That's pretty bold to ride in an actual competition with your horse never seeing a CC fence, and with the two of you never working together to prepare for the comp.
He looks great! I definately wouldn't ADVISE going to an event without ever schooling XC before BUT if the horse is very sensible and experienced, these jumps are low, assuming it's beginner novice, which means they're aren't too many technical things and their may or may not have been a ditch or bank, and if not they're just natural jumps which are actually alot easier for a horse to jump than show jumps. Again still not the best idea though, but he doesn't look like he minded.
He sure must be bold and honest! looks good so far!
I wouldn't advise going out without schooling either, but what's done is done. Just go out and school lots before another competition My old trainer took my first event horse to a schooling show without ever having jumped a XC fence. She ended up doing fine but I def wouldn't do it again! lol
Hey, yes I agree schooling first would have been ideal but he is super honest and lives to jump so after teaching him to gallop at home lol my friend asked me to take him xc. It wasn't tech a comp it was an open day like schooling event where you pick and mix which fences you want to do and there was a photographer on hand!
There was a tiny ditch, running water and open water aswell as small steps upwards and drops. It was a perfect mini xc course, each fence/obstacle small enough for him to play over and you could do each one at your own pace and in your own time. It was lovely and he seemed to have a ball, galloping and jumping combined he was in heaven! Lol thank you for your comments! Posted via Mobile Device
Looking good for the first time! I was going to mention the whole competing-before-schooling thing too, but I just read what you posted about the event in question and if you don't have access to your own cross-country course that sounds like a great way to do things! More places should have things like that - it sounds like a good educational tool.
I won't critique the horse, as he will bascule more over the fences once he's used to them, and probably once the height is increased. You look quite good - you have a solid leg for cross-country, which is absolutely the number one thing to have! It looks like he may have jumped on the half-stride, catching you out a little as you're behind his jump and not releasing. I'm assuming that's not a regular thing, though, judging by your educated base of support.
Actually the first thing I noticed about the picture was how well anchored you are during this jump, you legs are glued to his sides and weight distributed beautifully. Tension in reins may be because he is still adjusting to the gallop, collect, jump style of Cross Country as against SJ? Just a guess
If this is how you ride all the time then I think a horse like that will do very well, good luck to both of you!
I do try my best! I have done xc only a handful of time and yes Dantexeventer he did go off a half stride! lol He is not used to jumping out of such a forward pace and so did put in a few unsure strides here and there but he got more confident as he went round! He bascules nicely over showjumps but I was chuffed that he jumped round so nicely and these fences were far smaller than he would showjump, so he was playing over them mostly
I do hope that him and I can do well this season... Thank you for your feedback! Very much appreciated!
you guys look great!! he looks like he's been eventing for years then got dragged out of retirment (not that he looks old ) he looks like he's looking after you and that's the main thing.....i can't wait to get my newby out there, i had mine for 3 weeks and never taken him out and went to a training day and he was bold! i thought he'd be a bit of a pansy (only proved me right at the water) so i know it feel great when your out there and go great i had ridden my new horse a few times before hand and at least you had the benifit of knowing his jump :lol:
great leg on him by the way, keep up with the great work. now your eventing, you'll be hooked!!!!!!!!
Agreed!! I love it! thank you for your comments! I took him on a pleasure ride yesterday and he thoroughly enjoyed himself! He's really getting to grips with galloping and jumping! Jumped some much bigger stuff and he felt lovely over them! Only trouble is he really started to sweat up and get quite silly towards the end? He was shaking all over by the end and I'm not quite sure what upset him? We stopped jumping before half way because I didn't want to fry his brain, and he was walking back lovely when we were caught up by another group like we had been many times before, and he just lit up like a fire work?
Any ideas? Posted via Mobile Device
Well, eventing isn't just jumping out in a feild. It takes alot more endurance and stamina, from you and him. You shoudl Be doing 10 minute trot sets up in your gallopig position every 3-4 days, then when he is doin ok with those, adding 5 Minute gallop sets in. Posted via Mobile Device
Oh right, ok! I was just thinking it was odd as I fully understand he is only showjumping fit so I had stopped before half way round and was letting him walk nicely home, which he did for 20mins. Then it was all of a sudden, he started jogging and pulling on the reins, n leaping n by the time got back he had got himself sweaty n shakey? But what I dnt get is why it happened after he was walking back so nicely? It was almost like a protest that we were no longer jumping and cantering etc n he was finding it frustrating?
I'm happy to report he had a warm wash dwn, a nice few hours turn out, then brought it and had a load of electrolytes, and leg cool on and is absolutely full of himself today! Lol I was expecting him to be a lil off n tired but he's fine and looking fitter than ever! Lol
do you think it was frustration? He actually started to lay his ears at my two friends horses and just generally became a silly monkey? Posted via Mobile Device
That or just something worked him up. It tends to happen. Even little things. I'd still condition him, and you, it's really beificial to everything Posted via Mobile Device
This was our second time xc. I schooled him (again on a clear round day) round solihull BE 80/90 and PN courses. You picked whch fences you wanted in your course. This was the intro height log into water
He was green again but amazing!!! Coming on soooo well now! What do you guys think? Making a better shape? Looking as though hes enjoying himself?
I was chuffed!!As you can imagine!
He looks like he loved it bless him,
He has a lovely jump on him
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