Horse refusing once then goes over straight after every time a jump or do ground poles

[Tigerlily7]

Hi I have a young mare who has been in work about 1.5 years now after a good 2 years off due to ulcers then just needing time to mature. We have started jumping about 5 months ago now but don’t seem to be getting anywhere. At the start of every session whether it be ground poles or show jumps she will stop but doesn’t look at the jump she looks everywhere but the jump. But then once she’s stopped at the jump or pole once she will absolutely fly them all and be really willing and forward. Has anyone else experienced this? We are getting chirotherpist and saddle fitter out and she’s recently had her teeth done.

 

[LEC]

If she is stopping at poles I wouldn't even be doing jumps until the horse can go over a pole first time. As with everything its repetition.
If she isn't going over them with a rider on then my starting point would be leading. I would be doing this every day for 5 mins at end of a ride, start of a ride etc to mix it up. When walking alongside a rider and confident, I would ask on the lunge. When good on the lunge then you do it with a rider. Then I would go away from home with arena hire doing just poles and expect to have to go back through the system of being led, being lunged, being ridden.

Essentially until 100% with poles which they should be then I wouldn't jump. I know there will be one or two people who go oh mine never got good with poles and jumped fine. But that's leaving a hole in their education.

I would also be having a lot of lessons.

 

[Tigerlily7]

If she is stopping at poles I wouldn't even be doing jumps until the horse can go over a pole first time. As with everything its repetition.
If she isn't going over them with a rider on then my starting point would be leading. I would be doing this every day for 5 mins at end of a ride, start of a ride etc to mix it up. When walking alongside a rider and confident, I would ask on the lunge. When good on the lunge then you do it with a rider. Then I would go away from home with arena hire doing just poles and expect to have to go back through the system of being led, being lunged, being ridden.

Essentially until 100% with poles which they should be then I wouldn't jump. I know there will be one or two people who go oh mine never got good with poles and jumped fine. But that's leaving a hole in their education.

I would also be having a lot of lessons.

Thank you!

 

[Caski]

When you say that your mare simply flies the poles/jumps, could it be that she is slightly uncomfortable and therefore tries to do as she's bidden as quick as possible just to get it done? Horses can be very stoical and even if in pain they will do what is asked of them, you just need to tune in, maybe get somebody on the ground who is knowledgeable to support you both?

Hopefully the chiro and saddle fit check will help.

 

[Tigerlily7]

When you say that your mare simply flies the poles/jumps, could it be that she is slightly uncomfortable and therefore tries to do as she's bidden as quick as possible just to get it done? Horses can be very stoical and even if in pain they will do what is asked of them, you just need to tune in, maybe get somebody on the ground who is knowledgeable to support you both?

Hopefully the chiro and saddle fit check will help

Than you yeh my instructor recommended we get the Chiro and saddle fitter out just put this on here to see if anyone else has experienced the same thing

 

[Spiderpig2009]

“Every stop is a thorn on the heart of the horse” as we were told as kids. It is a different world today…if a horse ever stopped, we would always drop everything down until the horse had confidence from the get go. Drop the first few jumps every jump at every session, the fence has to be small enough to walk over. If it stops, it can still go over. They learn that turning around or going backwards is not an option.

Even when I was jumping big tracks, I always warmed up and started with a cross pole.

Most horses in good mind and body, should love to jump, if you are getting this then go right back again. Build from the foundations. Unfortunately gone are the days of building confidence in horse and rider- I will get shot down for this I am sure, and too often veterinary issues- ulcers, feed, something wrong with the horse etc- the first area people look to to explain why the horse is not performing as was expected. The fundamentals of training is that- build fun, technical skills and confidence. If you encounter issues, go back and drop everything down until you can get that fun and excitement. They can un learn habits too…it’s repetition

 

[Spiderpig2009]

If she stops at poles as well as jumps, it sounds likes she has zero confidence, possibly inexperience or short cutter training (not saying this was you by the way!). Take the pole away from the ground and just work her through the wings with no pole a few times, then place a single pole and work up from there. Just don’t ever put two poles down by themselves as they often think of this as a challenge and a single jump. Always odd numbers. Walk, trot and canter over each session in both directions. Do it for a few weeks if you need to.

Just do this each session for a few times and she will get some confidence, do the same thing several times- start the same way each session then she knows the routine and will soon forget about it.

It should be fun!

This was how we started our showjumpers from day one. Wings no pole, then pole, then poles, then x pole, then x poles around arena, and just built on that over the first year until first show