Horse that won't jump!

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scattynuttymare

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What do I do with a horse that simply won't jump anything! Doesn't even make any attempt! No matter how big they are! Just ploughs straight through sending poles everywhere but never once refuses or runs out. Yet trots and canters over poles so beautifully! Nothing wrong with her back etc. Doesn't look unhappy when she's ploughing through jumps. I'm stuck........
 
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Don't jump it.

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Ha ha Amy I love you sometimes!! But yes, not all horses are cut out for jumping, and if its ploughing through jumps its getting dangerous and not worth the risk.
 
Take it XC
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i would suggest that you go and book in lesson with an instrutor and then can work out where's it's all going wrong

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Have been having lessons with a BHSI, the instructor has ridden and tried too. Even he has given up.

Guess maybe the easiest option would be not to jump it
 
Some horse just don't want to. Sounds like you could both get seriously hurt - so in all honesty I would let it keep it's feet on the ground.
 

Sounds exactly like mine! She does exactly the same with coloured poles! If she knows it isn't solid she will just take the mick but if it's a wall or hedge out hunting she will jump it like a dream & never puts a foot wrong, grrrr.

It's taken work but I have managed to get a semi decent jump out of her with poles. Started off low, lunging her over them at trot, then graduated to trotting poles & a small jump while riding before eventually building up to a reasonable height course. I do have to ride her really strongly into the jump & let her know there is no messing & if I feel her start to hesitate, keep my seat deep, leg on & give her a slap on the shoulder just so she knows.

I had exactly the same problem & it wasn't pain or anything like that but purely because she knew that walking through them caused her no bother or pain. Solid stuff like XC & hunting she never refuses & I've been told that she jumps like a stag. She's jumped a 5ft wall from a stand till before now so it certainly isn't lack of ability with her!!!

I honestly found that starting again with her & letting her know that I absolutely would not stand for P taking really helped. She has improved tremendously & is still doing so
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Good luck!
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Sounds exactly like mine! She does exactly the same with coloured poles! If she knows it isn't solid she will just take the mick but if it's a wall or hedge out hunting she will jump it like a dream & never puts a foot wrong, grrrr.

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Maybe I should close my eyes and try a cross country fence or two
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Or see if someone else wants to
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Hmmm, will the rest of your plan a go though!!
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Thanks!
 
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Maybe I should close my eyes and try a cross country fence or two
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Or see if someone else wants to
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Hmmm, will the rest of your plan a go though!!
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Thanks!

[/ QUOTE ]It's what slightly younger, holds no fear younger sisters are for
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I know how you feel though, it's frustrating when you know they can do it, they just can't be bothered!

Let us know how you get on because I'd be interested to know, he sounds a cheeky little monkey!
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he sounds a cheeky little monkey!
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[/ QUOTE ] I agree.
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Could you lunge him over some xc jumps? That way only he gets hurt! He wont do it to many times before he realises he has to pick his feet up or take the consequences?
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i'd loose jump it or lunge it over a few fixed fences, i think.
i'd try jumping sth very small from walk, under saddle, in case it's simply a case of total cluelessness as to where its legs and feet are.
but some horses really aren't any good at jumping, so if it's really that hopeless, in the interests of safety, i'd probably not jump it.
 
Some horses just don't jump! My last horse didn't, I did abit of digging and found out she'd never actually been taught, and combined with back problems she simply couldnt do it! She could pop over small solid things out hacking thought, logs etc, but her technique was lacking due to not being taught how. How about some poles into a small solidish jump (what about fillers??) with horse loose?
 
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he sounds a cheeky little monkey!
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[/ QUOTE ] I agree.
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Could you lunge him over some xc jumps? That way only he gets hurt! He wont do it to many times before he realises he has to pick his feet up or take the consequences?
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[/ QUOTE ]I did with mine but the little madam knew what was solid & what she could take the mick out of! Grrrr!

If it's jumps in general I'd lunge him over some XC jumps yes. As you say, he'll soon learn to respect the jump or take the consequences
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Sunny (my pony) only had a problem with coloured poles so as harsh as it sounds I fixed one coloured pole to some solid supports (heavy enough that the jump wouldn't roll & tangle her legs/make her fall) & she rapped it a few times with her feet. First time she stopped & looked as if to say "well, that's never happened before"
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Second time she stumbled a little, refused it a few times then jumped it cleanly.

Each session she carried on a few times being a bit silly but then started to jump it cleanly. As soon as she did I made a huge fuss of her & left it at that for that particular session.

She is getting loads better & I can get her round a course now with her putting effort in rather than crashing through the lot! I swear that it was a huge game for her, you could see that look on her face
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I know for certain it is naughtiness with mine & absolutely not pain/tack/lack of ability etc otherwise I wouldn't have pushed it with her.

God, yours sounds a replica of mine in the cheeky stakes. Too clever for their own good!
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