Horse doesn't Jump Doubles :-/

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jo_pearl

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I have recently got a new horse from a friend who is fab and loves her jumping but has an issued with doubles.

When i seen her jump at a show she stop twice at the 2nd part of a double. As was a local show a local SJ instructor went in and lowered the front part and she jumped it perfect. He then put the fence back up and she jumped fine. In the 2nd class she flew the double!

A friend then took her Clear Round this week and had exactly the same issue happened. She stopped at the 2nd part of the double twice and then when asked to go back into it in trot flew it several times with no issue.

She jumps everything else with no issues only the 2nd part of a double. Its not a nasty stop and she dont run off but just stands there and looks at the fence.

Any ideas on how to get her jumping the double confidently.

Thank you :)
 
thank you :) im planning to do looks of grids and pole work with her. its as if she lacks confidence and once she jumps it once she flews them and doesnt even think of stopping!
 
Pole-work building up slowly to grids sounds good.

If she is stopping rather than running out, then I'd keep the jumps low enough for her to step over, and encourage her over the second element from a standstill when she stops. Breathe for a moment, put your leg on, and be ready to give your hands right forward in case she balloons over it.

An exercise I found useful is setting up two fences on a line but several strides apart. Start by coming into the second fence only, then circle around to do the first and second together.

Both might help break the pattern of refusing the second fence at the first attempt, if you see what I mean.
 
I'm sure it is just a confidence thing, but one thing to consider is that two jumping efforts in a short space of time could be causing her pain. My boy (he was 24 at the time) started stopping at the first part of doubles. He NEVER stopped so we took him off to the vet. He came up 1/10 lame after flexion tests so vet xrayed his knees and they were shot. Vet was amazed he was sound let alone just not jumping. The theory was he saw he'd have to jump again straight after landing and just couldn't do it. He was probably a lot older than you mare though so I wouldn't worry too much, just something to consider if she doesn't improve.
 
Lots of people worry about doubles and tend to collapse in-between elements. Ride them as if it's just the last fence. Don't let her rush and keep your head up.

Do lots of small X-pole doubles and bounces to get your (and her) confidence up.
 
Thank you all for your replies :) that is my plan to do small grids and lots of poles :)

I like your exercise Steorra I shall try that.

I don't think it's pain as once she has been over it once she will jump it 100 times with no issue. It's as if she goes I can't do it. Even if she runs out its for bout 2 strides then she stops. We always get her over the double and then she flies around it and doesn't look twice. It's as if once she's jumped it once she knows she can do it+keeps jumping then.

She doesn't stop at anything else. I do think it's a confidence issue+I will be very patience+rewarding with her as she is such a fab mare+hasn't had the best of homes in the past she was seriously over bitted in the past but she is so honest in everything she does.

I am going to give her as much time as she needs to get her confidence :)
 
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