Jumping Problem that's needs to be fixed!

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britisheventingpony

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I have a fab pony but recently I've had some major probs with jumping! Last week I went for a hack and we built a 85cm ish jump out of a fallen branch. He jumped the first time with his ears pricked! He was loving it and so was I but a few days before I did some clear round SJ in the arena at our yard and he would go near them! Putting in VERY dirty stops, he had started to do this so I lost my confidence. He'll jump on grass but not in the arena! I need some help on why he's doing this and how to fix it ASAP! Thanks x
 
It really isn't possible for us to help you unless you give us a bit more information and ideally a video - nobody sensible will try to give you a solution without knowing more: how long have you had him? When did things start going wrong? What does your trainer say? Did he used to be good over SJs in an arena or have you always had this problem?

Thing is, it could be that something is hurting him, it could be he and/or you have lost confidence, it could be a problem with his technique or yours or both - see? Too many variables...

I like your username and welcome to the forum :)
 
Thank you very much, yea I will post a picture of him out jumping on a hack. Sadly don't have a video at the moment but will get one.
I got him 18 months ago and at the time he was a FAB jumper, jumped anything! Then he came home with us and he was fine, 6 months ago we moved yards and it's really been since then ish! Just after we moved I had a Big ODE that I did and I was eliminated in the SJ for Refusals as I fell of at the 5th jump :( they were a full up 90cm! It's not even if it's big as he is terrified of raised trotting poles! He won't jump anything! We ten in the summer had a SJ course out out on the grass which first time he refused at and then the second and every time after that, he flew over! At the beginning of Sept he had a back problem which was fixed but now I back to square 1.

The horrible fact is that although I love him, my coach suggested a horse that we both knew very well (Stunning jumper) was coming back on loan and maybe I should ask my mum about having him. I never asked mum but my training sounded very keen for me to have him and wasn't particular enthusiastic towards fixing Triggs!


Thanks xx
 
Firstly i would get back, teeth and saddle checked and if all okay i would try and just start at trotting poles and build up as soon as he's comfortable and happy with what he's doing. Try not to over jump him though as this will make him bored and this may be the cause for your refusals?
 
britisheventingpony said:
we moved yards..............Just after we moved I had a Big ODE .................I was eliminated in the SJ for Refusals as I fell of at the 5th jump..................then in the summer had a SJ course out out on the grass which first time he refused at and then the second and every time after that, he flew over! At the beginning of Sept he had a back problem which was fixed but now I back to square 1.
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I think your answer lies in your statement:

1. You moved - unsettled him and took him away from all that gave him security.
2. Bigger jumps than he was used to (should only raise them an inch a time.)
3. He stopped....then you completely obliged him, by dismounting (!) and putting a stop to this whole terrible jumping lark, as they were too big anyway thank you very much.
4. Jumped again on grass...tricky at first, but you preserved and he learnt to GO. Trouble is, he has only learnt to GO on grass!
5. So, now everytime you jump and he stops you are reinforcing this behaviour.

Providing all is okay physically - Try taking things back a level. Get him to respond to the GO buttom at all times, in hand, leaving the yard, trot to canter, etc. Then when he is light and obedient to your requests, try trot poles.

Then when he's obedient to these, then pop up a small jump. Only increase height by one inch each time and only when he's obedient. You should make your jumps so small at the start, that he and YOU can get over them from a standstill so that he learns that GO means GO and he can gain his confidence, which is probably lacking.

Good luck.
 
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I agree, it won't do your riding any favours to just get rid of a pony that has gone wrong with you.

It sounds as if he has simply lost his confidence. As others have said, get back/teeth/saddle checked as a precaution, but to me it sounds as if he's just had a bit of a set back. Tonks gave some fantastic advice, take it back to basics and go from there. :)
 
Thank you all so much, I completely agree with you on the trainer point but Mum won't get rid of her....! A lady at my yard has started I help believes it's because of his back recovering. We didn't use the Pessoa which we were advised to use, I wanted hut as you can guess, mum didn't...! We are going to try it tmmrw so he learns, no it's not going to hurt when we jump! As she believes it's to do with jumping and then turnings as he used to turn on a six pence and refuses to now x
 
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