no jumping compys for me!

[coverblown]

:o... hot on the heels of my (serious lack of) success in the dressage comp a couple of weeks ago, I thought I'd have a go at the latest one to be advertised on the yard - showjumping!

I love jumping and had done it a bit since my accident in Feb - and stopped again to practise for the dressage.

Anyway had a good jumping lesson on Br ( so the instructor says ) on Tues and another on speedy Pepsi today I said I thought I'd trot first few in the comp and maybe canter the last ones. Speedy P is apt to be just that - a bit Speedy - and I didnt want him to get out of control - even thought I control him so much better than I used to before the accident. And I felt really in control today.

Guess what! she said she didnt want me to do it! Said she couldnt stop me, but P is speedy and she didnt want me to hurt myself. Yes P is speedy but he is entirely predictabel - thats why I love him, and don't want to ride anyone else. I don't know how I'd stand if I didnt take her advice - and I don't really feel like ignoring her advice anyway, but I am a bit upset.

Anybody could fall off - and I had my accident practising dressage not jumping!

I'm sure they just think I'm too old and a crap rider and dont want to tell me - and anyway why am I not improving after all this time.

Where have my confidence levels gone to now - yep you guessed it......

[eml]

I am sure they don't think any of those things.

Think about their point of view. You have had a bad injury and they will want you to take care not just for insurance risk things but as a long term valued customer,

Not on the same level but I have a lovely couple who ride very well and a few weeks ago the husband said he had back problems and could he just 'sit on'. Knowing him I thought that was unlikely so nagged him all lesson to do less. Guess what...he did too much.

No you are neither too old or too crap I think your school is just looking after you

[Whatanejit]

I agree with EML Anne. They are just being ultra careful. You may have felt fine on the horse but you may not have looked it from the RIs view.

Tis a shame though because half the skill of jumping is about rider confidence and you had it at the time.

Don't be offended - the right time will come.

D

[Suzanne2]

Yes confidence is the key (see my post re falling off) esp. as you get older. So is a great shame they've knocked you back. But at least you are at a riding school where you get the chance to do fun things like competing (provided they let you, of course). What about asking if you could enter comp on another horse? Personally I would rather be on a speedy mount than a lazy one, less effort to get moving and easier to get over fences.

[coverblown]

Dear dear, I looked back at this post and am ashamed about the self pity party I was enjoying at the time.

How right you are. This was my dearest instructor who said this, she also said, I would LOVE you to do it, but I don't think you should do it on Pepsi. Funny thing is I am most confident on P. But in competition (even low key ones at the yard) my nerves get all jangly, go straight down the reins, and Pepsi says "right I'LL decide where we're going today...."

So I'll wait, and practise a lot! And just take it as it comes, no pont in gettin het-up.

And I'll sleep on it before starting such a pitying thread.

But thanks all, for feet back on the ground.

[NoviceNic]

But in competition (even low key ones at the yard) my nerves get all jangly, go straight down the reins, and Pepsi says "right I'LL decide where we're going today...."


Same problem here....:o Shall we buddy up and bat ideas off of each other? :)

[coverblown]

absolutely --- he is the speediest little horror.

He has had his winter clip (needs sedated, so he only gets one) and it was CCCCOLD this morning so he was on a big trip wish. Wish I knew where he was headed. Anyway, it took a lot of work to get him to calm down, realise that he wasn't Concorde, or even on the M1, and canter reasonably sedately in the boring old indoor school. I had to get my gripping knees off his shoulder, keep elbous in, relax my own shoulders and fingers and bear down (all at the same time :confused::confused:). But something worked and he did eventually calm down - riding partner can't believe that he's my favourite; but I do love Fell ponies, and he is so genuine, not a bad streak in him. And he cantered figures of 8 just perfectly. When I managed to get the one stride of trot.

Wee small voice (not too sorry we are not going to be flying over jumps in a fortnights time.... he's got to get used to the cold...)