So chuffed for you!! The only thing I would say is try to keep him between your hands and legs. When you came to the ditch, you needed to support him a bit to show him that it wouldn't hurt. Horses suffer from PTSD if they've had pain in their back for any reason. So they think, if I do that, it's going to hurt. So they stop dead. That's where you need to be a bit stronger with the legs to move them on. Same when you came out of the water and headed to the jump after it. He went into the water just fine, but you lost contact with your legs, and he didn't feel secure enough to jump the jump after the water. I was so chuffed to see you represent it to him again by going through the water and presenting the jump again. The second time, you kept contact with your legs, Freddie felt your confidence, and he jumped it fine. Do you see what I'm saying? He needs that leg contact to make him feel your confidence to take the jump. When your leg isn't there, he avoids the jump. But overall, I was really chuffed to see you both out there jumping together again!! The 2 stallions I've been training for 3 years have gone to 2 shows so far this summer over here. One was a straight Show Jumping Show of 1.05m, and the other was a Combined Dressage/Show Jumping Show. They've done very well at both shows. The second show was 1.10m. Magician's Calypso had a score of 76 2 in Dressage, and Pete's Dragon, and yes, that's his registered name, LOL 😂, had a score of 75 5. They went double clear in the show jump and came first and second in their second show ever!! I've already started doing some cross-country training fences of only 90 cm right now with them both for maybe the end of the season. People couldn't believe that they were stallions either. There were a lot of mares in season at the shows, and they totally ignored them!! But I've been bringing them to shows for the last 2 years to get them used to the atmosphere of the grounds and the sounds. They couldn't believe it!! They all thought they were geldings because of how they acted!! So chuffed with the boys!! They are the same age and are half-brothers. Anyway, just playing catch up with you. Again, so chuffed for you!! Your friend, the Retired Paramedic and Horse Trainer in Ontario, Canada, Jenn 💖 🇨🇦
Well done danielle and Fred! And Rob - what a saint in that weather!! Really well-ridden, we all know how it feels to lack confidence, but you are going from strength to strength again xx
