I was hoping to be able to take Misty to a showjumping competition this summer, but I am starting to think that will never happen. She seems to be too excited about jumping. She loves it, but she charges at the jumps and tries to gallop around the jumping paddock.
I had a jumping lesson with Misty yesterday, and it didn't go so well. I am ok with flatwork (Misty and I have done a lot of flatwork), but I am only just starting to learn how to jump. My instructor said Misty is probably not a good horse to learn how to jump on, because she isn't very steady. I have only done single jumps with her, not a course. I trot her at the jump, in a nice outline, which is fine. A few strides before the jump, she really speeds up, starts to canter, LEAPS over the jump and canters/gallops off after landing. I then struggle to get her back to a trot or controlled canter. Basically, we end up almost hitting the fence at the other side of the jumping paddock before I regain control. My instructor said I will probably never be able to do a course of jumps with her, because she gets so excited. She said it will take a very experienced rider years and years of training to get Misty to do a course of jumps in a controlled way.
My instructor and I tired different things yesterday. I tried circling Misty in front of the jumps, and jump it when she had calmed down. I tried turning her into the jump at a shorter distance, so she didn't have too much time to get excited. My instructor also changed the jump every time (different height, cross, vertical, some poles before the jump etc), so Misty would need to look at it a bit more.
One of the best riders at our yard has done a course of jumps with Misty, but apparently Misty was completely out of control, charguing at all the jumps and generally flying around the jumping paddock. This rider is very experienced and completely fearless. If she can't do it, I doubt I'll ever be able to.
Anyway, what do you guys think? Should I give up on jumping with Misty? Is there anything that can be done BY ME? Keep in mind that I am a very novice jumper, I've always focussed on flatwork. Misty is 13, so perhaps a bit old to change her ways? Is there anything I can do to calm her down a bit? I feel bad for Misty, because the only problem is that she loves jumping too much! She would never stop, and we could have a lot of fun jumping, if only she wouldn't get so over excited about it.
I had a jumping lesson with Misty yesterday, and it didn't go so well. I am ok with flatwork (Misty and I have done a lot of flatwork), but I am only just starting to learn how to jump. My instructor said Misty is probably not a good horse to learn how to jump on, because she isn't very steady. I have only done single jumps with her, not a course. I trot her at the jump, in a nice outline, which is fine. A few strides before the jump, she really speeds up, starts to canter, LEAPS over the jump and canters/gallops off after landing. I then struggle to get her back to a trot or controlled canter. Basically, we end up almost hitting the fence at the other side of the jumping paddock before I regain control. My instructor said I will probably never be able to do a course of jumps with her, because she gets so excited. She said it will take a very experienced rider years and years of training to get Misty to do a course of jumps in a controlled way.
My instructor and I tired different things yesterday. I tried circling Misty in front of the jumps, and jump it when she had calmed down. I tried turning her into the jump at a shorter distance, so she didn't have too much time to get excited. My instructor also changed the jump every time (different height, cross, vertical, some poles before the jump etc), so Misty would need to look at it a bit more.
One of the best riders at our yard has done a course of jumps with Misty, but apparently Misty was completely out of control, charguing at all the jumps and generally flying around the jumping paddock. This rider is very experienced and completely fearless. If she can't do it, I doubt I'll ever be able to.
Anyway, what do you guys think? Should I give up on jumping with Misty? Is there anything that can be done BY ME? Keep in mind that I am a very novice jumper, I've always focussed on flatwork. Misty is 13, so perhaps a bit old to change her ways? Is there anything I can do to calm her down a bit? I feel bad for Misty, because the only problem is that she loves jumping too much! She would never stop, and we could have a lot of fun jumping, if only she wouldn't get so over excited about it.