by amadeo » Sun Apr 03, 2005 9:08 pm
#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Well, let's see. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I had stopped jumping and had done nothing but flat work and hacking for three straight years. I got the opportunity to ride a phenomenal horse with loads of potential in the jumping field, and the guy who owned her wanted me to work her over fences. Only problem was, since I hadn't jumped in three years, and he was asking me to do four-foot-fences with a young (5 year old, but hadn't been ridden for a year due to pregnancy), green, rushing-to-the-fences mare, I lost a lot of confidence. I adore the horse, but she was a little too much.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#So since then, I've had that nervousness getting on and starting out, BUT.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I was lucky enough to ride this one mare (coincidentally a half-sister to the aforementioned mare, same age, too!) who had been a broodmare for the previous three years, and with one re-training lesson, she was good to go again. She was evenly paced at all the jumps, jumped well and clean, never refused, and eventually I got back to doing the four-foot-fences, and thus, my confidence was restored!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Until now! The mare's been off for the winter because she was bred again (for the last time, but she's being sold) so I've had absolutely nothing, and the fear's starting to come back. I'm working with a kid and "her" (owned by the barn, but he might as well be hers) pony, Bennie, and she wanted to jump, so I started working with him so he wouldn't be a total nut. He goes both ways, sometimes completely shattering my confidence and sometimes making me think that I could jump the moon. So I'm at a pretty weird place regarding nervousness right now..#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#All I can say is, figure it out on your own time, and try to work with a horse who isn't going to rush you, and don't rush how high you jump, either. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
Horses are life. The rest is just details.
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