How to make a SJ'er care?

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flyingfeet

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OK so without resorting to nasty methods, how you make a horse care about poles?

My older one (9) is fab at home and won't touch a thing, but when he goes to a competition he falls asleep (think the opposite of most horses) and has started to have more and more poles down. Now some of them are my fault for not setting him up. However today in discovery we had 4 down and watching the video he just doesn't bother to clear it.

He is a bit fat, so that doesn't help (currently on diet plan!). However without resorting to something nasty is there any way to help at competitions?
Training at home fine and he rarely has anything down. I can loose school him over 4ft 6" so not a lack of scope.
 
well, if you school above the height that he competes he may just become careless when competing at a smaller height!
my friends old pony used to do that, so they got a long metal pole (not rapping - they would never do that) and put it on the back of a parrallel. when he knocked the pole, it would give off a sound which would surprise him, and consequently he started to get a little more careful! they only did this once then he started to get the idea, and more schooling over grids helped him lift his shoulder and back legs! now he is with another rider and curently jumping in 148 ABC classes!
its not even nasty, as once he touched it he picked himself up more and started to respect the poles!
 
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I don't know, I have the same problem!
 
See that wouldn't work - at home he is very careful so wouldn't touch a metal pole.

However I did have a thought - at home I ride late in the evenings as I work. Today it was boiling in the sunshine, and I wouldn't normally ride him until it was cooler.

So it is possible the heat made him lethargic, but then how do you get over that?
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I had been schooling him over higher jumps so an up to height discovery didn't scare me
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I have used red cell (and propell plus) with my mare (hefty ID x TB) when she competes in the summer - something an old trainer used on her - it seems to work so may be worth a try??
 
do you compete him everyweekend ??? do you jump him a lot in the week ??

maybe he is bored ??? take him cross country maybe i used to do that with my old boy soon learned those didnt move if he didnt pick his leggies up !!!!

it may of been the heat but if he is doing this everyweekend then maybe not !!
 
My horse was like a donkey in the heat at The Hand. I spent no time whizzing him up before first round and he jumped badly. 2nd one I was much sharper with his warm up making him work off tight circles, working the canter more and at some points getting him to extend in canter then come back so he was forwards and he jumped a lot better.
My horse jumps brilliantly training so guess it must be me!
 
I used to feed my big lazy WB pink powder, it definalty made him feel 'stronger/bouncier' in himself. I also used to make him stay in all day as he just got to fat and lazy on grass.

With Spot we have found that we need to feed him bucket loads of oats to get him jumping properly, without them he will runout of oomph but with them will jump DC round a fox.

I think I would up the energy level of his food for a show and try that.
 
He had competed 2 weekends running, but because I have his brother I try and compete both and invariably have to alternate, as I cannot manage 2 horses without help!

I've been studying the video and to be fair my reins are too long and we appear to be lolloping along. However he gets in too close and then doesn't put enough effort in to clear them.

I'll have to figure out how to get it on the web and get some advice from you guys!

I think the heat killed him off, although there was no excuse for the BN as that was early.
 
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I am going to try Propel Plus - will let you know if it works!

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Bo struggled in the heat last summer..but Propell Plus turned him into a different horse
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I use Red Cell for my 21 year old boy and it works wonders, use it everyday for about a week to get it into his system then only use it a couple of days before a show and you should see a difference!!!

Have you tried jumping him over bigger fences at a show.. maybe he cant be bothered cause they are almost too small for him if you see what I mean.. sounds like that could be it, especially if you say he is loose jumping massive at home!!
Failing that try not jumping him in the week and leave it for when you get to a show unless you feel you need the practice, both my boys dont jump in the week - as Stacey said he might just be a bit bored and then cant tell the difference to jumping at home to jumping at a show!!
Worth a try!
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I would recommend you having a lesson or two with a good trainer.

My guess is that you ride differently at shows and you need to work on how you ride at competitions rather that how you ride at home.
 
Well I've been having lessons with Brain Hutton and have some more scheduled with Jonty Evans

Have now stopped launching myself up the horses neck, but also not telling him in no uncertain terms where to take off! I'm going to try lots of loose schooling to get the neddies thinking about jumping on their own.
 
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