stormox
Well-Known Member
I have taught many young horses their first steps in jumping. Start with single pole.....trotting poles.... x-poles... progress to straight across....little grids. Usually at first theyr hesitant, do a big green jump over the pole, etc.but they Jump!
This fella Ive got now, though single pole, trotted straight over. 5 trotting poles, great. Little x-pole, didn't break stride, trotted straight through it. Tried again, the same. Made it bigger (he is 17hh), trotted straight through again, each time knocking the poles out of the way. After getting off and putting up jump and getting back on for the 5th time I made it a 3-pole straight across about 2'6 high. I thought at least hed acknowledge it, but no,trotted straight through it scattering the poles without any attempt to jump it!!
Short of taking him XC any ideas on how to get him respecting the poles? And actually getting him to attemp to jump? Its not that he isn't athletic, Ive seen how high he can buck when hes playing the fool in the field. Thanks for reading this.
This fella Ive got now, though single pole, trotted straight over. 5 trotting poles, great. Little x-pole, didn't break stride, trotted straight through it. Tried again, the same. Made it bigger (he is 17hh), trotted straight through again, each time knocking the poles out of the way. After getting off and putting up jump and getting back on for the 5th time I made it a 3-pole straight across about 2'6 high. I thought at least hed acknowledge it, but no,trotted straight through it scattering the poles without any attempt to jump it!!
Short of taking him XC any ideas on how to get him respecting the poles? And actually getting him to attemp to jump? Its not that he isn't athletic, Ive seen how high he can buck when hes playing the fool in the field. Thanks for reading this.