Evil pony won't jump...

welshponylover

welshponylover

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At the same yard as Brommy, there is a little 11.2hh welshie that is currently being ridden by a 7 year old girl. The owner wants me to bring him on and one thing especially is his jumping. He will not jump! He doesn't refuse or runs out at the last minute, he just careers off about to strides before the jump. I tried lungeing him over them, and he still does it! He wants me to get him jumping, incase he does it with the little girl and she pops off...so any ideas?
I thought about a pole lying the the side of the jump - but i have a feeling he will just go past that too! Im not too heavy for him so please don't say that (he's a weight-carrying welshie and im a light 13 year old!)
HELP!!
:confused:
 
probably highly unlikely but,

is he in pain? my horses saddle didnt fit properly and he was slowing to jumps like he didnt want to jump them then bucking me off!!!


other than that cant think why he wont do it, but lunging him over them seems sensible :)

good luck!!
 
Will he do trotting poles? If he's veering off even without a jockey, it makes me think he's oretty averse to the whole jumping thing. I'd see how he reacts to being asked to do a single trot pole, then two in a row. Then maybe build up very slowly with cavaletti type stuff, then diddy crosspoles. So he's super confident the whole time you're asking him to do something he doesn't like right now.

I'd also ask if he's feeling all right in himself... Back checked and the likes.
 
Has he walked over poles before? If he hasn't then that would be where I would start - getting his confidence up by doing a little each day. Equines aren't all natural jumpers and need to be shown how sometimes as well as giving them confidence to do it especially if just starting.
 
i know a horse exactly the same as this, just start with poles on the floor and gradually build up from there. try setting up little jumps or poles and try and get him to walk past them or step over them. it will take time and patience so dont rush it as he'll need to build confidence.
Good luck!

P.s you dont seem big for your pony as im 5ft7/8 ish and only have a 13.22 fell pony when really i should be on a 15hh at least haha!
 
No, he's not in pain, he is immaculatley looked after by his owner, new saddle, comfy saddle pad, regualr vet checks etc. And i can't help thinking if he was in pain he would play up in schooling as well as jumping?

Will try with the poles thanks :)
Worth lungeing over poles?
xx
 
Our little pony had new saddles, etc., but due to his shape, the points of the saddle tree dug in behind his shoulders :(. A lot of times he refused anything over eighteen inches as he knew it would hurt on landing :(
 
Please do not think I am being rude - as I do not mean to be:) but how experienced are you at jumping green ponies? Have you had a jump lesson on this pony so someone on the ground can see where it is going wrong? If not I would suggest this and a saddle check.
 
misst said:
Please do not think I am being rude - as I do not mean to be:) but how experienced are you at jumping green ponies? Have you had a jump lesson on this pony so someone on the ground can see where it is going wrong? If not I would suggest this and a saddle check.
Click to expand...

^^ This. I always find it helpful to have someone watching on the ground when I'm not sure how to proceed with a problem. :)
 
Ditto pretty much what everyone else has said. If all pain is ruled out then get someone knowledgable on the ground to watch.

Is it possible for you to set up a jumping lane? Start with just trotting poles and then when he is happy graduallyt start putting them into jumps. Take things very gradually.
 
I would echo what others have said - start at the beginning with poles etc and build up the pony's confidence. However, it may be you had to face it in the end that some ponies and horses just don't like or enjoy jumping. Some just don't and you can't force them to do it.
 
No your're not being rude! I have taught another little welshie to jump quite a while aho but succesfully. I don't know his past very much, as i said he isn't mine. But the owner did suggest that he had jumped before, and certainly when i rode him and popped him over a tiny jump (propped up by tires (can't spell sorry :) )) he jumped it after while. He is quite a tricky pony to school just because of his attitude tbh! I will double check his back has been seen to but i think its more schooling-over-jump excersises he needs!
Thank you all though and i will try more pole work xx
 
Has the pony ever had laminitis?

I have always believed that was a factor in why our pony started to refuse to jump when I was a child- there must have been a degree of pedal bone rotation and I could imagine that must have been very painful to the pony when she was landing and putting excessive force on her forelegs.
 
No, he hasn't. Don't mean to sound stroppy but he is fit, healthy, his tack fits etc please don't suggest things like that he has been checked!
I'd really just like some advice on exercises to do with him (which some of you have given - thanks)
I am glad some of you have mentioned the fact about his jumping - i will check his tack too.
xx
 
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