Crashing through jumps!!!

[CNM]

I have a lovely little horse who is rising 7, he has so much potential in all sphere's but his show jumping leaves a little to be desired, when he jumps he always knocks the poles with his front legs, does anyone have any exercises i can do to help him pick his feet up??

 

[3Beasties]

I have had trouble with my horse recently, although he is 14 and should know better he was getting very lazy over jumps, either knocking them with his front or back legs.

Last time I jumped him I took all his boots of and did grid work with him. The improvement was brilliant because he had to think quickly and snap his legs up. I then just had two jumps with 5 strides between them and he was fantastic. I really concentrated on keeping him collected and not letting him get flat.

Might be worth trying on your boy!

 

[jenh166]

try making him jump crosses with the poles at about 1.20 on the wings - obviously the actual jump isn't much bigger, but the gap he has to jump through is smaller so he should pick up more. take hos boots off so it hurts when he knocks it. build up to doing grids of high crosses and make an 'oxer' of two crosses so its jumped like a spread if that makes sense?? -0 gets tham basculing nicely ovedr fence.
if problem goes on and on, do speak to vet as occasionally there's a reason for poor performance in the sj phase.
good luck!

 

[CNM]

We did try grid work with him last week for the first time but he just demolished them, he acted as though it was too much like hard work to pick his feet up! It's so frustrating because i know he has a massive jump but just can't be bothered! I think i need to persevere with him.

 

[glamourpuss]

Don't know if its the case with your boy but my horse got a little careless in front. He was usually so careful that it was a real mystery.
I put a stud guard on him and within a couple of sessions he was back to normal. I think he had just banged himself a couple of times with his front feet and this made him reluctant to snap up in front.

 

[CNM]

thank you for all your advice i will try all the ideas you have given me, hopefully something will work, i'll keep you posted on his progress.

 

[diggerbez]

could you loose jump him to see if he does it when he's on his own? if you have eliminated all pain issues (back, stud girth etc etc) then i would take boots off and find some heavy poles and planks that will hurt him if he hits them- harsh but usually works if horses are just being lazy. i'd also work on loads of grids- but keeping them small and going for accuracy rather than height....