We're just waiting til the firing stops.

We're just waiting till the firing stops.

Oddly appropriate title. Made this the other night, trouble rendering and uploading so only just going up. I've just got back from a jumping clinic, no clips in here, but good God. I'm just waiting till the firing stops...

Disaster. From the very moment I went in, "shorten your reins, shorten your reins". Fine, OK, I don't agree with your ideas on flatwork, but I'm here to jump so I'll do as you say and get on with it. Pony jumped quite nicely (amid cries of shorten your reins, largely ignored by me I confess) though I was a little startled by the instruction to "give him a good kick in the ribs" when he trailed a leg. I'm no fluffy bunny, but there are better ways to train an animal than that...

But fine, I ignored her (I actually misheard first time and by the time I'd clarified it would've been even dafter to kick him). Then she starts getting the 3 YEAR OLD TB I was lesson sharing with (who had been jumping) to go over trot poles, while being pulled down in front and kicked by his hapless rider, repeatedly instructing me to trot mindlessly over them too, even though I pointed out the distances were wrong and he kept tripping over them. When I suggested this wasn't a constructive exercise for my pony, she told me to leave, rather rudely. I'm still waiting for the firing to stop.

This may sound rather trivial, but I've invested a lot of time and effort into Fergie. I'm training him in the manner I think is right. I didn't jump him as a three year old, I think that's wrong (I'm not talking about one or two jumps, I'm talking gymnastic grids and proper jump schooling here). I didn't compete him as a three year old - it's against the rules. I don't believe in putting a three (or four) year old into an adult frame and asking it to work. I don't believe any horse should be ridden into a false outline, on the forehand with a heavy contact. I don't believe you "activate the hind" or lengthen a stride over poles - you train these by lateral schooling and correct training. All of these things I allowed to pass me by.

But most of all, I don't set my horse up to fail. I give him every opportunity I can to get things right. THAT is how he learns. Putting him into an oddly strided pole combination that he was tripping over is setting him up to fail. I can't possibly allow anyone to BULLY me into putting my horse through that. He's an honest, trying horse. I'm not out to ruin his best qualities. It's up to me to STAND UP for him. To take the flack, to walk away, to write off these experiences and MOVE ON.

I have gone over the situation in my head, again and again. I don't like conflict. I don't like fighting or causing a scene. But the more I think about it, the more I know that I am right. I know that I had two choices today - to keep quiet for politeness sake, risking Fergie's ongoing training, because I didn't want to make a scene. Or I could politely point out that I didn't think it was helpful. I made the point that I didn't approve of her training methods. I made the point and walked away.

If you want to change the world, you have to make your voice heard.

I'm not changing, not for anyone. I'm right. And I'm going to change the world, one person at a time. One person at a time.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Jasper
• Upperlochton
• Fergus
• highland
• pony
• irish
• cob
• jumping
• schooing

[prideygirl1234xx]

Do you know what! Sod what people say, if you wanted their opinion/ advise, you'd ask for it!

Seeing the way you are with your horses is magical, and if that's not horsemanship then I don't know what is! xx

[philburgess535]

@prideygirl1234xx in fairness, by going to a jumping clinic I did sort of ask for her advice... But if it's wrong, it's wrong all the same! Thanks very much for the support though =D xxx

[munchinghippo]

Good for you!

I once trotted away from a training lesson when the instructor glowered at my horse and asked 'well what am I going to do with YOU?!' she was clueless and had no idea about horsemanship. Best decision I made really, certainly for my poor horse!

:) well done!

[ElreniaGreenleaf]

How on earth did I miss this video?! People who say stuff like that really don't have a clue and you definitely made the right call by walking away from the situation. :)

[kittysawrus]

Totally agree. Stick by your guns, if you're doing right so far, don't fix what isn't broken. Just cause someone has a list of letters after their name doesn't make them right.

Also, love the clips of you showing Fergie in the rain. It's gorgeous :)

And kudos for the Coldplay! <3

[strawbericalpony]

you know i agree with how you do things, and you know my thoughts on all this sort of stuff.

love this, nuff said xx

[Ebonyeatallthepies]

Phil. you've done your horses on your own for god knows how many years, and look at them now, you know whats best for your horses and nobody knows them as well as you do, keep at it on your own! Because Fergies going to turn out the best little youngster and Darach too!

look at what J is now. :)) xx

[candykkhorsesngp925]

you never fail to amaze me, your riding is beautiful and the bond between you and your horses is truly inspirational :') xxxx

[HeartbreakInSterIero]

This is just so beautiful! Your passion and understanding for these horses is outstanding. I completely understand where you're coming from in your description aswell, every time I come away from a lesson I feel as if they were trying to train a completely different horse and rider, like what they were saying just isn't what my horse needs. No ammount of "equine knowledge" can teach you about each individual horse, because each is a complete and utter individual! Keep it up mrs, don't back downx

[MadForHorses3]

I love how you have your own methods and you wont switch what you believe in for anybody... its clearly working, i mean look at the boys, theyre amazing <33

love this video

loves to you all xxxxx