Jump sick ?

[NWponyrider]

Has anyone had a horse who might be considered as being 'Jumpsick?' Is there such a thing or should we be looking at other under lying causes for apparent lack of interest in show jumping?

 

[loobylu]

Certainly- if they are jumping week in, week out, I think some horses would get 'bored' or tired of it. Could you justify giving him a month of hacking and drop back his work a bit. Could help to freshen him up a bit for the season- you don't want a fed up horse at this time of year.
Obviously the usual teeth, saddle checks etc
He could also just be feeling the winter a bit and be dull, especially as the weather is changing, can make them a bit funny.
Good luck

 

[samp]

CAn either be a pain response or they are simply bored of same old same old. Teens seem to tend to jump everyday, however this is when horses tend to start stopping. It would be like you having to do the same subject at school everyay - now how boring is that

 

[Ashf]

We had a pony on loan which had gone stale before we had her. My daughter jumped her a bit and she was fine in an XC and over plain rustic poles, but as soon as she was shown a coloured SJ course, she totally lost interest and would just plant.

 

[Dogbetty141]

I think the best advice would be to stop jumping for a while and do other stuff with your horse to keep his mind off jumping! My horse was getting rather bored of schooling last winter so he decided he wasnt going to do it any more and would have tantrums! We would get through them and carry on but it was suggested to me that i should give him a break and take him out to keep him still interested! I would also suggest that you get everything checked out so make sure that it is not a pain related reaction! good luck!

 

[AmyMay]

Rember, show jumpers, eventers ect. very rarely jump established horses at home. I think that there's misconception that everything has to be drilled, drilled, drilled - and it's simply not the case.