well it was a learning experience

[fimacg]

I took Brave to our first power cross since camp and our almost disaster... but I figures Powercross would be a good outing as it is a mixture of steps, ditches, banks and working hunter type jumps set up as a XC type course, so a mix of jump cross and XC.

Lets just say it didn't exactly go to plan. I had entered the 65cm and 75cm, but Brave decided to do his usual and refuse to leave the warm up area, then out on the course refused every fence going away from the warm up arena and tanked back to it as soon as we were going in that general direction (or in fact even if the course wasn't going in that direction but a path was) we had four detours off the course and nearly jumped fence 4 in reverse rather than fence 11 which was in the opposite direction. But what i like about venue is they let you finish to give your horse experience regardless of when you get eliminated which in our case was fence 2.So in summary I had no go when I needed to jump and no whoa when I needed control and steering.

After that disastrous round I decided to withdraw from the 75cm and take him around the 65cm again HC. Just as we were about to start the heavens opened and the start of the round was no different to the first but slippery in the rain. But with nothing to loose I made him walk through fence 4 (as all the fences are knock down) rather then turn him away and let him refuse it... AGAIN! We did that twice more, then had a big discussion about speed and direction, which I won in the end. He was saying "I will tank!" and I was saying "you WILL trot", he gradually accepted that I did have control... And I then remembered to breathe!

After that whilst he was very forward he was listening and the rest was great. So it was a real breakthrough as the napping and refusing had become a bit of a habit.

Planning on going back in 2 weeks for more but this time I am going to do the 55cm and 65cm so I can bully him around the smaller one, as what we have to work on is control between the jumps and the 55cm he can go over from a standstill if required. He is very insecure out on an XC and whilst he loves the jumping and if he is schooling on his own he is great, but he gets very worried about leaving the other horses to do his round. That is the biggest hurdle we have to get over.

[zara]

Brave can be one difficult pony Fi; I admire your perseverance and tenacity, well done for keeping going xx

[racaille]

Gosh Fi, there is a bit of Paco in him - I felt for you during that! Well, good on you!

[dannyboy]

Fi, I take my hat of to you :-) I would have poo'ed myself right and proper, lol well done for showing him how's boss and finished with the upper hand. how you keeping now physically?

[fimacg]

DB - I cant exactly say I enjoyed it, in fact it was only my stubborn streak that meant I didn't just go home after the first round. But, if I want to be able to do things like this with him I need to grit my teeth and get on with it. The enjoyment will come once he is a bit more confident out on course and doesn't feel like he needs the security of the warm up arena.

He takes his confidence from his rider and as soon as he feels my nerves, he gets wound up and is basically trying to take me back to a place of safety where we were both relaxed, so I also need to relax out on the course, hence the reason for going for smaller jumps next time.

[solomon]

It's all such hard work when they are like that! He has all the ability it's more frustrating! I bet he jumps your cross country fences at home with his eyes closed! Getting them out and about is a big deal for lots of them eh? Are you doing some more dressage through the winter?

[fimacg]

it is so frustrating but to change my mindset and taking the pressure off, the next time we go out we are not competing we are simply schooling in a competition environment.

That way there is no pressure (even sub-consciously) to perform we are simply going out to gain confidence and experience.

He is fine when out schooling on his own or with one or two other horses, but the competition environment with jump judges and people popping up or moving randomly has always got to him when not in an arena.

[brigadier]

Would a spell out hunting help freshen him up for the natural jumps Fi? Well done for persevering though!

[fimacg]

Brig I think hunting would fry his brain, he always wants to be at the front and races anything in front of him, but will quickly go into reverse to kick anything too close behind, he doesn't tolerate my dogs, charges at them with his teeth bared and has gone to nip them whilst tied up. I think he would be an absolute liability out hunting.

It's also not really the jumps as he jumps XC brilliantly on his own, it's more of the bit between the fences and napping back yo the other horses. The ones he refused were going away from the warm up area. Going again tomorrow so will see if we can make progress.

[brigadier]

I hope so Fi as its a shame his mind isnt on it when he clearly has the ability. Shame about the hunting, it helped my horse Brigadier no end- in fact that became his thing, but they do need to be good around hounds as he would get sent home in disgrace if he whacked one!