Horse not jumping

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EP2504

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I've got a 4 year old (rising 5) Thoroughbred mare who's always been a right..well, mare, who's very iffy about her jumping.
She was jumping amazingly and then a few months ago she decided she wasn't going anywhere near a jump and wouldn't go over a pole on the floor.
Then she had an unfortunate 8 weeks off lame, but it actually seemed to do her the world of good and she came back much happier, and her jumping came back brilliantly and she was flying everything and we were even starting to introduce 'scary' things (like a cone under a fence.. nothing much) but then about 2 weeks ago she decided she's not doing it again and has an absolute fit anytime she might be jumping or asked to go over a pole.
She's never have any confidence knocks or been over jumped, or been jumped too big etc.
She'll reluctantly be led over poles on the ground, but even when she's ok on the ground with them, as soon as you're on her back, she won't do it again, and following other horses doesn't seem to help either- she's incredibly stubborn!
I've had help from instructors and even if after an hour of persisting she will go over a cross pole, she won't do another fence or even the same fence from a different direction, and if you try and jump her again another day, it's like starting from scratch all over again!
I'm currently taking her back to basics and she walked over a course of poles on the floor last week (following four other horses before doing it on her own) and seemed quite enthusiastic about it, but this doesn't mean she'll be as enthusiastic about it next time!
I'm beginning to lose the plot with her. I bought her to event and obviously if she doesn't want to jump then I won't make her, but when she does she seems to really enjoy herself so I don't want to give up just yet!- She's got endless scope and talent.
I've been focussing on her flat work for a few weeks, but I thought now that spring is coming it'd be time to start introducing jumps again.
Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get her jumping more consistently?
I've had lessons with lots of instructors but we're all now very stumped!

Her back, teeth, feet, saddle etc. are all fine and she has no health issues.

Sorry for the essay, and thanks in advance!
 
My mare did something similar to this. She rising 6 and XC / hunting we are fine with jumping, but anything resembling a coloured pole all of sudden she just went "noooo". Nothing nasty but as soon as we were on the line she would come to a steady stop. In the end I had to go away for work for a week so sent her away for a week of schooling with my instructor as they could do more intensive work that I could (working 07:30 - 18:00, plus an hours round trip journey from work to yard and home again doesnt leave much time for schooling). Well 2 days in and the progess has been amazing! Some might say its cheating, but I dont mind! If it means that my mare enjoys jumping as much as me then I am happy. Might be a pricey option but for me was worth it. Ill just be eating beans for the rest of the month :)
 
My first reaction would be that it is somehow pain related. Especially after you say it happened previously and after the time off she was happier.
My mare jumped round 52 BE events with me and then I had two stops within four events last summer. I immediately retired her from competition as I knew she was telling me something. I jump her at home on a surface and I ride her on the beach and hack etc but I am not prepared to 'break her' and she wouldn't stop jumping for no reason as she LOVED it.

If she had never wanted to jump then that would be a different matter (I had a horse that I wanted to event) but she was not brave. Jumped any poles but would not go near a filler or a scary xc jump without a LOT of persuasion so we did dressage, which fortunately she was very good at! BUT your horse has jumped well and has now stopped so clearly something is not right for her.

Do you take her out hacking or go to other arenas? It doesn't say in your post as I also know horses that have become stale and nappy as they are only ridden in the school, especially youngsters. I think it's a good thing to join in with others and make it 'fun' :)

Has the vet been to look at her and given you their opinion? It may well be something that you can't see easily.

I hope you get it sorted for both your sakes as there is nothing more soul destroying than wanting to do something on a horse that clearly doesn't or can't. :(
 
It really sounds like there's something physical from your description. I know it's a cliche on here but what about ulcers, is she an ex racer? Try feeding her a forage based feed just before you work her.
 
dianchi said:
First thought is a full vet work up.

Followed by a boot camp if nothing found.
Click to expand...


This, the only time my boy ever had stops was when there was physically something wrong. There might have been the odd one training but if it happened more than twice in one session or at a show then I knew something was wrong and get him looked at.
You might think that she is fine but its not always the case, first time he wouldn't jump the second part of a double for love nor money, turned out he had pulled a muscle in his neck. When that was sorted he showed slight issues in his stilfes which then where sorted and didnt case him any issues.
Second time he had 2 stops in a 1m class, one was a glance off and the other a slow slide to stop. Knew something was wrong, next day he was lame and it turned out a kick from 2 weeks before had fractured the surface of his radius, yet he still showed up sound until I jumped him and bless him he still jumped round most of that course for me.
The fact that she went lame for a few weeks then was happy to jump after and now is saying no, makes me think something is wrong. It could be anything so I would get the vet up.
If its nothing physical then a very good instructor will help or get a more experinced rider. You might find that it is a bit of a confidence issue on her part even thou you might not realise, when your expecting a stop it makes you ride differently which may well upset her make her wonder what the issue is and lose confidence. It can be a bit of a frustrating cycle.
 
I agree with the others with looking at physical issues.
I've not had a mare for some time but I do know a couple of friends who have and they have had to start feeding Regumate. As you say she is a mareish mare, could it be something as simple as being in season?
 
Agree with the others re physical causes its definitely worth checking - saddle? They do change shape a lot at that age?
Will she pop over wee logs etc out hacking -or can you take her somewhere they have these kind of things just to see??
If it does tie into seasons she may have sore lady bits which would be hard for a vet to see unless he was there at that exact time
Maybe she just needs chucked out on the spring grass for a month or two to grow up a bit more?
More questions than answers lol - sorry!
 
I have a horse that expoldes ocassionally , he passed a full lameness workup three times. then insisted on him being x rayed and that was a whole new story. I would agree that it is probably physical and most likely front feet, 80% of problems are - that is where I would start. Other signs of front feet are trying to take off farther out and land farther out, i.e. jumping flat and bunny hopping either in front of or after the fence. Plus the usual pointing and/or standing with hind legs in front of the vertical. Spend some time watching her in the field and see if you can see anything out of the ordinary for her. Mine , unfortunately still jumped but would explode for no apparent reason either in between fences or on the flat. He liked jumping so must have ignored his feet.
 
Pain is a strong possibility, so worth investigating properly.

However, you say you bought her to event.....many, many years ago I took a couple of horses to Steven Hadley...... one belonged to an owner and I was struggling big time with it. I always remember him saying 'there's only two types of horse in this world as far as I'm concerned; there's them that jumps and them than don't! Yours jumps, that one doesn't.'

That's worth bearing in mind...not sure at what level you want to compete, but we (humans, horses, dogs) all have our own areas of talent and area in which we struggle, so why persevere with something that struggles in your chosen area??
 
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