moving barns opinion

hey everyone, this is honestly a really random post, but i just want to get some opinions.

so i've been riding (hunter/jumper) for around 6 years this coming january. it's been great, i love horseback riding. but i have one problem. for i've never jumped anything over 2'3", and am constantly jumping stuff just because that's the height the other kids in my lesson jump (for example, if i'm in a lesson with kids who jump cross rails, that's what i'm doing). in my barns defense, i don't own a horse (i don't have the money to buy/lease), i only ride once a week (due to finances and time issues), and have lots of off days and generally suck sometimes. however, i know that I can definitely handle 2' and 2'3". now i understand that i'm in an industry that kind of requires you to own a horse/ride more than once a week to get anywhere, but i feel like this has gone past that point.

now this is where i need advice, what should i do? should i leave my barn and try and find a new place to ride that can accommodate me? or do i just stick out the rest of my time there (i'm going to college in a year and a half)?

thanks to anyone who can give me some advice on this c:

I would trying talking to your instructors to see if there is another reason. Although I have experienced this issue at the last two Hunter/Jumper barns I was at. I was in a situation almost identical to yours, I rode once a week and didn’t own or lease a horse. I ended up moving to a different discpline (eventing) when I moved out of town and was able to move up jumping up to 2’11 and almost competing at BN which is 2’7 (still riding only once a week). Unfortunately I moved back before I got the chance to compete BN and am struggling to find a new place. For the reason you listed and the fact I love eventing (even though it’s not popular here) I’ve been turned off from H/J barns. 
Back to the topic (sorry I wandered a bit) I would try to talk to your instructors, see if there is a reason (whether it be you or the horse you ride is unable to do more, etc.) If they don’t give a ligament reason or they give empty promises (that you’ll move up but don’t actual get to) than I would say switch barns if you really want to move up. Realize once you go to college there may be more opportunities if you join an equestrian club that has a team but it also depends the area you move to. I moved to an area that was much more horsey than where I am now. Barns are very limited where I am currently. If you have a lot of barns where you are currently I would say give it a shot, try a new place you can always go back to your current one.

Last edited on 2018-11-28 at 05:05:40 by Cat