Re: Grr . getting miserable!!

help pls

Grr..getting miserable

Sometimes a complete break and change of routine helps.  Try something different.  From springtime onwards there should be a number of fun rides you can go on which consist of a few miles of off road riding and often these have optional jumps too.  The jumps are usually fairly easy so that everyone can have a go - like straw bales or tyres or brush fences or logs.  Find a friend with a good jumping pony/horse that will go along with you and just have fun.  Let the jumping pony lead the way over the fences and you may find that your pony forgets he's anxious and gets into the swing of it...that's how I got my horse jumping....cantering across the fields with the wind in his mane!  Sometimes they just freak out at the menage /show jumps/ schooling ritual and jumping out on a ride or hack gives them a whole new perspective and most importantly you relax too. 

Re: Grr . getting miserable!!

i havent seen you ride but, you might possible be taking your leg off too early, i had a pony very similar to what your saying, you need plenty of leg to encourage her and to give the confidence to go over, even if its pony club kicks! Remember also not to give your hands away, you could be coming up to the jump being over enthusiatic and droppping your hands at the last minute, keep them strong with good contact, keep looking beyond the jump, not at it, if she is lacking in confidence you need to provide it to her through your riding, id keep low, as for schooling, id work with poles, then put i tiny cross at the end and really build up to there, grid work has been so beneficial to all my horses, whether they are right devils or an honest gg that just needs to be taught what to do.

Also never circle away from a fence if she refuses, make her go over it, or through it, doesnt matter, poles will fall and it wont hurt. But circling away reinforces the run out or choice to refuse if she goes over it someway or other it at least your on the other side.

Best of luck!

xx

Re: Grr . getting miserable!!

im going to be naughty and say i havent read the previous posts but you've pretty much described my horse. when i first got him he'd seen well practically no coloured poles and really didnt get the idea of SJ but gave it ago showing true potential. 

He started behaving really well but always lacked a certain confidence and really fed off of me. his main problem was jumping really well at home then going out and couldnt even get over the first fence. so as the years have gone on some days he will fly anything and only wants to jump (like he did last night trot poles ARE for jumping) and other times he cant even walk over a pole. ive had it where hes even gone to take off then as hes lifted his front feet theyve promptly come down, slammed on brakes and ditched out! not fun!!

i find because rushing is his problem and he cant prepare for the fence. so working on (as youve done) trotting into them controlled and letting them stretch their noses so they can see the fence. also circling infront of fence so it gets to the point youre almost teasing them and they want to go over it. also i found walk towards the fence then maybe 3 strides out trot go over the fence then stop after. it really gets them listening to you! i think the key is for you to always stay confident that you CAN get over the fence and really push for it, eventually she'll get the idea.

its very easy to write down i know, i dont do alot with mine anymore as i just dont have the confidence but i know if it as there we could achieve alot!

I hope youve managed to pick something useful out of my waffle :)

lula

..i just read shakeys bit-i wish gridwork worked for me very jealous :( Spen just sees it as one big attack of the coloured poles and refuses to go anywhere near them!! lol

Re: Grr . getting miserable!!

well i tried gridwork with cres .. she stops at the first , when i actually get her over the first she stops for the second and .. she wont go over the third . She's spooky , and sometimes she stops infront a fence , and i keep her infront of it , and she starts like doing piaffe infront of it with loads of panic and hasitation , well i dont want her to be mentally abused about this kind of work . but i bought her to retrain her for jumping .. well i tried for quite some time and jumping just isnt for her .

for me its time to move on . i dont want to scare her even more