Feeling disheartened - Jumping refusals

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EveningStar

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Not sure why I'm posting this really. Had a two day showjumping show here this weekend and it went awfully. We had a period in December where he was stopping quite a bit. Got a new instructor and had a few treatments with a massage therapist and the last few shows have been going really well, no stops and he was really keen and pinging.

Yesterday we had show hunter 80 and 90. He went ok in the 80 a bit sticky so had a rail but was still pretty keen and no sign of stopping.
Had a wait around went to warm up for next class and bam he stopped. Came around and he jumped it again and I went back to wait for next class. Went in and he stopped at the first fence. Came around and he went over it again but then he crawled over the next fence and stopped at the second part of the double. Got over it and then got to next fence stopped and I fell off. My first fall on him too. Got him over the practice fence again and called it a day.

Today was showjumping 90/1m. Warmed up for the 90 and he had a few stops but got him going ok. Went and he flew around until came around the corner, lost the canter a bit and stopped. Re-presented and stop. Eliminated. We were allowed to jump one as we left and he flew over it.

Warmed up for the 1m and same story stopping but then going over until he stopped at the oxer and I had another unscheduled dismount. I'd seriously had enough by then so my instructor got someone really experienced to have a go one him and take him in the class. He went quite well for her just had another stop at same fence again just lost the canter and he said no.

I just feel like utter crap. My riding just gets worse as he behaves like this as I get more defensive. Because I'm so short I also find it really hard to get my legs around him to push him on at the last minute and that doens't really help either.

I'm really frustrated at the moment as he was going so well and now we are back to square one again :(
 
First, it it's impossible to give pertinent advice without seeing the situation and possibly even sitting on the horse. :)

That said, a few elements of your story ring alarm bells for me.

When you had issues with him before you said he 'had treatments' - which treatment and for what? Was he worked up by the vet at the time? All the usual suspects - hocks, feet, back - checked out?

It is quite possible for horses to just say no and this might be the case here - can't see, can't tell - but I'm always suspicious when a horse is jumping well and then suddenly doesn't, with no obvious extenuating factors. Even the fact that he went for another rider is inconclusive. A stronger ride can provide the motivation for a horse to go when it's really not feeling it but it could also be that someone who creates a stronger canter, is less likely to miss etc is actually creating a more comfortable and doable experience for the horse.
 
What TarrSteps said - impossible to give definate advice without seeing in the flesh. I don't really have any adivce, just a couple of things to think about

What does your instructor think is the problem?

Also, from what you write, it seems to be when the canter is lost then the stops happen. How old is your horse? Could it be a greeness/confidence issue that when the approach is wrong they find it difficult to jump?

Does it only happen at shows or are they like this at home too?

If theres no underlying pain problem, it might be worth going right back to basics and working fro mthere

Good luck :)
 
I feel for you, had the smae problem last year. i had everything checked, worked a lot on flat work, entered the smaller classes and built up our confidence we are now happy at 1m, but that is my comfort height, don't think I am brave enough to go bigger. My plan is to find a professional to take him up to the next level, as doubt my ability, to be much help to him
 
I agree with above, if it is a new problem that has developed randomly, I would get it checked out; back, teeth, feet, saddle, ulcers etc as it could be pain related.

I had a stopper a couple of years back and it turned out he just didn't enjoy it and was telling me no...he does dressage now and loves it - he just didn't have the mentality for jumping.
 
My horse stopped today for the first time EVER! Seemed a filler was much too spooky and he stopped dead round the corner about 5 strides away! Took 5 attempts to get him near it and over it! Once over once jumped fine. Horses are strange :P
 
Thanks for the replies

TarrSteps said:
First, it it's impossible to give pertinent advice without seeing the situation and possibly even sitting on the horse. :)

That said, a few elements of your story ring alarm bells for me.

When you had issues with him before you said he 'had treatments' - which treatment and for what? Was he worked up by the vet at the time? All the usual suspects - hocks, feet, back - checked out?

It is quite possible for horses to just say no and this might be the case here - can't see, can't tell - but I'm always suspicious when a horse is jumping well and then suddenly doesn't, with no obvious extenuating factors. Even the fact that he went for another rider is inconclusive. A stronger ride can provide the motivation for a horse to go when it's really not feeling it but it could also be that someone who creates a stronger canter, is less likely to miss etc is actually creating a more comfortable and doable experience for the horse.
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He has had a few back/wither issues and has had a few massage treatments which seem to help but I think he is actually sore again so she is booked to come out on Tuesday. If it is not his back then further investigations will be considered. I am also on the hunt for a new better fitting saddle.

Brimmers said:
What TarrSteps said - impossible to give definate advice without seeing in the flesh. I don't really have any adivce, just a couple of things to think about

What does your instructor think is the problem?

Also, from what you write, it seems to be when the canter is lost then the stops happen. How old is your horse? Could it be a greeness/confidence issue that when the approach is wrong they find it difficult to jump?

Does it only happen at shows or are they like this at home too?

If theres no underlying pain problem, it might be worth going right back to basics and working fro mthere

Good luck :)
Click to expand...

Instructor thinks he is taking the piss which is very possible as well. He is the lazy kind and if he doesn't 'have' to do something he would rather not.

He is 12 and quite established he has jumped around 1.30 tracks with previous semi-pro rider and apparently 'never' stopped with her. I have heard that he would throw in a stop with a girl who was riding him last year though.

It will happen at home occasionally as well where I don't ride him confidently enough into the fence and he will say no.

We have one show left for the summer season so I will drop down a level and see how we go. I know as a rider I have a lot to work on.

It is just a little frustrating as the last couple of shows he was really flying around, jumping off any stride with no thought of a stop
 
I have to say, more and more about the story makes me thing pain. If he has jumped much bigger classes he should not be finding his current gig difficult and if he was willing and able to jump those classes - and for the years it took to get there - then he cannot be, at heart, a horse that hates the job. It's not the same situation as a horse that does a few YH classes and looses his taste for it because he is rushed or overfaced.

Also, to get to 1.30 he would have had to jump a fair number of jumps. It would be unusual for a horse that age at that level not to have some "management" in the form of joint supplements/medication, regular physio etc I know he is not doing it now but that doesn't negate the wear and tear.

The part of your first post that made me go hmm, was the fact that he jumped okay, then stood around, then didn't jump. Of course, he - or you - may have switched off, but that is also a classic discomfort scenario.

One argument would be that he doesn't always stop. But horses aren't stupid, they know what hurts and what doesn't and the mark of a reasonably generous horse is he usually goes rather than he usually doesn't, at least in the short term. Many horses initially won't jump off a particular distance or on a certain footing or some other apparently "random" occurrence. It's typical of horses with hock issues to not like the long distance and for horses with back issues to not like the deep one, although there are not hard and fast rules. Horses with pain that isn't bilateral will often stop, or even just jump awkwardly, off a particular turn or when they happen to get there with their legs in a particular set up. It seems random but to the horse it isn't. I have a dodgy knee - it doesn't bother me all the time but I am also aware I am unconsciously careful to not, say, land on it if I jump over something so I will shuffle step to make sure I land on the other one.

Anyway, as I said, I can't see it and could have it completely wrong. I in no way believe that all undesirable behaviours result only from pain, just recounting my experience with similar situations.

Btw, there are LOTS of horses jumping well that are not technically 100% sound. With the right management and some understanding many can keep going, if at a reduced level, and really enjoy the job. So I'm not saying your horse has a problem or it needs to mean anything drastic, just saying it's worth analysing the situation carefully to see if a faint pattern emerges.
 
It's pretty dry and bloody hard my way? Is he feeling the ground? I will be forced to pad up if there's anything coming up on grass as there is just nothing to the ground?
Did anyone video your rounds? Could you send any pics or vids to someone to have a look at? I know you were having to sneak to get different instructors so are you getting the best knowledge from yours?
 
TarrSteps - thanks for the reply I really appreciate it. I agree with you as to it pointing to pain. Although he is the lazy type he does love to jump so will see how he is after his massage treatment tomorrow.

Luce- The ground is hard but he was jumping on a surface in the indoor on Friday so no excuses there. No videos sorry just the couple of photos I've got on fb where Im riding like a banana. Its really frustrating for me as I'm getting all these people tell me different things but no real solutions. I know that my riding really doesn't help alot as I need to be stronger and more balanced and I've still not got an eye for a stride yet (well I know where we are supposed to take off from but no real idea on how to achieve that). It doesn't help that its always focused on how Billy is going and not so much me
 
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