Sometimes you have to push yourself too hard to find your limits. Sometimes that means a step backwards in development or confidence. I learned these lessons at the BRC Showjumping qualifier, along with some pretty key lessons in how to ride my horse.
Regular readers will know that Beau loves to jump. In fact he lives to jump! He cannot get enough - he once finished an arena eventing round on his own even though he parted company with his rider at fence 3! His ears stayed forward for the rest of the day. He loves it so much, that when pointed in the general direction of anything like an obstacle he transforms into an Exocet missile, and that is my problem.
I have no issue with going over jumps - happy to a metre and above if there's enough power and willingness under me, but i do like to feel in control in between the fences.
Don't get me wrong - i have not been the bravest lately. I had gone from being a complete wimp who was petrified at the thought of riding at all, to doing all sorts with Beau - he has been my therapy. Read what HappyHooves had to say about us here: https://happyhoovesblog.wordpress.com/2017/06/01/horse-and-rider-of-the-month-tamasin-thompson-and-beau-beaubayou-confidence-crisis-the-end-of-a-love-affair/
My first foray into jumping saw me lose my bottle so much that I made Beau walk the entire course and jump 75cm fences from walk, in a combined training qualifier. We got 31.5 penalties in the dressage - and the same in jumping for time.
Confidence is a very fragile thing, and knew I would have to work hard to regain mine when it comes to jumping. I took sage advice from Mary Stephens and Alison Kenward, and started off with poles on the ground. I built up after a few days to poles followed by a teensy cross pole, then gradually up to a lone fence. Alison even took to standing in front of said fence to make me look up (imagining Jamie Fraser was at the top of the tree in front of me ;) ), and to indicate when it's Beau's turn to take over.
This year I was determined to allow him to canter between fences, so worked on that too with several mini-meltdowns on the way. This we managed at the combined training qualifier, though we still had some time faults because I was worried, making us the dropped score. The team qualified for FoTH so off we went! We did the best dressage we've ever done there (judge disagreed) and managed 4 faults (dropped my knitting) and NO TIME FAULTS! This i consider a victory - I let him canter all the way including the first fence. We came 15th
So, I thought, progress made and surely we can have a go at the showjumping qualifier this year. I foolishly entered the style jumping too (to make up a team) and thought i'd have a go as 'warm-up. Because Beau is an Exocet, i ride him in a Myler combination bit. He goes superbly on the snaffle rein but hates the bottom rein so it's emergency brakes only and remains knotted until i need it. Because style jumping is kind of dressage with jumps in the way, i thought i'd better use both reins. Error. He got cross with me straight away, and I retired from the round after he started doing canter piaffe in front of the jumps. Nerve blown.
Into the first round proper in the 80cm and he was perfect. Sadly i wasn't and we clocked up a few time faults and had a fence down because i'd assumed the fetal position over his withers. We had an hour to the second round and i hoped i'd be able to calm down enough to jump, but on the way back to the lorry i just burst into tears and started shaking. Pathetic. I had to let the team down and withdraw from the second round because i just felt as though it was like asking myself to put my head into a mincer - it just wasn't going to happen.
The team qualified for championships, and initially i thought i could go and be useful, but on reflection have withdrawn from the team - better for somebody to go who will be able to go into the second round without tears and snot and an attack of the wobbles.
I need to go training more and learn, amongst other things, to sit up between fences so Beau can actually jump. I need to learn to trust him to not cart me (he has never ever done that), and i need to learn to allow him forwards. A tough ask but, you know, progress has been made so provided i don't go daft again, try too much and put myself off, we will get there.
Much love and stay determined, Tam and Beau
Footnote - it's clearly not just me, I see the motivational meme I made (of me almost taking a tumble off Beau in working hunter class last year) is doing the rounds :D
Regular readers will know that Beau loves to jump. In fact he lives to jump! He cannot get enough - he once finished an arena eventing round on his own even though he parted company with his rider at fence 3! His ears stayed forward for the rest of the day. He loves it so much, that when pointed in the general direction of anything like an obstacle he transforms into an Exocet missile, and that is my problem.
I have no issue with going over jumps - happy to a metre and above if there's enough power and willingness under me, but i do like to feel in control in between the fences.
Don't get me wrong - i have not been the bravest lately. I had gone from being a complete wimp who was petrified at the thought of riding at all, to doing all sorts with Beau - he has been my therapy. Read what HappyHooves had to say about us here: https://happyhoovesblog.wordpress.com/2017/06/01/horse-and-rider-of-the-month-tamasin-thompson-and-beau-beaubayou-confidence-crisis-the-end-of-a-love-affair/
My first foray into jumping saw me lose my bottle so much that I made Beau walk the entire course and jump 75cm fences from walk, in a combined training qualifier. We got 31.5 penalties in the dressage - and the same in jumping for time.Confidence is a very fragile thing, and knew I would have to work hard to regain mine when it comes to jumping. I took sage advice from Mary Stephens and Alison Kenward, and started off with poles on the ground. I built up after a few days to poles followed by a teensy cross pole, then gradually up to a lone fence. Alison even took to standing in front of said fence to make me look up (imagining Jamie Fraser was at the top of the tree in front of me ;) ), and to indicate when it's Beau's turn to take over.
This year I was determined to allow him to canter between fences, so worked on that too with several mini-meltdowns on the way. This we managed at the combined training qualifier, though we still had some time faults because I was worried, making us the dropped score. The team qualified for FoTH so off we went! We did the best dressage we've ever done there (judge disagreed) and managed 4 faults (dropped my knitting) and NO TIME FAULTS! This i consider a victory - I let him canter all the way including the first fence. We came 15th
So, I thought, progress made and surely we can have a go at the showjumping qualifier this year. I foolishly entered the style jumping too (to make up a team) and thought i'd have a go as 'warm-up. Because Beau is an Exocet, i ride him in a Myler combination bit. He goes superbly on the snaffle rein but hates the bottom rein so it's emergency brakes only and remains knotted until i need it. Because style jumping is kind of dressage with jumps in the way, i thought i'd better use both reins. Error. He got cross with me straight away, and I retired from the round after he started doing canter piaffe in front of the jumps. Nerve blown.
Into the first round proper in the 80cm and he was perfect. Sadly i wasn't and we clocked up a few time faults and had a fence down because i'd assumed the fetal position over his withers. We had an hour to the second round and i hoped i'd be able to calm down enough to jump, but on the way back to the lorry i just burst into tears and started shaking. Pathetic. I had to let the team down and withdraw from the second round because i just felt as though it was like asking myself to put my head into a mincer - it just wasn't going to happen.
The team qualified for championships, and initially i thought i could go and be useful, but on reflection have withdrawn from the team - better for somebody to go who will be able to go into the second round without tears and snot and an attack of the wobbles.
I need to go training more and learn, amongst other things, to sit up between fences so Beau can actually jump. I need to learn to trust him to not cart me (he has never ever done that), and i need to learn to allow him forwards. A tough ask but, you know, progress has been made so provided i don't go daft again, try too much and put myself off, we will get there.
Much love and stay determined, Tam and Beau
Footnote - it's clearly not just me, I see the motivational meme I made (of me almost taking a tumble off Beau in working hunter class last year) is doing the rounds :D
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