Concentration Whilst Jumping

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JJ1987

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I have had a spooky horse on share for a year now which I have worked very hard with to gain his confidence jumping. He had a lot of issues with fillers which now seem to be improving and his confidence is growing. However I now have the new issue of him being far too nosy in the ring!
I am finding that as I come round to a fence, he'll be looking all around him at everything else and then is in shock that the fence is in front of him and stops.
I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions on work I can do to get him to focus on the task at hand and stop posing and nosying at what everyone else is doing!
He is currently ridden in a two ring French link, flash noseband with a large sheepskin cover which seemed to help a little but I need a bit more as he's more than capable of jumping the fences when he concentrates!
Thank you in advance :-)
 
Hire as Many different schools as possible so new places become borning and do something like grid work that he really has to think about x
 
You need to have his full attention at all times. As soon as you enter the ring pick up a good working canter. Push him forward for 3 strides, shorten up for 3 strides, push him forward for 3 strides, shorten up for 3 strides. If you need to give the judge your name make him halt square and then move off with a walk -canter transition. His response to all of the above will tell you before you ever get to the first fence whether you have his attention or not. If you're not getting an immediate response then apply a sharp leg aid or a sharp rein aid if he's looking about. That might sound harsh but you probably have less than a minute to get to the first fence and you need to be going there together concentrating. He's not there for a sightseeing tour and since he can't read the fence numbers he needs to pay attention to you! If you even think his mind might be wandering use the voice or the growl you use when you catch him doing something bold like chewing his reins etc :)
 
Thanks everyone, he wears a fly veil as well usually which seems to have some effect, it's just this gawking about he likes to do! I've bought a Waterford two ring to replace his French link to just make my rein aid a bit more commanding to get his attention - he tends to do a giraffe impression and ignore me completely when I'm trying to focus him. I spoke to several of the stands at Hickstead where we were at the weekend and have bought some Dy'on blinkers as well to see if they may help. I'm definitely going to try and get him to as many places as possible - it's just hard to prepare for the top shows as no where has the crowds like Windsor and Hickstead! Bantry - your advice is super thank you, I always seem to panic when I hear the bell and think "oh god I need to start" when I've still got 40 seconds to go through the flags so I'm going to practise the timing at home so I start realising how much time that actually gives me to get him listening in the ring before I get going
 
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