Hopping before a jump ?

[skye01]

I brought my mare a year and a half ago to hopefully event , she was quite green and very forward high headed into a jump. As time has come on she has learnt to "bunny hop" when coming up to the jump. The more I try to hold her the bigger they get, if I let her go she's gets so flat and fast she wipes them out or gets In a muddle. Has anyone else experienced their horse doing this? They're just getting bigger and bigger and more common- I nearly fell off her the other day, and it actually quite scared me. She doesn't do it out cross country it's only showjumping and the odd occasion when I check her doing flat work.

we brought a calming mask to jump her in which seemed to help but took her out competing last weekend and she still threw some shapes.
had saddler and physio out and said she's fine. A martingale makes her a lot worse and she's in a eggbutt bomber bit currently.
Has anyone else experienced this or have any tips on how I can reduce her from doing this?
I can't attach a video so have attached a photo so you can see what I mean.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

The bunny hops seem to be because your holding her back to much. You need to ride her forward into a rhythm. Do you have lessons? If not I suggest you get someone to help you. Going back to poles on the ground and getting a nice jumping canter over them is where I would start then gradually raise them once she realises its really not that exciting.

 

[skye01]

The bunny hops seem to be because your holding her back to much. You need to ride her forward into a rhythm. Do you have lessons? If not I suggest you get someone to help you. Going back to poles on the ground and getting a nice jumping canter over them is where I would start then gradually raise them once she realises its really not that exciting.

We do ride her forward into a rhythm but she gets far too forward and flat trying to take off when lined up to the jump, which is when I check her and the bunny hops come in. I have lessons every week and we do this- whenever I ride in the school we have raised poles out and a jump (only jump Once a week) but so she learns she's not alwyas jumping and it's boring etc. we do small, we make her trot , we jump then do flat work then once she calmed down let her jump again.

 

[Flicker]

If she was mine, I’d stop with the jumping completely for a bit and concentrate on flatwork and building strength in her frame. If she’s calm, supple and strong she will be more comfortable to lengthen or shorten her stride, slow down or speed up as required. Echo Fern007 on the pole work, also lots of hacking, transitions, two tracks, changes of rhythm within one gait - all those will help her.

 

[skye01]

If she was mine, I’d stop with the jumping completely for a bit and concentrate on flatwork and building strength in her frame. If she’s calm, supple and strong she will be more comfortable to lengthen or shorten her stride, slow down or speed up as required. Echo Fern007 on the pole work, also lots of hacking, transitions, two tracks, changes of rhythm within one gait - all those will help her.

Thank you!! We have tried stopping with the jumping but it makes her a whole tonne worse when it comes back to jumping , the bigger hops come in, really trying to bolt off and not listening at all if we have a break from it :/

 

[Flowerofthefen]

What is she like on the lunge over jumps?

 

[fiwen30]

What is she like on the lunge over jumps?

Or to loose school over jumps? How does she approach jumps of different sizes?

 

[Flicker]

Presumably you’ve made sure it is not a pain response? Sometimes if they find it hard to round over jumps due to hock issues they try instead to fling themselves over at speed.