Do some horses just NEVER gain respect for poles?!

Brimmers

Brimmers

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My big lad just doesn't care if he hits poles! He is slightly better at shows because its new and exciting, but at home he is very difficult to get him jumping properly.

I do lots of gridwork with him but he has a massive tendency to drop his legs. Even putting scary stuff under the jumps or laying tarpaulin over the top of the jump only works for one or two jumps.

Is there anything I can do to make him have more respect for poles? Gridwork exercises or giving him time off of jumping?

Or does anyone have some success stories?!

Thanks!
 
Just don't jump at home! My mare is the same; she is like an equine bulldozer and completely happy to jump out of fields, barge electric fencing and break down stable doors. To her, jump schooling at home is an irritating interruption to her main business of eating. Get her to an event and I couldn't ask for a safer conveyance. Bold but with a little bit of respect for the unknown.
 
It completely depends why he's hitting them.

Lots of horses are a bit casual and will have the rail rather than put the extra effort in or stop. (Many top sj'ers still stop rather than hit something - great for pros, not so much for amateurs.) But if the average horse is routinely taking things out at the knees I think there should be some assessment of both the horse and the program.

Do you use plastic poles? If you have a casual horse lightweight poles will teach it the wrong lessons.
 
TarrSteps said:
Do you use plastic poles? If you have a casual horse lightweight poles will teach it the wrong lessons.
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ditto this; switch to wooden poles if you're not using them already - and maybe try 'V' poles put in front of a fence like /\ to encourage him to snap up, or use VERY high cross poles.

but if this doesn't help, then maybe do try and not jump at home if he performs fine out at shows?? or possibly get the physio out etc to double check it isn't pain related/muscle restriction or something (I am no physio/vet so don't know what I'm trying to suggest haha, but might be worth giving him the once over)

ETA: might also be worth checking the saddle fits correctly and is not restricting his movement/shoulders
 
Yep, afraid to say that some never learn! Training exercises can help up to a point, but the generally careless attitude will remain.
 
i defo agree with wooden poles!! once he has started gaining respect, you can switch back :D also, make sure you are using tendon and fetlock boots rather than brushing boots as they are open fronted so the horse can feel the poles but won't get hurt :D
 
I think flatwork can do a lot to increase the jump - a relaxed horse who is softer over the back will help create a better shape and make it easier to jump from a less than perfect take off spot - but pretty much, if they are not careful there is only so much you can do... I'd be careful in regards to jumping anything solid that can't be knocked down as well from a safety point of view.
 
Some are just very casual! Had a horse that I rode a few times at an eventing yard - had gone 3*, and super careful and reliable XC, would get you out of any mess.

SJ, however, a different matter. Would always jump anything and unbelievably honest, actually had a cracking jump, but he was lazy and very very very rarely did he ever go clear!
 
I'm sure its not pain, I've had him 1 and half years and had a change of saddle due to him changing shape and had physio out a few times for check ups but no issues at all.

He's always been the same, but I put it down to him being a late starter and with a bit of education behind him he'd learn to snap up better. I do use plastic poles as its all we have at the yard but he still just doesn't put the effort in

Sigh... its just him. Thanks for your replies guys!
 
If he's a somewhat lazy sort and has learned the poles are light you're fighting a losing battle. They are notorious for making horses careless. You can't really 'wait' for him to learn to be careful when every time he bashes one it teaches him that it doesn't really matter.

You don't need all heavy poles, just a few to use as top rails.
 
My gelding can be like that. I've had two lessons with top show jumpers and they commented on how he couldn't be bothered to try towards the end of the lesson. Taking him XC schooling helped a bit - he was lazy over a solid fence, seriously clipped it, nearly falling, and gave the rest of them a good foot for the rest of the day. We find you really have to "razz him up" in the warm up, chase him a bit and hurry him.
 
Does he wear boots when he jumps? Try taking them off.

You can always drill a hole in plastic poles and fill with sand. They become very heavy and effective!
 
I feel your pain!! I too have occasions where he takes top rails out with his front legs but much better when it's a competition !! (At least it's that way around though!)

Ditto what others have said: placing poles infront of a jump, narrow 'V' poles and heavy poles. Also had a lesson with a Olympic event rider who said font wear front boots/ open fronted boots.

Hope that helps and good luck !!
 
I've posted a few times about my youngster so I know how frustrating it is. I've had everything checked and just spent a small fortune on a brand new saddle (although I was sad to see the dead sheep go now I don't need it!) Our main problems are that he totally relies on me to set him up and I can't always see a stride, also the further round we get the more he rushes and he won't always come back to me and listen. But he never has an oxer, he always has the uprights! If it was a course of oxers I'm sure he'd be fine!

I think horses without much natural ability do improve with hard work, I found I put my sister on him and watched from the ground which really helped, I noticed his canter wasn't as together and balanced as it felt when I was on him, also he didn't knock a pole with her because she can see a stride better than me and sets him up better, got to love your little sister lol! But it made me realise he could do it, it was just things we need to work on.
 
slumdog said:
I've posted a few times about my youngster so I know how frustrating it is. I've had everything checked and just spent a small fortune on a brand new saddle (although I was sad to see the dead sheep go now I don't need it!) Our main problems are that he totally relies on me to set him up and I can't always see a stride, also the further round we get the more he rushes and he won't always come back to me and listen. But he never has an oxer, he always has the uprights! If it was a course of oxers I'm sure he'd be fine!

I think horses without much natural ability do improve with hard work, I found I put my sister on him and watched from the ground which really helped, I noticed his canter wasn't as together and balanced as it felt when I was on him, also he didn't knock a pole with her because she can see a stride better than me and sets him up better, got to love your little sister lol! But it made me realise he could do it, it was just things we need to work on.
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Equally the other way round can help too - sometimes a careless horse jumps better for a less accurate rider as it has to think for itself. If it needs to be set up really well it may be an issue to do with lack of scope rather than carelessness as such - but impossible to say without seeing.
 
Does he take them in front or behind?

Reg is a well-documented careless SJ horse. Once he's touched a pole, if it's a lightweight plastic thing you'll be lucky to leave another jump up. It's not that he's lazy or rude, he just knows it doesn't hurt. His worst thing is getting lazy behind and just tapping the front bar out as he lands.

Now, they've managed to improve things considerably. A combination of 2 very good instructors being both brutally honest but careful, doing lots of fairly simple gridwork to work out how to really sit still and let him make the mistakes, and this has also improved his technique. Al is very strict with herself about how she rides him- where she sits and where her weight is makes a huge difference, and she's realised that she tends to tip forwards. V-poles and things haven't featured so much, oddly, beyond trying to get him to bascules (he steps over fences a bit- 8 years of hurdling is a hard habit to break!).

Now he is more confident (that was another issue), he wears pinch boots behind. They go on just before they enter the ring, and do help. It might be considered a short cut, or abhorrent to some, but they also make a considerable difference and he is genuinely careless now. We did have him checked and he then had hock injections which helped too.

He's never going to be a careful, allergic to wood type. But he can now jump clears/ nearly clears round 1m, when previously he's had up to 54 faults (time as well, not just poles. But still impressive) in a round.
 
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