Has anyone else had to decide not to jump, because their horse doesn't like it?

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Tash88

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Had my second grid work lesson with my 6 y/o WB x TB today, and again I came off... he's very sharp and when he doesn't like the look of something, even if he's been over it before, he spins so quickly it's basically impossible to sit to, even my instructor has come off this way.

I bought him from my YO as a 5 y/o - she is a show jumper and bred him for that purpose, but quickly worked out that he was never going to be brave enough for her, although he is brilliant across country. I've never been that fussed about jumping although I did a lot when I was at university with the riding club and a little bit with my last horse (who loved it), but dressage is much more 'my thing', and that is where my horse's talent lies as well.

So today I made the decision to give up trying jumping with him altogether - I just gave it a go so that it would add a bit of variety, but as it hasn't gone especially well I just don't see the point in it any more. Last time I injured my back, it has only just got better and today I landed hard on my shoulder and think I've done something to the ligaments, I have limited use of it and it is very sore. I'm just fed up with getting injured and don't want to get seriously hurt; I'm busy with work at the moment and it is just an inconvenience!

I just feel like I'm letting my horse any myself down, but hopefully when I'm back on board and see my dressage instructor again, I'll have a little confidence boost. A bit of a pointless post really, but it would be interesting to hear other people's experiences with this kind of situation.

Tash x
 
my last horse HATED jumping, so I just left it at that. Shy loves jumping (much of the time) but with my knacked back, we aren't doing it anyway. x
 
Some horses love jumping, some hate it whether thats because they have no natural ability or because of a bad experience.
It sounds like neither you nor your horse are enjoying it very much and if dressage suits you both better then there's absolutely no reason why you should feel bad about not jumping! You can still keep the work varied by lots of hacking and even try things like fun rides or hunting but not doing the jumps - although perhaps not a good idea if he's easily worked up! ;)
It's supposed to be fun remember and jumping isn't the be all and end all! :)
 
One of my tb's hates jumping. He hated jump work when in training but ironically loved his hurdling on the track. The one and only time I tried to jump him at homw he refused point blank to move so I got off, left him standing tacked up in the middle of the field - as you do - made a square of poles on the ground around him, hopped back on and 20mins later was still in the square. Hint taken. I lead him out through a gap and did some flat work with him he didnt get away with doing nothing and I honestly couldnt have had a more lovely, forward going horse.

When I let him loose in the field again I did it from inside the square and walked off leaving him there. The little sod just walked out as though there was nothing there. He's more of a companion now and I really am not fussed about jumping so he never even has to begin thinking about it again. He does jumped thistles, long grass and hedges though if aimed at them. He just has a hated of poles and proper jumping.
 
My old mare HATED jumping, I very rarely got a good jump out of her and if I did it was only at home. She loved hacking out and was good at schooling so I decided she would be best for long distance riding (she was a part bred arab). I was gradually loosing confidence with trying to jump her and she didn't enjoy it anyway....I love hacking so it was much better for the both of us and we developed a really good bond.

If dressage is more your thing and it is what he does best then there is no shame in it! Some horses like jumping and some don't, but don't feel like you are letting your horse down, they don't think that way! If you did want to jump and he is brilliant across country then you could always have a go at hunter trials or jump cross?
 
Yes, my mare was a fabulous jumper but had an accident when she misjudged a take off (out of the field no less :eek:) somersaulted nearly biting her tongue off. She then paddled at fences that she could see through (still fabulous over completely solid fences). I did some grid work with her thinking she would regain confidence but I could tell it really worried her and it just wasn't fair.
 
Thanks for the replies, and it's interesting to see that other people's horses are also wary of poles, but fine with more natural obstacles. I think that because my yard is quite jumping-oriented and nobody just focuses on dressage, I feel like a bit of a failure, although nobody has hinted at that and everyone is very supportive. It's just me... people do go out to do dressage though so I won't be going out alone the time when I start competing (when my PhD is finished hopefully!).

I think hunter trials would be fun, and I'm not going to shy away from jumping little logs out hacking, it will take a while to build my confidence up again though.

Tash x
 
I share a mare who can't jump due to being out of work for so long (maybe in time who knows, but it will be a long time!)
I LOVED jumping - started to jump on the owners other mare who is a bit green and bizarre jumping - had a fall, really hurt myself and haven't particularly jumped since - when I have, I haven't really enjoyed it as much as I did. I have, in fact, converted to the "dark side"...showing and dressage :o:p just a joke! haha and I am loving it! I think 90% of it is due down to the fact that the horse absolutely LOVES it and it makes such a difference. Who cares if its only you going out to do dressage?? Less yard competition ;)
K x
 
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If you and your horse enjoy doing dressage then do what you both love - don't feel pressured to jump because you feel you should be, you're not letting him down! Stick with what makes you happy - you can always incorporate pole work without actual jumps, just to vary things. Some horses love jumping, others aren't so keen.
My late gelding loved jumping in his previous life, but by the time he came to me he hated it as he'd had nasty experiences / falls, and had been very overjumped - my passion is jumping but I rarely jumped over the 7 years I had him as his heart just wasn't in it. He had so much talent (5 bar gates from stand still on a daily basis when I tried to catch him!) but when you took him to a clinic/competition he wouldn't even consider stepping over a pole. He did like XC jumps on fun rides though so we stuck to those.
New horse is the complete opposite and goes wild if she sees anything vaguely resembling a jump!
 
One of the horses i share is apparently an ex show jumper, he hates it. He has an amazing jump as demonstrated when he chucked me then jumped out the school. Tried several times to jump but eventually i got the hint just because he can jump does not mean he wants to. Having given up trying i have found he likes a few pole when loose schooled but they should be only 2ft max but prefers flat work with a few trotting pole. Some horses jump some don't.
 
I had a mare that didn't like jumping - she would only tackle simple obstacles, and then only if she had a lead. But I love jumping! However, she was good at other things, so I didn't ever try to force the issue, just made the best of what she was good at, which was driving, any showing class that didn't involve leaving the ground and being a generally all round lovable ned.
 
I have an ex-racehorse who is very nervous jumping but once he gets going he really enjoys it. I knew this when I bought him and while I want to do mainly dressage, I want to be able to jump if I like as well, so we will keep working on it. However, I don't think there is anything wrong with deciding not to jump if neither you or horse enjoy it. Don't worry! x
 
Yep! He's genuine enough that he will take me over anything, but, he has no natural talant and after 2 years of having 50/50 chance when it comes to showjumping [XC, he is fine], and knocking up Splints/quite a few falls.....I've called it a day with him jumping about a year or so ago now.

HHe's a joy to ride, a joy to hack, a joy to school...I've put my all into working on him jumping [twice weekly lessons over one winter with Olympic level trainer working on him], and aftera few very tetchy, should have been worse falls....I happily bowed down and accepted him for what he is now. [Or isn't lol]. If we do jump, it is just a sole single fence popped us as a spread with a very obvious ground line or 'open ditch' as most joke.

So, his job is now just pottering about hacking [still nothing that can out gallop us yet!] and hunting over winter. :)
 
Thanks again, I feel better now that I know it's not only me and my horse! Going to give his dressage training my all now, might have to do some exciting shopping at some point in the future as well: dressage saddle, blingy browband, white bandages, double bridle....

Hopefully we will both be happier and grow in confidence again, in dressage lessons I actually feel like I can ride which is nice!

Tash x
 
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