“It’s no use to go back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland)
So yeah, another whiny post in a long stream of whiny posts. I am losing the plot, horse-wise, and I can’t seem to get it back.
I fell off 3 times in 7 days. The horse show was a disaster, Oats warmed up really nicely, and then immediately wouldn’t play in the ring. He was distracted and stopped repeatedly, and I fell into an oxer- making that my third fall.

A bad jumper show.
I had a lesson last night that had many opportunities for me to fall off – with Oats ungenerously slamming on the brakes repeatedly- about five times. I didn’t fall though, so I can consider that a success?
Now, my horse is a stopper. Lovely.
I’m bummed, frustrated, mad at myself and at Oats, and hurt. I don’t trust him to jump now, and I don’t trust myself.
How did this backslide happen so suddenly??? How do I get ‘me’ and Oats back?
I honestly felt like crying after my lesson. I just can’t seem to get a break. I haven’t really felt like blogging, mostly because I’m so unhappy with how things are right now. How hard do I have to work at this? I’m not jumping high, the jumps I’ve been falling off at are the lowest ones I’ve been jumping recently. So WTF?
I’m just so confused and upset.
My show schedule as of now is kaput. I don’t feel like even trying right now.
Ease back. Work on the flat for a couple of rides. Have your trainer ride your horse over a few courses later at home. And don’t lose hope 🙂
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Thanks for the kind words, Elinor…It’s just really tough and dispiriting, when it feels like you work so hard! I’m trying not to lose hope too much. Horses can be so trying sometimes…
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They sure can. Falling off is aerious, I know it takes a big toll, especially mentally.
Try some jumps on another horse after schooling your own on the flats for several days. Sort of resets the system 🙂
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