What should I do with him?

Please read :)
Heyy everyone, thought I'd upload this video raw from our last show and indeed the last time Jay has been ridden - four weeks ago I think now - and wanted to ask for advice on how you guys think I should be progressing with him?

If he was your horse, what would you do with him? :)

I'm going to get him all clipped out and bring him back into work in January, and my plan is to take him right back to basics - hacking, really working on flatwork, using poles, build up to small gridwork, working on both his and my own technique, ect but wanted to ask what YOU guys thought, if you know of any good excercises that would help us?

This is a typical round Jay and I would do, (Though I was VERY proud of him this day! We arrived too late to jump a warm up class so I had to take him straight into the 90cms which I have never done with him before, and he was a STAR! A little hangy and sticky, but I wasn't riding very well either (any advice on me would be good too ;D) BUT, despite all that he got round this like a little dude and I was so so happy with him! I'm trying to ride him more off the corners rather than get a stride away from teh jump and panic ;) but as you can see, when I think he's going to start backing off I start using my hands and my back up - the whip - rather than just being stronger with my leg - and I HATE the fact I resort to this but it really is just when I get to the jump and I feel him backing I go "AAHHH!", I just dont' feel my legs strong enough to give him the drive he needs, but at the same time I hold his hand far too much - but then do I? Is what I'm doing actually good for such a young horse as it's black and white and he does need the guidance/support? Or should I be starting to give him the responsibility?) He generally does a warm up, just as I like for him to see the fillers ect, and then I find he's much more confotrable and aa litle more forward in his second class :) But he's still generally got quite afunny approach, I'd like him to really "take on" the fences more, rather than be so completely chilled out to the extent that he's just stepping over them half the time!! hehe And you can't hear me but the whoel time round I talk to him, and I find he really responds to that.. and don't get me wrong he is SO much more forward and confident than he was last year, like the difference is crazy!! But as always, there's many things to improve on and I figured you lot would be best to ask as you have watched us both through so much :)

As you can probobly see too, he is so much stronger on his right side here, which wasn't really notices as it wasn't much of a problem untill I was riding him round this class, (we generally hack mostly at home with 2 schooling sesh a week, usually) after the second jump I half halted and asked for a change, which I had been working on alot previously, but he only changed on front, and then throughout the round he continued to favour his right leg, so any ideas on what's best to strengthen him up? He's always worked evenly and I try to incorporate hills into work when I can too :)

But bottom line, he's five years old, he's going to be six next summer. I still want to take things slowly and make sure he has all the accesories he needs to do what I'm asking happily and confidently. Any advice on how to move forward would be fantastic, on myself and on Jay. I know I'm not the nicest rider to watch, and any nice helpful advice would be fab :)



And again, can I just thank you all for everything... The support through the past week or so really has shown me how many kind people are out there, I'm so sorry I can't reply to all of you individually, it still hurts SO much to talk about it, or even to think about it... and I also feel kinda guilty for being so upset and being so well supported, as I feel Joanne has had the brunt of it :( So it makes me feel awful for her too :( I'm trying to stay positive about everything and just appreciate what I do have left, which alone makes me one of the luckiest girls alive.

Thank you everyone SO much, no matter how many times I say this I still feel it's just not enough :')
Lots of love, Coley and Jay xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• horse
• pony
• youngster
• show
• jumping
• flatwork
• dressage
• competing
• advice
• 3266

[xbudweiserx]

would work alot on the quality of the canter, make sure he is on hi shocks and much more boncy as he is not carrying you enough into the fencem if he carrys you more you will find it becomes much easier to set him up, he is looking good and im right in thinking he is quit eyoung isn't he? x

[HeartbreakInSterIero]

Thanks alot everyone!! :) and I'm not keen on draw reins/gadgets atall - him working in an outline can be done without these and will get a better result from hi actually using himself I think :) @xbudweiserx and yeahhh thanks, and what kind of excercises would you suggest to have him stronger in his canter? We already incorporate hillwork into the schedule and I'll start when he's ready using raised trot/canter poles, any other ideas? and yeahh he's only five :) thank hun! xxxxxxxxx

[HeartbreakInSterIero]

@xbudweiserx and I also use alot of transitions on a circle in canter too, and also a little leg yielding in canter. Just carry on with these do you think? :) xxxxxx

[HeartbreakInSterIero]

Thank you SO much guys - will try a bit of all that you have said as I'm sure it will all prove to be very helpfull!! I do loads of transitions when schooling, lots of circles and leg yielding and turn on the forehand, backing up into canter, halt to trot, ect - trying to keep things interesting and varied and constantly asking him questions! Only slight problem is our arena is far too small for anything more than a 1 stride double :( will have to hire probobly :/ haha! Thanks though all!! xxx:D

[HeartbreakInSterIero]

Already guys, only a few comments in and the advice is fantastic :D Thank you so much, will definitely try these options! Thank you so so much! xxxxxxxxxx

[MeandThePony]

I'd get rid of him he's clearly a waste of space! Tell you what as a friend I will do you a favour and take him off your hands? XD

[xDynamiteDiggyx]

If he was mine, firstly I'd squeeze him because he's so cute. Heheh ;)

But I honestly think with the amount of work you are putting into him you are both going in the right direction, he isnt ready made but you are perfect for each other. Just keep him in front of your leg, but I think a lot of us on here should be asking YOU how to do it and not the other way round! :') xxxxxx

[ponypics01]

i'd do a lot of grid work and cantering 20m circles on flat. also lunge over some poles using side reins :)

[Wellington5392]

Like the previous poster said, "Give him a big squeeze first" Then, give him a bunch of carrots for me too! Best wishes.

[Wellington5392]

Always remember that "PERFECT practice" makes a perfect round. I am now getting back into horses after not being around them since my divorce in 2001.I was way too depressed and sold horse,and ALL tack. Worst mistake I later realised, & a year ago, I finally realised that when I was around horses was when I was always happiest. I am now planning on getting a "new" horse in summer and I hope to be doing some jumping again, but I need to some refresher English lessons. Keep up the great work.

[B96P03]

Gorgeous horse! And you are a really good rider! :) personally, I would start with some ground work, and then do some basic schooling to make him more flexy (though he is quite flexy already!) then I would built a small grid which consisted of a bit of everything but wasn't too overloading for him to begin with but you can alter to change the difficulty... Good luck with him! I reckon you guys are going to do very well! :)

[jamilaparr]

What a sweetie ;-) Gridwork will help with confidence- then maybe just a bit more buzzy/forward off the leg and sitting back on his hocks which should help his flying changes, (or could always use a pole to get him started). Definitely got a jump...coming on nicely for a five year old ;-) x ps. don't put yourself down!

[eventing345]

if he was my horse i'd get him going confidently over jumps as he seems to hesitate at lot! you're an amazing rider by the way and your ride him so so well :) x

[HorseLover4Ever1998]

if this was my horse, i would go back to basics as you said, do lots of different stride trotting poles, lots of straight bar grid work, doesnt matter how big or small the jump is, i used to do it with my old pony, and it worked a dream, for mine and his ability and confidence and our skills, we learnt how to stride things correctly, also try some trotting rhythms and transitions, cantering from walk, stuff like that, hope my advice is ok, i'm not the best rider but i am great at giving advice

[miskaffon]

I saw my experienced show trainer work with her horses, and no matter their level, she always started her practices out with the basics; movements, back/forth, lots of dressage, then integrated jumping moves. She never, ever rushed. Hopefully that will help :) Do you have a good, trusted coach? They can work wonders!

[miskaffon]

I am not an expert :) I wanted to get that out of the way right off the start. However, I think back to my training in jumping and I can't get the drills out of my mind; ground poles, trotting constantly with and without stirrups, to get the stride and the confidence. Moving on to a ground pole series with a small cavaletti bounce at the end, then increasing until the entire series is a bounce in-bounce out over and over again. Doing this without stirrups could help build your strength as well.

[philburgess535]

quality of canter and hitting the right stride - if you can improve his canter so that he's shorter and bouncier, you'll be able to hit a better stride more often (or be closer to hitting it at least). Transitions within canter - asking for lengthening and shortening, lateral work in walk leading up to canter laterals, walk - canters, spiral circles, counter canter will all improve that. Plus endless gridwork on varying strides. Absolutely no need for draw reins. He looks great :Dxxx