x country preparation?

[MitchiestInge]

hoping to do this course next week, if ground soft enough (last time we asked they said was only pretending to be soft and was actually very concretey about half an inch down) but is there anything I should do to reduce risk of death? Is there much point doing extra jumping in school, for example, given how completely unlike cross country it is?

Ideally you will all say 'go and have lovely time', I mean what is the worst that can happen?

[SilverSky]

Eeew!!

[MitchiestInge]

my email account was shut down for a while yesterday, forgot had posted it here - maybe a weirdo hacked and wanked all over my amazon and waitrose emails?

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

Ive met her in real life, does that count??

[Pixel]

Oh right. Cos no-one who has met her in real life would recognise her on here would they? After all, everyone has a pink pony!

[Thistledew]

Nothing too exciting. Mitchie just outed her RL id, thereby leaving her vulnerable to me jealous wierdos of the internet who don't get to ride anymore coming down to steal her horse for a midnight x-country schooling session.

[Pixel]

I hate deleted post because it means I have missed something

[MitchiestInge]

Have asked, and could they also please shoot me too

gah

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

you narner! if you report the post, Hq will probably delete it for you!

[MitchiestInge]

WHOOPS

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

Um, not sure yet, they are going to email me the schedule. Pm me your email address and ill pass it on.

[MitchiestInge]

(does this mean have to wash and brush them though?)

[MitchiestInge]

Oh that would be good - have been there before, there was cross country course (still there?). Wonder if could borrow a lorry from someone? What classes, do you know?

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

If you fancy some showing for a change, theres a charity show for St Elizabeths Hospice Ipswich on the 31st July at Stratford Hills, would be great to meet your beasties!

[MitchiestInge]

Don't know why I said schooling session twice. Or three times now.

[MitchiestInge]

That is a good idea. Am going back with local riding club for a schooling session, hopefully have someone on pony too, for a schooling session. Think it will be big help to have other people, some very green horses, and an instructor there as we will all be in similar boats - it is mad to be scared of very little jumps, but he has always been cheeky about refusing or running out. Around 2' and over he will (usually) jump.

I absolutely love jumping. Was worried for a few minutes that I had developed A Fear so am really relieved!

[Thistledew]

If I was you, next time, pick the smaller course and just aim to trot over the jumps. It will give you both more thinking time, and you more time to react if your horse starts to stop or veer out to the side. It may also make you less worried about him remembering his youth and taking off for the horizon.

A good forward going trot will give you plenty of impulsion to jump anything up to about 3ft or more, and as someone else said up thread, if he keeps stopping, keep him at the fence and let him scramble over it.

I once had a fabulous jumping lesson where the instructor would only let us walk up to the fences. It really alters your perceptions to realise that a horse can pop over a 3ft fence with no problem from nothing more than an impulsive walk.

[MitchiestInge]

Oh wow, am definitely getting that, thanks!

He was really good at pretend SJ today, my confidence is restored :) except I am still horribly thick at remembering even simple courses so I got in a muddle and did my famous insanely meandering approach before stopping parallel to last jump, then wiggled over it sideways but we were fast and clear and rode home happy.

(he did run out a few times to begin with and I wanted to cry and get off but luckily pulled self together)

[SilverSky]

They are great for Trec or endurance!

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

combi bridle

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

Take a look at the Libbys website. They do combined bridles and headcollars. We used to have one, it was brilliant. You just unclip and remove the bit, and there you are!

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

See, he was being a perfect companion! You were thinking EEEK! And he was reading your mind! "mums not sure about this, we had better not jump it then"!! What more can you ask for?

[MitchiestInge]

Oh I'd love to do that, if I had actual working clips on any of my lead ropes - maybe pick up a new one one the way (he breaks every single one, sometimes I replace the clip but usually just keep knotting it back together).

Rucksack is good plan, room for cigarettes and alcohol water too. Feeling excited about adventure now!

[AlpinePony]

mitchy Yeh I'm amazed it's just a penny, I'm getting one too! I used to take it out of the library, I was the only ever user! I shall read it on my maternity leave with tears rolling down my fat cheeks.

As for hacking with collars & ropes, you can either put the headcollar on under the bridle (loosen bridle obv.) and then lightly tie the rope around the neck - or, I prefer to tie the rope up like you get in the tack shop and then clip the whole lot to the d-ring on the saddle. Or rucksack? Rucksacks are good, room for drink & sarnie too.

[MitchiestInge]

Thanks Loshad and AP, have ordered a 1p copy from Amazon - I saw the £85 version but thought lessons might be better investment, got one today to see how we get on jumping indoors. Will have to hack there with head collars and lead ropes draped over one shoulder, should be interesting.