Horse being negatively impacted by jumping?

[Pixeldust]

I've posted previously - I have an 11 year old Andalusian x TB gelding who I have purchased a few months ago. He previously competed with his former owners and showjumped to 1.3m - this was their primary focus and he appears to have done quite well with lots of placings. I don't believe he competed in dressage but I guess would have done a lot of flat work as a part of his training.

I have him on working livery which has worked out reasonably well for me so far. I get cheaper livery in exchange for him being ridden a few times a week by other people. He is by no means a beginners horse or schoolmaster so is not highly used. He does however have a man who rides him twice a week, one of these times in a jump class. I don't jump and don't really intend to, but I am focusing on dressage.

This guy has been on holiday for the last 3-4 weeks, so it has been primarily just me riding him 3 x a week, all flatwork and poles. We have made some pretty massive gains in our training during this time, he has been nicely going on the bit and rounding out, his laterals and transitions are improving, he seems happier and I feel like we have been heading in the right direction.

His "other rider" got back and rode him two nights ago in jump class for the first time. I rode him last night and it was awful, I felt like we regressed 5-6 weeks of progress. He was throwing his head all over the place and resisting the contact. He was hollow. I couldn't get him to transition to canter on one lead. He seemed unhappy. My instructor who is highly skilled rode him toward the end of my lesson and commented that she doesn't feel he should be being jumped, she was very clear that she noticed that all of the lightness we had gained was gone last night.

He also has a degree of lordosis and muscle wastage from when I got him due to possibly previous poor saddle fit so I have been trying to get him doing lots of stretchy long and low work to help stretch him out, and muscle building supplements to rehab his back (and cut some fat).

Maybe this is just a vent. Are some horses just not made to be multi discipline? I feel like I need to ask that he is not jumped by the school but this does significantly reduce his usefulness as they have a limited number of horses which can jump and carry an adult male. I can't really afford to have him on full livery right now. Is it possible for one lesson to undo that much progress or did we just have an off night? I want to progress with my boy and eventually compete, and I worry that we will never get to a good place if someone is undoing my hard work.

 

[honetpot]

It a tough one but it’s your horse, and he is primary purpose is for you to enjoy.
Your instructor agrees so I think you need to ask how much it is going to cost to take him out of working livery or stop the jumping.
I know it may come down to your budget but I think we have a duty to our horses to keep them happy and injury free and he does sound unhappy after being jumped. The next thing he will start stopping and what will happen then?

 

[TheMule]

Have you ever watched him have a jump lesson with this other rider? If the instructor can't provide any more useful ideas why it's not working then that would be my next step. Perhaps the horse is physically limited now and shouldn't jump, or maybe he's just not being ridden very well

 

[milliepops]

Perhaps the horse is physically limited now and shouldn't jump, or maybe he's just not being ridden very well

^^ this. I think its time to assess the actual quality of the work he's doing with the jumping rider. If that rider isn't terribly skilled then it's quite possible to undo some of the work you've been doing

 

[be positive]

It may not be the jumping that is the issue, although it could well be, but more that the other rider is not as sensitive or capable as you whatever you may be told to the contrary, this is why I really do not like the idea of working livery for most owners and horses it will impact in a negative way even if it s only subtle.

You may be saving a bit on livery costs but it may cost you more in the long run by slowing down you progress and possibly physio/ vets bills to keep him physically right, I dont think it will be the jumping in itself that is damaging as it can be very beneficial in many ways but more the way he is ridden or possibly the expectations during those lessons are putting too much pressure on muscles that are only just building up.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I have to agree that it may well be a 'working livery' issue rather than a jumping one.

ETA - I know that having reduced livery is a good thing for many and can make the difference between them being able to afford a horse or not, but it isn't IME an even trade. The owner relinquishes the right to choose who they allow on their horse and they also then have no say in the lesson plan. Your aims when you ride him and the aims of the instructor and pupil during the riding school lessons will very rarely completely overlap. You will - for example - be working on your horse's fitness, schooling, etc... with a long term view, the school is looking for a horse to complete the lesson plan safely for a paying customer.

I would have a good think about whether working livery suits this horse and your long term goals for him.

 

[Trouper]

Agree entirely with bepositive and Faracat - have seen a number of examples where working livery simply did not suit the horse and, in one case, came close to spoiling him entirely. The vet bills cancelled out any savings the owner thought she was making. Just one extra thought - are you using different saddles for your lessons and the other rider's jumping lesson? Problems with one could be leading to soreness for him even in another saddle but I, too, would want to be observing the jumping lesson.

 

[be positive]

Trouper makes a very good point about the saddle, I hadn't thought about the fact that you may be riding in a dressage saddle which is obviously not going to be used for jumping lessons, it may be you are using a GP or jump saddle yourself or he has 2 saddles but is certainly something to look into.
I would also make sure they are not using a different bridle, it would make sense for you to go and watch a lesson to find out what is really going on , just turn up without telling them and make any decisions based on what is going on when they think you are not there, it may be extremely interesting.

 

[The Trooper]

If you have noticed that he is not performing as well and "I felt like we regressed 5-6 weeks of progress." then something mustn't be working well for the horse who I assume will be your first priority.

I would stop him being jumped immediately and take the hit on the extra livery or move him to another facility. He is your horse, you're putting hard work into him that is being undone. 2-3 weeks of work being undone in one night, something is not right.

All my opinion of course.

 

[Courbette]

If your not able to afford full liver have you considered a sharer? That way you can have a closer relationship with your horses other rider and search for somebody who has the same aims as you. Just an idea if the working livery isn't working out

 

[Maesto's Girl]

I do everything with mine - including combined training - which means going from dressage to jumping and often back to dressage for the next class in one day and I have never experienced any issues or changes. I would agree it may be more an issue with the other rider. I also change saddle with my mare and there is no variation in way of going.