Ex-NH jumping solid fences

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ELSbels

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Hi Everyone,

I'm new on here but I wanted to see what peoples thoughts are on the below:

Ex-racer purchased last year ex NH. Race record is rubbish to be frank - Ran a few races in Ireland before being sold to UK. Did a tendon, recovered, went back to race - Ran one race afterwards but pulled up then a bit of retraining then sold to me. Now that's the background roughly but I purchased him to do a bit of everything really, nothing serious just a fun life after racing and potentially hunt. My problem is he will jump anything coloured pole wise, any filler in the arenas but any solid fence/steps/bushes etc he is a complete blank no, I've managed to take him over a few little solid fences but the more he stops, the sharper he gets and more wound up.

I just want peoples thoughts on this considering that what he would of have been used to in racing I find it slightly bizarre. Had chiro and physio out, back is always in good shape, has a fitted saddle and legs look good.

Also this isn't my first ex-racer (had plenty years ago) but it's been a while so happy for people to give me their views.
 
Yes as I don't have these type fences at home. I try these little fences when I take him on a farm rides as one is only a hack away from where I am. I'll try and find something at home I can pop him over on the lunge to see if the reaction if the same but even following another horse, he still isn't keen.
 
Has he had any incidents with these kind of fences in his racing days? A friend took on an ex racer who was quite successful up to a point where it got a fright jumping a brush type fence, and as such the poor creature was naturally wary of those types of fences. She did eventually get her racer jumping over them as she boxed to a cross country venue that had similar kind of jumps and slowly acclimatised her horse to them, before hopping on board and repeating what she had done on the ground.

I would also get eyesight checked as I am taking a stab in the dark (happy to be corrected if I'm wrong!) but the fact that he jumps coloured jumps etc fine, but the naturally coloured and rustic type ones, has me wondering if he's got any underlying issues with eyesight ect x
 
I’ve found quite a few ex nh horses aren’t wild about jumping …sometimes I think it’s the difference between racing and jumping at speed and afterwards when the rider is trying to do everything much slower and in control and the horse just grinds to a stop.
 
My ex NH horse jumped for fun. He had a huge jump and was bold and brave. He was quite successful as well. Perhaps yours was a rubbish racehorse as he didn't like the jumping? Could you lunge him over a few? Even though mine was bold he wasn't keen on steps. We don't jump anymore as I don't like it anymore!
 
I've known a few bloodhounding friends have ex NH and whilst they have jumped hedges they have been extremely, not to say dangerous, jumping timber , my friend had 2 serious accidents with her horse just not picking up over timber, totally put me off ever having one for hunting. Yes I know this won't apply to all x
 
AppyLover1996 said:
Has he had any incidents with these kind of fences in his racing days? A friend took on an ex racer who was quite successful up to a point where it got a fright jumping a brush type fence, and as such the poor creature was naturally wary of those types of fences. She did eventually get her racer jumping over them as she boxed to a cross country venue that had similar kind of jumps and slowly acclimatised her horse to them, before hopping on board and repeating what she had done on the ground.

I would also get eyesight checked as I am taking a stab in the dark (happy to be corrected if I'm wrong!) but the fact that he jumps coloured jumps etc fine, but the naturally coloured and rustic type ones, has me wondering if he's got any underlying issues with eyesight ect x
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The girl who I bought him didn't give me much insight to his racing background, I found out a few things later on after I met with a girl who used to work on the yard, not quite what was sold to me but we progress and work with what we have. I'll get his eyes checked and see how we get on. He will jump rustic type poles.
 
spacefaer said:
I'd check his hocks.

Will he jump arena eventing style brown fences on a surface?
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I haven't tried on a surface with the solid fences yet, that's next on my list is to hire an arena eventing place and see how he gets on - To be honest, it's been on my mind to check his hocks as the physio does say he is stiffer down his left side of his back leg stetches.
 
Flowerofthefen said:
My ex NH horse jumped for fun. He had a huge jump and was bold and brave. He was quite successful as well. Perhaps yours was a rubbish racehorse as he didn't like the jumping? Could you lunge him over a few? Even though mine was bold he wasn't keen on steps. We don't jump anymore as I don't like it anymore!
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The only race he won was when the lead horse fell at the last fence and a few of his racing comments shown he was sticky so maybe so. Only raced as a 6 yr old. one race a 8yr old but then pulled up as that was after his tendon injury and obviously didn't come back. (He is 9 now)
 
BronsonNutter said:
Will he follow another? Not much help otherwise to advise, usually it's the other way round with the ex-hurdlers and they're too keen for XC!
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I've tried following my sisters horse over some tyres (I managed to get him over small tryes a few months prior on his own) but he just stopped dead and then has a wobble, I didn't push him on this fence as the fence wasn't the widest to try and guide him for being uncertain on it. I'm taking him out this Saturday with a few friends with solid horses so if there are any little solid fences, I'll try him on a follow and see how we get on.
 
The other thought is that he may genuinely have no idea how to jump at anything other than racing speed over schooling fences.

I've had several I've had to teach to jump from scratch despite having run over chase fences. They don't seem to understand that a log is still a jump even if approached in trot 🤣
 
On the subject of ex National Hunt horses….dont come much better than this one….as I have said before love to see him over my fence at events…but think this is his best result…..Not bad for an ex Gold Cup winner….
Ballinadenisk International Horse Trials taking place at the moment….
 

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