Careless over fences...

[JackDaniels1]

Was jumping my girl yesterday, only over 2ft-2ft6 coloured fence, she was lovely and steady, tried to speed up a little as we got closer but nothing hairy!

A friend was watching me and we both couldn't understand why she was knocking them down - quite a lot down actually. We put a placing pole down which didnt make any difference.

I know she can jump a decent fence but am a bit puzzled why she was being so careless ?

(I genuinely don't think it was rider error, although it might of been of course)

 

[Hedwards]

was she fully booted? - in boots that go all around her leg, if so, she may have learnt that it doesnt hurt/bother her if she touches the poles - assuming she's booted at all - my mare used to do this, i swapped to open fronted tendon boots and she improved no end (lazy madam!)

 

[JackDaniels1]

She had front brushing boots on and over-reach boots - no hind boots

 

[Hedwards]

which legs was she knocking the jumps with - if it was the fronts could be what i said...

 

[Scribbles]

Boredom? A lot of horses get lazy if they are over jumped.

Try putting two poles resting on the jump poles in a '^' shape, which will encourage her to lift up higher.

 

[scrumpygus]

agree with scribbles - thats what i used to use when my boy was knocking poles down sj. Since doing alot of xc he doesnt go anywhere near poles now though - he hasnt had a bad experience or anything but since doing xc cant remember the last time he knocked anything down sj.

 

[BFG]

The other thing you could try is bounces 3 or 4 in a line and it helps them to make a better shape over the jumps.

 

[Zeus]

My 5 year old does this at home but I have found that he only does it over very simple fences, put a filler underneath and then he makes the effort.

 

[Kenzo]

Sometimes horses flatten over a fence when you asking them to go faster into a jump than there used to, certainly sounds like the case if you were riding her with more speed than usual.

By the sounds of things if your wanting to gain a bit more speed and save time on your rounds then your horse needs to learn to lengthen and shorten his stride between fences, so you can cut time between fences but still making sure she comes back to you with a nice bouncy an careful approach which she clears and getting deeper into the fence, so she jumping not just hurdling over them.

Jumping one fence over and over can also often cause this, the horse looses respect for the fence.

Jumping a plank or hitting a plank a few times can remind them to pick there feet up, as they wack this rather than roll off a pole but really you should have to get to this point.

Did your friend notice if she was knocking the pole down with the same leg, it could be she may be a wee bit stiff or pulled something so she may not of been able to use her shoulders and snap her legs (or one in) in as much normal.

 

[lauraandjack]

My horse is too damn clever for his own good and has learned that our coloured poles are plastic and the rustic ones are heavy wooden.

He will sometimes repeatedly knock down the coloured poles, but rarely hits a rustic one!

If you haven't got any old-school wooden poles, try tracking some down. Especially un-booted they soon decide it is better not to knock them!