventing environment. you are taking to a horse to somewhere it has to do 3 disciplines, so mentally and physically it's extremely tiring for ones who aren't used to it. they also have to cope with leaving busy warmups and heading out by them selves, plus loudspeakers, dogs, etc.

any young horses I have I do a season of kids hunter trials, purely to get them used to this issues, without the pressure of dressage/sj/long days etc. the first few I go out in pairs and only pick jumps I know I can walk them over if they are nappy. you just want them to find it easy and fun. when you throw them straight into events it's often too stressful for them. so take the horse for a fun, low key run, with a friend. get it used to leaving the warmup with one horse. and going around play with you moving in front and giving the horse confidence leading. and just get it 100% confident xc at 90s hunter trials, before trying events again.

 

[RHM]

xc schooling is very different to a real xc round. you see so many people who are amazing in clinics and schoolings but have difficulties on the day at events. I really think it's because people don't acclimatise the horses to the eventing environment. you are taking to a horse to somewhere it has to do 3 disciplines, so mentally and physically it's extremely tiring for ones who aren't used to it. they also have to cope with leaving busy warmups and heading out by them selves, plus loudspeakers, dogs, etc.

any young horses I have I do a season of kids hunter trials, purely to get them used to this issues, without the pressure of dressage/sj/long days etc. the first few I go out in pairs and only pick jumps I know I can walk them over if they are nappy. you just want them to find it easy and fun. when you throw them straight into events it's often too stressful for them. so take the horse for a fun, low key run, with a friend. get it used to leaving the warmup with one horse. and going around play with you moving in front and giving the horse confidence leading. and just get it 100% confident xc at 90s hunter trials, before trying events again.

Great - thank you! I made the mistake of assuming she would be ok seen as she is out competing regularly but it clearly is a very different ask!
I think we have a couple of Hunter trials locally which I can give a go!

I honestly think if I keep taking her and trying to ride her through it will damage her confidence further so glad that’s not the suggestion!

 

[paddi22]

if they aren't used to it, it's a long day for them, and often by the time you get to the xc, they are kind of at their mental limit. and when you throw in triggers like leaving a warmup etc, it can just shut them down and they down tools. the key is the fun, m low pressure hunter trials. only point her at stuff that you can step over, for the first ones. do a few and play around with her following another horse out of warmup. and then next one she can she lead them out. then try by yourself. I keep it tiny and fun, you always want to feel like she's confident and pulling you into fences. when you feel confident at 90s novice trials and they are enjoying it, it's usually a good sign they are ready for events and will be fine.

 

[RHM]

if they aren't used to it, it's a long day for them, and often by the time you get to the xc, they are kind of at their mental limit. and when you throw in triggers like leaving a warmup etc, it can just shut them down and they down tools. the key is the fun, m low pressure hunter trials. only point her at stuff that you can step over, for the first ones. do a few and play around with her following another horse out of warmup. and then next one she can she lead them out. then try by yourself. I keep it tiny and fun, you always want to feel like she's confident and pulling you into fences. when you feel confident at 90s novice trials and they are enjoying it, it's usually a good sign they are ready for events and will be fine.

That’s really helpful, thank you! It’s like she absolutely shuts down. There are some mini ones fairly local which are 60/70cm which might be the best place to start. She can be an anxious mare at the best of times!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Can you do a pairs hunter trial with a tried and tested partner?
You could really practice with them in front, behind, widening the gap between you both. Might help with going forward in comp atmosphere.

 

[Xmasha]

Weve had the same issue with my daughters horse. XC schools fab, has done unaffiliated ODE, unaffiliated hunter trials etc. Then tried BE, and would down tools. Assumed it was nerves etc, so did some more schooling, and even events at the place where the BE would be. Did some SJ rounds beautifully, came 2nd & 3rd. Then went to do an event, this time arena eventing and down tools on the XC course. So whizzed him over to the vets for a performance check. He was slightly lame on hard ground in both front feet. All checks done, and vet hasnt found an issue yet. So has suggested shoeing with the next size up. We will take him back next week for another check up. So keeping my fingers crossed this sorts it.

Maybe she has a little niggle somewhere ?

 

[RHM]

Can you do a pairs hunter trial with a tried and tested partner?
You could really practice with them in front, behind, widening the gap between you both. Might help with going forward in comp atmosphere.

Think this may be the way forwards!!

 

[RHM]

Weve had the same issue with my daughters horse. XC schools fab, has done unaffiliated ODE, unaffiliated hunter trials etc. Then tried BE, and would down tools. Assumed it was nerves etc, so did some more schooling, and even events at the place where the BE would be. Did some SJ rounds beautifully, came 2nd & 3rd. Then went to do an event, this time arena eventing and down tools on the XC course. So whizzed him over to the vets for a performance check. He was slightly lame on hard ground in both front feet. All checks done, and vet hasnt found an issue yet. So has suggested shoeing with the next size up. We will take him back next week for another check up. So keeping my fingers crossed this sorts it.

Maybe she has a little niggle somewhere ?

That’s interesting! She is the soundest horse I’ve owned but has been barefoot for 6 months so is maybe feeling her feet on the harder going. Definitely food for thought!

 

[spacefaer]

I had one that couldn't cope with all three disciplines on one day. He show jumped to Fox, worked at medium, qualified (and went to) HOYS as a worker.. He was also the most awesome hunter. Give him a BE100 and he just couldn't process it. He'd pull up halfway round the xc, usually when we were in the lead, and just refuse to move. He was such a disappointment to me at the time as all I wanted to do was event

 

[LEC]

I have one that has taken a long time. I got really fed up last year as kept having stupid stops mainly at water/ditches/banks and decided to hunt her in the end which helped. Hunting helped her a lot. This year has come out a different horse. I also have been xc schooling her the day before just to keep her really confident and not shocked by anything. I literally do 20/30 mins spin round xc as if jumping a bit of a course and anything not quite perfect might pop again. It’s a lot of hassle but works.

 

[RHM]

I had one that couldn't cope with all three disciplines on one day. He show jumped to Fox, worked at medium, qualified (and went to) HOYS as a worker.. He was also the most awesome hunter. Give him a BE100 and he just couldn't process it. He'd pull up halfway round the xc, usually when we were in the lead, and just refuse to move. He was such a disappointment to me at the time as all I wanted to do was event

That is so frustrating! It’s even more so when they are talented and have the ability to do well!

 

[RHM]

I have one that has taken a long time. I got really fed up last year as kept having stupid stops mainly at water/ditches/banks and decided to hunt her in the end which helped. Hunting helped her a lot. This year has come out a different horse. I also have been xc schooling her the day before just to keep her really confident and not shocked by anything. I literally do 20/30 mins spin round xc as if jumping a bit of a course and anything not quite perfect might pop again. It’s a lot of hassle but works.

Good tip! We have quite a lot of schooling facilities fairly local so could definitely fit one in the day before.

 

[nikkimariet]

xc schooling is very different to a real xc round. you see so many people who are amazing in clinics and schoolings but have difficulties on the day at events. I really think it's because people don't acclimatise the horses to the eventing environment. you are taking to a horse to somewhere it has to do 3 disciplines, so mentally and physically it's extremely tiring for ones who aren't used to it. they also have to cope with leaving busy warmups and heading out by them selves, plus loudspeakers, dogs, etc.

any young horses I have I do a season of kids hunter trials, purely to get them used to this issues, without the pressure of dressage/sj/long days etc. the first few I go out in pairs and only pick jumps I know I can walk them over if they are nappy. you just want them to find it easy and fun. when you throw them straight into events it's often too stressful for them. so take the horse for a fun, low key run, with a friend. get it used to leaving the warmup with one horse. and going around play with you moving in front and giving the horse confidence leading. and just get it 100% confident xc at 90s hunter trials, before trying events again.

This in spades… Rooni takes on 100 fences XC schooling without batting an eye but I promise you I wouldn’t be able to jump a single 40cm fence at an an actual event!

A good friend suggested going cubbing then hunting too as an intro to getting them used to the faster pace with more going on? I’ve no experience at that and intend to stay within the white boards though!

 

[Upthecreek]

The difficulty is you can’t recreate the competition environment with schooling because of the multiple distractions in the XC phase at competitions, which some horses really struggle with. Vehicles on the course, fence judges in odd places, people wandering about, dogs barking, loud speaker. And all that after being in a busy warm up and having already done dressage and SJ. It’s a lot.

I would take the pressure off with a horse like this and stick to hunter trials until she is more confident in a busy competition environment. If you can remove the layers of stress from having done dressage and SJ before the XC you might find she copes better with the XC. Pairs could be good to build confidence, but equally can make a nappy horse more nappy when they have to go solo.

 

[RHM]

This in spades… Rooni takes on 100 fences XC schooling without batting an eye but I promise you I wouldn’t be able to jump a single 40cm fence at an an actual event!

A good friend suggested going cubbing then hunting too as an intro to getting them used to the faster pace with more going on? I’ve no experience at that and intend to stay within the white boards though!

Makes me feel marginally better that I’m not alone in this ??
She has hunted loads in the past, just not with me. Maybe it’s time to give it a bash!

 

[RHM]

The difficulty is you can’t recreate the competition environment with schooling because of the multiple distractions in the XC phase at competitions, which some horses really struggle with. Vehicles on the course, fence judges in odd places, people wandering about, dogs barking, loud speaker. And all that after being in a busy warm up and having already done dressage and SJ. It’s a lot.

I would take the pressure off with a horse like this and stick to hunter trials until she is more confident in a busy competition environment. If you can remove the layers of stress from having done dressage and SJ before the XC you might find she copes better with the XC. Pairs could be good to build confidence, but equally can make a nappy horse more nappy when they have to go solo.

It’s so true, even schooling round a course is so different for them.
Thanks for the advice, definitely going to get booked onto some Hunter trials.

When I first got her she wouldn’t hack alone and now she will happily. So, I’m hoping we will get there eventually! Just might be a bit of a long old road!

 

[paddi22]

the key is just to keep it small and fun until your gut says they are confident with the whole experience

 

[Upthecreek]

It’s so true, even schooling round a course is so different for them.
Thanks for the advice, definitely going to get booked onto some Hunter trials.

When I first got her she wouldn’t hack alone and now she will happily. So, I’m hoping we will get there eventually! Just might be a bit of a long old road!

You will get there, some just take a bit longer than others and you have to adapt your approach to make it work for them. Hopefully keeping it low-key and fun will help. Please update us with your progress ?

 

[RHM]

Will keep you all updated! Thanks so much for all the advice.

 

[RachelFerd]

Its definitely a horse personality and confidence thing. My 5yo sets out onto a competition XC course exactly as if he was schooling. But he has always been a very independent, bold character.

My 11yo (now 2* event horse) took lots and lots of going out doing pairs hunter trials, schooling rounds where I went off by myself but non-competitively and team chasing before the penny dropped that he was OK to run and jump in a competitive setting. He's also much nervier about hacking alone than the 5yo is - so it is a consistent part of his temperament.

 

[RHM]

Its definitely a horse personality and confidence thing. My 5yo sets out onto a competition XC course exactly as if he was schooling. But he has always been a very independent, bold character.

My 11yo (now 2* event horse) took lots and lots of going out doing pairs hunter trials, schooling rounds where I went off by myself but non-competitively and team chasing before the penny dropped that he was OK to run and jump in a competitive setting. He's also much nervier about hacking alone than the 5yo is - so it is a consistent part of his temperament.

Yeah she is an anxious individual at the best of times! And she really internalises it so exactly what we see on XC!
Hopefully she will come round to the idea!

 

[ester]

Mine did this but I also wish I’d been able to ride better at the time. Though he did have a girlfriend that may have complicated it a bit ?. But as mum drove the trailer at the time I couldn’t really say she couldn’t go…


was fab schooling, did have a bit of a stop SJ but never did xc schooling ditches steps always straight over no fuss. Great hunter, not nappy at all generally.

for him I think a lot of it was this isn’t how things normally look (welsh ??), it wasn’t the fences it was peoples randomly placed cars/hay bales/banners. Yet he was an amazing lead pair pony.

I put a pro on when I was off games who knew him well/taught us and he totally surprised her because he went out the start box forwards and straight as a die and then dried up before the first fence.
she did get him round, and it was a lot smoother when they went again 2 weeks later. But I did conclude that I wasn’t a good enough rider to replicate that and there weren’t enough unaffiliated events happening at the time to try and school him through it.
If I had him at that stage now I might try though as I have a few more tools than I did 15 years ago.

 

[SusieT]

Go to 60cm courses/competitions and practice 'cantering' around the course, i.e. going across the field, on her own, different jumps, field boundaries etc. once she is confident cantering round the field you will probably find the height can be racked up quite quickly.

 

[nikkimariet]

Makes me feel marginally better that I’m not alone in this ??
She has hunted loads in the past, just not with me. Maybe it’s time to give it a bash!

If I had something that hunted you’d never see me out at dressage again lol! Take the chance whilst you can!

 

[Bernster]

Following with interest. My xc issues are similar, it’s the bit about getting them out solo xc. I can’t fathom how you can ‘transition’ from clinics, pairs or hunting to going solo - either way you’re either in company or solo, there seems to be no easy middle way between those, if you know what I mean!

Finn did all of the above, and was fantastic, but can still be sticky xc on his own.

 

[ester]

Yup that was our issue, I did always wonder if I could find 20 friends to park their cars next to fences . . . .

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Yup that was our issue, I did always wonder if I could find 20 friends to park their cars next to fences . . . .

This is why I abandoned xc comps last year, I couldn't find enough folk to pitch up at every jump ?
I'd like to hunt B, but I have at the back of my mind that her eejit tendencies might possibly resurface.....

 

[RHM]

Mine did this but I also wish I’d been able to ride better at the time. Though he did have a girlfriend that may have complicated it a bit ?. But as mum drove the trailer at the time I couldn’t really say she couldn’t go…


was fab schooling, did have a bit of a stop SJ but never did xc schooling ditches steps always straight over no fuss. Great hunter, not nappy at all generally.

for him I think a lot of it was this isn’t how things normally look (welsh ??), it wasn’t the fences it was peoples randomly placed cars/hay bales/banners. Yet he was an amazing lead pair pony.

I put a pro on when I was off games who knew him well/taught us and he totally surprised her because he went out the start box forwards and straight as a die and then dried up before the first fence.
she did get him round, and it was a lot smoother when they went again 2 weeks later. But I did conclude that I wasn’t a good enough rider to replicate that and there weren’t enough unaffiliated events happening at the time to try and school him through it.
If I had him at that stage now I might try though as I have a few more tools than I did 15 years ago.

This made me laugh. She is the same, she stops nowhere near the fences. Stops to look at gravel, a stream, someone looking at her ?‍ Bloody nightmare

 

[RHM]

If I had something that hunted you’d never see me out at dressage again lol! Take the chance whilst you can!

Haha ? might be the way forwards!