Ears back while jumping?

[Shutterbug]

Arion is a 9 year old Belgian Warmblood, 16'3 - we just recently got back into jumping and having had lots of photo's taken I have noticed that he puts his ears back over every single jump we do. He has had his teeth done recently, back and saddle checked in the last month and has been treated twice in the last 18 months with cortisone injections on his right hock for mild arthritic changes. He is not in the least bit lame, or stiff. He is going very nicely at the moment and is the picture of health.

I have gone over pictures of me riding and jumping for the last 4 years and notice he has always done it, not every jump but most of them - even in the picture I kept of his advertisement when I bought him (not me riding him), he has his ears back over a 1m jump - like they are in this picture from last nights SJ

I thought it was me at first, perhaps I was not releasing enough with my hands over the jump, however he did the same in this shot when I practically threw the reins at him as I was worried it was me.

A few people have suggested this might be just how he does it - he isn't bucking over the jumps (he did for a while but that was before we started cantering into the jumps and more than likely because I was holding him back which is no longer the case) and he isn't showing any unwillingness to jump.

Does anyone have a horse who does this - my OH says he is just being aerodynamic lol and I'm scratching my head on this one - but I don't want to miss anything - the vet says he is fine health wise.

Cookies for reaching the end

 

[ThePony]

assuming all the usual checks are ok?

You come out of the saddle and take quite a forward seat for the height of jump he is doing. Can you move your position less? No need to move yourself forwards, just allow yourself to fold a little with his movement and allow with your hands - shouldn't involve much change of a position. Perhaps he is feeling a little unbalanced with more movement? If he rushes into the fence so that you feel you need to move forwards more, perhaps just approach the fence in trot with a couple of trotting poles infront of the fence and take up a soft two point seat in the approach and don't change as you move through. If it is hard to keep your balance like this (it doesn burn your thighs!!) then practise doing this in trot around the arena and in circles etc until you can keep your balance like this without being heavy on your hands and falling forwards, then try it over a jump. This should help you keep your balance and so not affect your boys balance as you jump. He might just be a bit of a sensitive soul!

 

[aimsymc]

hi, alot of horses do this! your boy looks a picture of health to me, so i wouldnt worry. If hes not happy jumping hell find other ways to tell you, like stopping. xx

 

[woodlandswow]

i had a pony who loved jumping.. you could tell from his enthusiasm!!.. all checks had been made...but i dont have a picture of him with his ears foward over a fence!

 

[Tickles]

Agree with ThePony, my limited jumping experience says that not making a big deal of the jump is best for little ones.

And in the top photo I'm not sure you aren't pulling a little. But obviously you aren't at all in the bottom one so either he is expecting you to or actually it isn't that at all. When I'm feeling unsure I try to err on the 'throw reins away' side, not a great habit but keeps me from upsetting the horse between lessons. Can you get someone to watch you both together in motion so to speak?

Have fun!

 

[Lobelia_Overhill]

Some people say it's the horse concentrating, a bit like a human frowning, or sticking their tongue out!

 

[MrVelvet]

get a photoshop geek to switch his ears round for some pretty pics lol sorry no constructive advice!

 

[KatB]

My mare does this too, I don't worry anymore. My trainers mare who has won at HOYS always does it too, it's just them!!

 

[Firewell]

Mine puts his ears back jumping, he looks so miserable! I think it's mine concentrating, he's got both ears on me listening lol.
He definitely loves jumping, he takes it very seriously bless him and never stops .

 

[AshTay]

In the left hand pic in your sig he looks to have his ears forward...! I think.

 

[Wolfie]

My friend's horse always claps her ears down, and apparently her sire does the same (Puissance). As long as he is getting his pins out of the way and not obviously in pain I wouldn't worry!

 

[Splish & Masons mum]

Do you talk to him at all while you're jumping? My friends horse always has her ears back when jumping and she's convinced the horse is listening to her chunnering away!

 

[Shutterbug]

Do you talk to him at all while you're jumping? My friends horse always has her ears back when jumping and she's convinced the horse is listening to her chunnering away!

Yes I do - it helps with my breathing if I talk to him - I used to take a deep breath and then hold it for the entire round

In the left hand pic in your sig he looks to have his ears forward...! I think.

Yes he does, that was his first time at Jumpx and that's his "OMG what the hell is this you are making me jump" look Its one of the few pics I have of him jumping where his ears up really up.

Thanks for all your replies guys

 

[charliesarmy]

My friend has a horse which does this her trainer puts it down to ,concentration and listening to rider had all the checks, all clear

 

[Holly88]

My horse does this as well, and it used to really worry me! She canters up with her ears right forward, flicks them back as she jumps and then they go forward again.

I like the comment that it's the horse concentrating - I'll be thinking about that next time we jump!