YH Finals - Disaster

Tempi

Tempi

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 November 2005
Messages
18,869
Location
Parisienne Dressage
Visit site
Well my day went from bad to worse, i really wish id just stayed in bed
frown.gif


Got to the yard at 6am to scrub and plait Archie. Arrived and they were cubbing in the fields opposite the yard
mad.gif
Bloss was dripping with sweat and shaking at the back of her stable
crazy.gif
Luckily Archie dosent really know what the sound of hounds is, so he wasnt shaking, but just would not stand still. Found YO as when we were due to leave at 8:30 Bloss was still stomping round her stable sweating and shaking. YOs pregnant mare was in a similar state as Bloss aswell, and YO said she'd keep an eye on her for me.

So we set off at 8:30ish and all was fine. Arrived, warmed up and he was going really really well. Everyone was saying how lovely he was and was asking about him, so i was feeling like a proud mummy - not for long
crazy.gif


We got in the arena - which is lovely, really quiet, surrounded by a big hedge, no white boads, so its perfect for youngsters.
Anyways, Archie got his devil horns out and we came down the centre line to halt, he refused to stand still. I gave up and just saluted, then put my legs on to get him to move off and he went into canter from halt
confused.gif
he then proceeded to do collected canter down the centre line and would not trot. Eventually got him back to trot and the rest of the trot work went ok. Our walk to canter went ok, better than the last time we did the test. He actually did his first simple change beautifully, then the second one out came the devil horns and he proceeded to buck and jump up and down on the spot and not canter. After a lot of pony club kicks (and a good wack with my stick) i got him to canter and we completed the rest of the test.

Needless to say we got an AWFUL score and came last
frown.gif
I was so upset as i put so much effort in and i really thought we'd got over all his little tantrums - but obviously not. he had a good chance of doing well and as usual it all went wrong. Im fed up of working so hard with him and getting b*gger all in return. Ive honestly had enough, i didnt buy him to have to go through all this everytime i compete, and not know what sort of mood hes going to decide hes in when he goes in the arena. Today was not that he was scared of everything, it was pure nasty attitude.

Hes having a break this week - just lots of hacking and hill work, and YOs son is going to jump him for me a couple of times hopefully. Im not competing again for a couple of weeks, then ive just got 2weekends of competitions and then nothing as im not competing during October.

Depending on how things go over the next few weeks will decide whether im going to keep him or not.....
 
Oh no - how different from your last post when you went to Lime Tree. Did you knacker him out yesterday like you did the time before? Maybe he was just feeling to good?

Just remember how you felt when he won and don't despair.
 
It's this attitude that makes a horse extra special though- you need something extra for a top cass horse IMHO. You did fantasticay to win the YH class the other week and he sounds like he has improved dramatically in his behaviour.
Hope it goes better next time as I think you'd regret selling him big time!!
 
Thank You
smile.gif


Im going to take him to use the gallops at Hoplands next week sometime to do some more forwards-thinking work if you see what i mean. Mayb he just needs a bit of a break - hence im going to crack on with hacking and jumping this week.
 
You must feel completely rotten! I know I do when they try their best to make a complete t!t out of you in the arena. The ones that give you the hardest times IMO turn out to be the best. Its just a case of harnessing his 'sparkle'. Just burn the test sheet and forget this one. I find that alcohol works a treat when this happens
grin.gif
 
Dont panic!

Maybe he just got wind of a few nerves from you?

Having read many of your previous posts its clear to me that he has got a lot of talent and you ride him beautifully. Just remember that it was only a young horse class... I am sure he will be there for you when it REALLY counts.

As Bossanova said, the best horses are often the most difficult. I took great comfort from Carl, when Merlin was being particularly horrible in one of our lessons, and he said the only horse he has ever seen behaving like him was Escapado!
There is hope!!!!!
grin.gif


I hope he enjoys the jumping and Blossy has recovered from her days hunting around her stable!
tongue.gif
 
Oh no, it must be so frustrating when you know how well he can go
frown.gif


I certainly think a break will do him good. I'd talk to your trainers about whether they think his attitude is of the vital spark variety or pure bad attitude because although you need that extra something to be top class you need to be able to harness it!
If you're looking for inspiration look at Anna RD - Lenny was supposed to be a total sod at the beginning...
smirk.gif
laugh.gif
 
Echo Mat and Boss.
He really has got world class written all over him. None of the best horses are straightfoward.
Some days you will want to chop him up and put him in a tin, some days you will be the proudest person on the earth.
Keep with it, dont give up!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I took great comfort from Carl, when Merlin was being particularly horrible in one of our lessons, and he said the only horse he has ever seen behaving like him was Escapado!
There is hope!!!!!
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I bet you were chuffed when he said that!!!!!!

Everyone keeps telling me its the good ones who have the attitude, i just dont know how long i can keep putting up with his......

[ QUOTE ]
I hope he enjoys the jumping.........

[/ QUOTE ]

He will, YOs son probably wont
blush.gif
grin.gif
grin.gif


[ QUOTE ]
.......and Blossy has recovered from her days hunting around her stable!
tongue.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I think Bloss LOVED her days hunting
grin.gif
grin.gif
She nearlly killed me when i lunged her tonight as she spent the whole time bucking and squeeling, and any little noise she heard she thought was the hunt coming back
grin.gif
grin.gif
 
Anna is one of the people i admire the most, as i know what she went trhough with Lenny.

Ive been told by both my trainers that his attitude isnt a problem and altho he will always have that little bit of 'argument' in him it shouldnt be a problem, apparently anyways
crazy.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Echo Mat and Boss.
He really has got world class written all over him. None of the best horses are straightfoward.
Some days you will want to chop him up and put him in a tin, some days you will be the proudest person on the earth.
Keep with it, dont give up!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanx hun
smile.gif


Today is one of those days where id like to put him in a tin
grin.gif
 
Oh dear! What a day you've had! But it is only that - one bad day - all those other times when everything has gone so well must outweigh this.

Stick at it - you've got a star in the making!
 
I agree with everyone else they need attitude to do well. For god sake look how much he has improved since you had him and some of the superb results he has had. He is going to have the odd off day and I'm sure they will get less frequent but they are also what gives him that 'look at me' and makes him potentially 'world class'.

Stcik with him.
 
Echo what everyone else says. Really sorry to hear about today, but keep it in perspective. Its only a YH class and you bought him with GP in mind. Trust in yourself and your judgment. Perhaps you could try to have a lesson with Anna and speak to her about her experiences with Lenny.
They aren't the only ones who have had difficult times. Isabell Werth basically had written Sachmo off and he came back and won Gold for her at WEG.....

From everything you've been saying, Archie is special and could be the horse of a lifetime.

Thinking of you!
x
 
Bad luck PG, thats horses for you unfortunately for us riders! He may well have picked up on some nerves from you or he may have just been being bloody minded, who knows. You love him and you believe in him so that should be enough!
 
Oh honey... naughty Archie!!!!

But, use this as an experience, put it in the box and carry on. There is no point dwelling too much on it, otherwise you will drive yourself mad
blush.gif
He did fantastically well in the last YH class, you were so proud of him. This was just a bad day, and one you will probably laugh about in a few years time. Don't forget, you have only had him since October last year... you have come so far in that time and will continue to progress through the levels.

I know it is on a much smaller level, but do you remember when I had a real downer on my progress with Grace? Do you remember what you said to me? You told me to get out there and prove we could get above that 65% mark!!!

You have qualified for the Winter Championships with him at Novice and he has done really well in the few Elementaries he has done. Keep thinking of all those things and keep going. Don't you dare sell him, he is the one who will take you to where you want to be!
 
He is only a youngster, he is cheeky and testing! You will build a partnership and learn how he ticks... just takes time, patience and perserverance... the good 'uns are not normally easy!
smile.gif
How boring it would be to have a horse that did everything correct all the time and never tested you!
grin.gif
Along the way you will also learn... bit like being married really!!!
tongue.gif
You will have ups and downs along the way but I am sure the ups will be more consistent in years to come... dont give up... just have a drink, watch the video if you took one, assess it, then think positive... its a challenge I am sure you are up for it!!!
grin.gif
 
Wish there was something I could say that would make you feel better.
You are a very good rider from what I see on here and have made tremendous progress with Archie since you've had him
smile.gif
Just remember horses aren't machines and like us they are entitled to an off or bad day. It isn't the end of the world, though at the time it feels like it. Try to focus on all the brilliant results you have had so far and there have been plenty of them haven't there
smile.gif
Don't give up on him
grin.gif
 
And tomorrow you'll probably be the proudest person in the world.... there's nothing like a horse to make us feel a little bit humble from time to time....

Keep at it... from what i've read, he's definately worth it!
 
oh hun im so sorry but please dont give up on him he is lovely and agree with everyone the ones with the attitude and a bit of something different about them always do well !!

Just remember how proud you were the other week getting in horse and hound and all those people in the warm up making comments !!

As becki said put it in the box and keep going - if you constantly are having these problems then reconsider but you have come so far and have done so well!! he is still a baby and you are doing an amazing job with him - this is youngsters for you they are sent to test you !!

have a large glass of wine (and one for me) !!! x x
 
Horses love to bring us down to earth every now and then don't they! Flo did the same to me last time out, but redeemed herself today.
I hope you have a lovely fun time the next couple of weeks, and that he performs up to his undoubted ability next time out.
Hope you have had a glass (or bottle) or two of wine by now and are feeling slightly better about your frustrating day.

Fiona
 
Oh I really wouldn't worry too much! Like Boss said the best horses are a bit quirky. When you read H&H there are loads of riders that say how these winning horses were very difficult to start with.

Anyway I think getting your YOs son to jump him is good......prehaps he wants to SJ
blush.gif
You might have a breakthrough though if he does more jumping
smile.gif
 
Oh dear
crazy.gif
I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping to read more positive reports shortly! Agree with those who said that the best ones are the trickiest!
I had an absolutely horrid session on Thursday with a youngster I am bringing on. She worked beautifully up until then. It is depressing but then we had a lovely ride today again. A bit of an emotional rollercoaster but we all hope that one day they will return the efforts by going to the top (wherever this is for each of us).
All the best!
smile.gif
 
OH PG, I read the title and wasn't sure if I wanted to read on. I can only echo what the others say about the really talented ones. I think doing something different for a while may really help and also remember at the end of the day you qualified for this event, so just to get there was an amazing acheivement, don't loose sight of that and the judges comments when you qualified.

burtie.
 
So sorry to read your report
frown.gif
, just as he was going really well too. I know how frustrating it is for them to let you down when you know they are capable of doing more. But like everyone else has said, its only 1 test. Dont beat yourself up, it happens to us all.
 
He is going through his 'Kevin the teenager period' sorry but thats horses and talented one's often ask questions that you , the rider just dont have the answer for.. YET!!!
You will get there if you stop this 'blame' thing. This is a tough sport and you have to build on your experiences good and bad, often it is these that make you a truely good rider and horsewoman.
You do not need sunshine blown up your bottom you need to go out have fun and make it up to your boy and admit your own failings.
It is a big learning curve for both and you both have talent.
Tomorrow is another day and s**t happens!!!!
Better luck soon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top