Jumping - an odd question.

[shmoo]

What would be a reason, if there was one, that my friend at the yard's mare would no longer be able to get the height she used to when jumping?

Sorry, very untechnical way of asking but... She used to be a hunter, around 6 years ago, had an accident which has left a white stripe down the back of her hind leg. Not sure if this was bandaging or the injury itself. She did get hold of a previous owner but was told she was a great jumper. Ex PTP. Now if she goes over 2"3 - 2"6' she knocks the jump down.

Mare is a TB x ?, 14 years old, in good general health, never lame, looks normal to me (very inexpert opinion though...).

She isn't on the net so I said I'd ask here for her.

Thanks.

 

[Darremi]

Being a good jumper as a PTP horse or hunter is a lot different to being a great jumper over coloured poles. You might never notice that a horse that jumps solid/brush fences was particularly careless, because horses tend to respect solid fences more and obviously a brush fence can be skimmed through.

If you took her out over brush or solid fences she might jump better. I knew an ex racehorse that was a great jumper on the track but just could not show jump. It's the way they are trained to jump a birch fence that makes it difficult to do coloured poles. They never learn to bascule.

Plus she's 14 now, and if she had a hard life as a young horse that wear and tear might be showing on her physically, meaning she's lost some of her ability.

 

[Lolo]

P2P jumping, and to an extent hunting jumping, are very different from 'clear the SJ' jumping. Horses for the former are trained to have a much flatter trajectory, so they clear the fences faster. SJ, you want the rounded jump.

Does she have a good instructor?

 

[Queenbee]

I'd get your vet out first the get a full physio session for your mare, I personally use sports massage on my boy but either physio or massage to ensure she is comfortable and has no underlying issues, then give her a month off jumping, Shem may simply be ticked off with it, just hack her out. It may also be that she doesn't respect the height of the jumps and needs them higher.

Could be any number of issues, but a full mot would be my starting point to rule out physical causes.

Also, a very good and valid point above about the different jumping styles

 

[tinap]

Could also be the rider. Our old boy was consistently clear over 1m/1.10m with my daughter, other riders could only get him clear upto about 85cm xx

 

[shmoo]

Thanks Darremi, that was sort of where I was going with my thoughts too...

My daughter wants to go and play on the nusery x-country course round the corner from us in a couple of weeks at their open day. Friend was going to accompany her as mine is still convalessing after her bad back experience! She is now having second thoughts as to whether her horse could make it over the jumps and is worried she'll either trip or just refuse if she is being overfaced.

I honestly don't know what to advise, I'm quite happy doing 1 foot x-country jumps but my friend is thinking she'll look silly, with her big horse doing them (16hh).

 

[shmoo]

Ah, when I say friend I'm more along the lines of another person at the yard I know from the yard only. I've never seen her have a lesson, or heard her talk about them.

She did have our lovely McTimoney lady for a full back and body workover as part of our group. Horse was deemed OK as far as I can remember, I was too excited at the time our ex-polo pony was classed as being youthful with fab muscle tone.

Again as far as I know she hasn't done anything more than jump in the jumping paddock at the yard. Only known them since January when we moved in so I don't know how long it's been going on either.

I have back lady out again tomorrow, for my backache girl, I might ask if she found anything about Holly?? Is that too snoop ??

Don't know much do I ??

 

[Darremi]

I don't see why she couldn't start off doing smaller XC jumps and see how she gets on. As I said the horse might be a lot better over solid fences. She can only really learn by feel whether the horse is scopey enough to do it. If you start small and build up then it is safer, and it allows the horse to get the hang of it all.

All big horses get started off over small fences. I still have pictures of me and my old 16hH mare, who made it all the way to Burghley CCI4* (with somebody else), jumping 1 ft XC fences at her first ever XC schooling session. I always smile when I see it because the fence really is ridiculous!! Your friend really should not feel embarrassed in any way. Just as every rider has to start somewhere, every horse has to as well. Get the horse's confidence up and he might start to enjoy it, and jump better.