Question # 190: Last year, my mare was a VERY solid Novice horse and I moved her up to Training level at the end of the season. She would take about 2-3 jumps to build her confidence and then there was literally nothing I could point her at she...
...wouldn't jump over on x-country. I even threw some prelim fences at her with no issues whatsoever. Along with the rest of the country, we had a really hard winter with not as much riding as I would like. I've jumped a few different times and my horse has been very good on every occasion. We've jumped at home, away from home, out in the field, etc. with no problems. I took her for her first cross-country schooling of this year yesterday, and she was very uncharacteristically stopping at fences. My Novice/almost training level horse was refusing even starter fences. And she was stopping HARD. She'd be very forward to pretty much the base of the fence, maybe sometimes a stride away, and then would just stop. Because of the slower start to the season I was planning on taking her Novice for her first event this year (about a month away), but now I am concerned about wasting my money even going if she can't get over a starter fence. Since both stadium and dressage don't seem to be a problem (or at least a money-losing one) my plan is to focus on cross country for a while and take her to the local "schooling ground" a few times, starting very small, and trying to build her confidence back up again. I'm wondering what your thoughts are? Does it sound like I maybe just tried too much too soon this year (I started the schooling rather small so I'm not sure what else I could do)? Should I maybe take her Beginner Novice instead of Novice? Any ideas/advice would be appreciated. Thanks! (Kayla)
Hi Kayla!
It is not all that unusual for horses (or riders) to find themselves back to sqaure one confidence wise after a long period of not going cross country. Although the extent to which you describe is unexpected. I think we can safely assume that she is not being bothered by a physical issue, like a minor soundness or new saddle fitting issue (from a possible loss of weight over the hard winter), since you say she is going so well in the other phases. So that leaves us with confidence issues. Perhaps you were a bit nervous and tentative yourself out there, since you hadn't done it in a while either? She may also have just been having a really bad day (being a mare, and all!) At any rate, what I would advise you doing is... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)
Sorry this page is available to subscribers only.
If you're not a subscriber why not join today?
If you are already a subscriber, please login.
If you believe you should be able to view this area then please contact us and we will try to rectify this issue as soon as possible.
