[littlecelticpony]

I need someone to tell me something I tell so many people:

"It's not the height of the fence - it's the quality!"

Can someone tell me that? I need some encouragement.

Some of you know my story, others don't. But the basic thing is I've been playing catch-up for about two years, now.

I was confidently schooling 3'-3'3" and solid Training Level dressage with my TB gelding, one who I did a complete 180 with: took him from a rearing, aggressive, awful horse and when I sold him, last year, he went to a home with a 12 year old girl - who he's now teaching how to ride and negotiate fences.

Anyway. Long, long story short...I'm finally riding again, with a new trainer, on lesson horses. She's a great trainer. I really like her - one of the few "old school" hunter/hunt-seat equitation riders and trainers that I've come across in my horse career. She's VERY correct, very traditional, and a very good rider, herself.

But I'm only schooling 2'-2'3" in my lessons, now. I understand that I'm not where I was, when I had my old horse, but still. I'm starting to lose heart, a little. I feel like I've been working my butt off, but now I'm stuck. Not good enough to move higher, or something.

So, when I went back to Texas and rode Pal for my video to submit to college, I didn't factor in the concept that I haven't ridden over a fence higher than 2' in about a year. So maybe that's part of why I was struggling with the 3' fences we were doing. There's just something about a 1' difference in fence height, haha. Perhaps because most horses I know don't really put in an effort until the fence is at LEAST 2'6" or higher. So I've been "stepping" these little dinky fences in my lessons, you know?


See, I KNOW it's "not about the height." But I'm having trouble sitting here, telling myself that, when I can't even seem to get back to what I was schooling, a year ago. How much longer is it going to take me? I'm riding several times a week, trying my heart out.

Am I being SO petty for suddenly being fixated on the fence height? Or what?

Someone help me, I feel so stupid.

[Ureventer]

I realllly understand how u feel on this one.
I was jumping much higher (3'+)and had been out of lessons for over a year. As I was searching for a horse, in riding the very dangerous ones, my confidence over fences was shattered. When I finally found my current horse, Ty, I had to start at 18 inch fences again. I know it is a lot further from where I was, but in relearning to gain confidence, it is completely necessary. Perhaps it will even make me a better rider as I learn to relax over my fences. We all fall down once in awhile, but what counts is that we pick ourselves back up. You are right. It is not the level of the fence. It is the level of your character to say that it is okay

[CJ]

Its not stupid. It sounds phobic. And logic cant always combat Phobic.
The only suggestion I can think of it Try 1 hole higher, its just 3". That may not sound like much, but if youre doing 2'3 and you try 2'6, its not much and you might "just make it". Once youre comfortable with 2'6 go for the next hole. Pop that... sonuvagun youre up to 2'9. Lil Steps. Whats a hole?"Not much"? Whats 2 holes- six inches, whats another hole.. progress.
Im not being flip- I had to do something similarly different just to be brave enough to ride again, a long time ago.

[littlecelticpony]

Originally Posted by ureventer89

I realllly understand how u feel on this one.
I was jumping much higher (3'+)and had been out of lessons for over a year. As I was searching for a horse, in riding the very dangerous ones, my confidence over fences was shattered. When I finally found my current horse, Ty, I had to start at 18 inch fences again. I know it is a lot further from where I was, but in relearning to gain confidence, it is completely necessary. Perhaps it will even make me a better rider as I learn to relax over my fences. We all fall down once in awhile, but what counts is that we pick ourselves back up. You are right. It is not the level of the fence. It is the level of your character to say that it is okay

Yeah....I'm also not as nervy as I used to be. THAT I attribute to having a baby - it's amazing how suddenly everything seems so much more DANGEROUS once you have a kid [foal? haha] on the ground!

I like the way you put that: the level of your character to say that it is okay.

Thanks, ureventer!

[littlecelticpony]

Originally Posted by CJ

Its not stupid. It sounds phobic. And logic cant always combat Phobic.
The only suggestion I can think of it Try 1 hole higher, its just 3". That may not sound like much, but if youre doing 2'3 and you try 2'6, its not much and you might "just make it". Once youre comfortable with 2'6 go for the next hole. Pop that... sonuvagun youre up to 2'9. Lil Steps. Whats a hole?"Not much"? Whats 2 holes- six inches, whats another hole.. progress.
Im not being flip- I had to do something similarly different just to be brave enough to ride again, a long time ago.

See....I'm comfortable with it. I did it with Pal two weeks ago. But that is exactly what I would do, I think, once I start schooling past 3', haha!!!

But what do I do? Ask my trainer if I can jump higher? I've always been one of those "don't undermine the trainer" people. I would feel disrespectful. Like I'm paying for her advice, and then telling her it's not right.