horse jumping question?

[Pidge]

Does your horse have its ear forward or back (or other) when jumping? Was looking at some old pictures of when I first had Pidge and he always had his ears forward when jumping. The last couple of sessions jumping when had photos done his ears are back when jumping - is this down to me? I know I sometimes catch him in the mouth when landing but am now having a little guilt trip

he still loves his jumping just as much by the way its just his ears that have changed

 

[PapaFrita]

PF has her ears forwards at all times when she's jumping

Actually... her ears are forwards most of the time. I don't think you should worry about Pidge's ears going back unless they are flat and especially if accompanied by tail swishing, pinched nostrils etc. Does he look unhappy/uncomfortable in the pics?

 

[dieseldog]

Olympic always had his ears back as he went over the jump unless it was a double then he was looking at the second part - ears forward. But coming into a fence they were always forward.

Don't know what the new one does

 

[05mannn]

My pony puts 1 forwards and 1 back!!! she absolutely loves jumping but has started listening to my aids with help of my instructor

 

[Pidge]

the only tail swishing he does in excitement when jumping

do you think he looks unhappy?

 

[PapaFrita]

I think he looks absolutely fine

 

[dieseldog]

no he doesn't look unhappy

 

[spider]

Looks like he is listening to you

 

[Pidge]

you're both absolutely sure he looks ok? sorry am having a guilt trip at the moment and need a good kick up the arse! Could it be that we are having more control jumping as our flatwork is improving (slowly) and he is listening to me? Just noticed that all the photos jumping at shows last year his ears were forward for the majority of jumps and now they are rarely forward

 

[catembi]

Cat mostly had both ears forward but sometimes he had one back cos he was 'listening' to me.

In my fave pic of us going xc, he has one ear forward & one back, as if to say, 'where now?' And my face is ???? cos I'd walked the course rather hastily & had forgotten, & was frantically looking at jump numbers!

Your horse's ears look 'listening' rather than frightened or reluctant.

 

[madhector]

he looks fine hun! not unhappy at all, stop worrying

 

[Pidge]

thanks everyone, so I'm stressing over nothing then? nothing unusual there then

thank you for putting my mind at rest much appreciated as always

 

[merlinsquest]

Hi, Not saying he looks in pain (bit bored if anything, but thats fairly normal for a horse) but just to be on the safe side, have you had the saddle checked. If its pinching etc it could make him anticipate discomfort on landing.

I think you are great for noticing and being a concerned and loving owner.... you always seem to have his welfare foremost in your mind x

 

[Pidge]

bored? could it be he prefers to jump bigger fences? whereas I prefer them a bit smaller?
Saddles done last friday as was back and had teeth done on wednesday so everything is hunky dory.
thanks, I always think I come across as a worrier

 

[mad_egg]

I think he looks quite happy in his jumping - and I disagree that he looks bored in that photo, he's giving the jump plenty of room, he's listening to his rider and he is using his body well.

 

[merlinsquest]

Could be that he does not need to concentrate on the fence so much as its not huge and maybe is more confident in his striding etc..... hence not having to really 'look' at the fence.

As you have checked everything else, then no need to worry

 

[Pidge]

thank you both