Jumping, what should i do?

[ycbm]

Looking for a discussion to help me decide what to do about jumping.

I'm coming up to 65 and the current NHS situation makes me very afraid to break any more bones.

Ludo has a really dirty last-moment stop, is not the bravest horse in the world, and I am teaching him from scratch, having backed him myself. Like all beginners he can get things wrong.

He has bone spurs on his hocks which are not causing issues at the moment but I want him to last a long, long time. He's 8 this year.

I did BE Novice and hunted over really big hedges in the past. I've fulfilled every ambition I could as far as jumping goes and anything now would be just for a bit of fun.

He has a seriously good pop and is clearly going to be capable of more than a metre SJ and XC if we wanted.

I just can't decide if the potential pleasure of jumping 80-90cm, when I've been there/ done that and have no desire to enter any competitions, is worth the potential risk to him or to me.

What do you think?
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[quizzie]

Why not start with some polework, and if you are both enjoying it, make some small grids....much less chance of a dirty stop, and you can progress as you like. Keeping the grids small and not too tight on distances should mean no undue strain on his hocks.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I would take my time and build his confidence (I have no doubt you would anyway to be fair) and see what both you and he enjoys. Means there is no expectation and if you don’t feel it’s for you both then I’m sure you will find something else to enjoy ?

Im planning the same with Faran, have a go at everything slowly and build his confidence then see what we both enjoy ?

 

[marmalade76]

I'm 46 and already decided! Done lots that some would never have the guts for but now freely admit that my guts have well & truly gone and I'm quite happy to stick to little jumps, the odd log, etc. I said to my husband only yesterday, for God's sake don't get ill and don't have any accidents, it'll be curtains if we do!

 

[scats]

I’m only 38 and I’ve already massively reduced my jumping after a bad fall about 10 years ago. I will pop a log out on a farm ride but that’s about it.
Millie enjoys doing that, but she doesn’t seem remotely bothered that regular jumping isn’t part of our normal routine.

Now I’ve done this ankle, I’m definitely not taking any extra risks.

 

[Nasicus]

The fact that you're questioning it tells me that you don't have any real burning desire or need to be jumping that high anymore. If you're both happier and safer jumping smaller heights, then I'd just stick to that and enjoy it

 

[SEL]

I don't think you can stop enjoying yourself "just in case" of the worst case scenario. I have nowhere near the confidence over jumps that I had 30+ years ago or even 20 years ago but my little cob likes popping the odd log and I'm going to carry on with that. He's only young and I'm planning on some small clear round courses this year.

You don't have to jump huge to have fun although I get when you've cleared huge hedges you might think ooooh I miss it - & if you get to that stage that's the time to raise the height of the jumps!!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I'm in my late 40's. I've teamchased over huge fences, I've jumped round a point to point course, I've drag hunted over huge stuff. I now have absolutely no desire to leave the ground. My current horse is ex NH and can really jump but he is 17 this year. My aim is to keep myself and my boy safe , so we will jump small stuff, do polework and work on our dressage. If your boy has bone spurs at 8 and you want to keep him going into old age I would play over small stuff and have some fun.

 

[Tiddlypom]

No, no, no to jumping a horse with a dirty stop, no matter how good a jumper he might be when he clears them.

Remember Christopher Reeve.

 

[blitznbobs]

Does it need to be a big decision? Do some poles and some raised poles and see if that ‘what if i just put it up a hole or two ‘ feeling arrives. Or go to a clinic grid class and see if it still does it for you - if not nothing lost … basically suck it and see…

 

[CanteringCarrot]

You don't have to jump. I didn't do any jumping aside from free jumping and the odd thing in the forest with my last horse until he was nearly 10. My thought was: if it went well we'd pursue it, if not we wouldn't. The rule was that it had to be fun. He took to it far better than I ever imagined, but if he hadn't we would've just continued with our dressage and hacking. We'd always done polework too.

Basically, if you don't want to, don't. If you don't need to, don't. If it's not fun, don't.

There's no real reason to jump, but it sounds like there are some real reasons not to. So that might sway me, in your case.

No horse knows their "wasted potential" so to speak, and the dirty stop would turn me off. When I was younger I would've probably forced the matter and felt that I had to, but as I age (well, I feel silly saying this, because I'm not soo old) I just look at things differently. If I were you I'd continue doing what you enjoy and do well. You can always play with tiny stuff until you're bored to tears and slowly raise from there.

 

[J&S]

I think, in your position, you might have fun watching some one else, younger/capable/possibly professional, jumping your horse for you. BUT, if you are actually worried for Ludo's long term soundness then maybe just leave jumping out. Mind you, advanced flatwork can also stress joints can't it.

As regards risks to yourself, you are very experienced so will be prepared for the predictable situations, but, let's face it, there are always the unpredictable somewhere around the corner!

 

[PurBee]

I’d personally choose longevity of Ludo trumps enjoying occasional (high) jumping thrills and skills, that it sounds like you both have.
His stoppings/hocks and your personal fears would make me say no. Mainly because youve done it before too, so have ticked that box.

Keeping his legs in good health for longevity, over-rides high jumping stress leg mileage it can put on a horse.

Out of all my falls, none were painful except one while jumping as it was a sudden refusal of the horse - catapulted over the sudden lowered neck and landed on the jump injuring knee. I was young and bounced like we do, but even at age 40 something ish now…considering my isolated distance from health care, alters how i do things now. Thats mainly due to lifestyle demanding physical health, so my risk-taker persona has had to be tamed!

Small jumps i’d consider…just a wee pop for fun, only IF he wouldnt refuse/stop for small ones.

 

[ycbm]

Great food for thought, thanks.

A little more info on the dirty stop, it's absolutely last moment, stop, twist and dip shoulder. In my last lesson he was jumping beautifully and I put him at our first "wall". I thought he was committed, but at the last possible moment he chickened out. The instructor said to me "I have absolutely no idea how you didn't fall off".

The answer was that I thumped my right hand and arthritic wrist into the base of his neck so hard it hurt for a week even though I was wearing a wrist brace

 

[ycbm]

Going back to the hock spurs, they are very old and not arthritic. He may have been born with them but he has definitely had them years. I've no experience with hock spurs. I would be happy never to leave the ground if I thought jumping was going to cause issues.

Anyone any experience to offer?
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[scats]

Great food for thought, thanks.

A little more info on the dirty stop, it's absolutely last moment, stop, twist and dip shoulder. In my last lesson he was jumping beautifully and I put him at our first "wall". I thought he was committed, but at the last possible moment he chickened out. The instructor said to me "I have absolutely no idea how you didn't fall off".

The answer was that I thumped my right hand and arthritic wrist into the base of his neck so hard it hurt for a week even though I was wearing a wrist brace

My bad fall jumping was a dirty stop out of nowhere. Horse had been absolutely flying and we came into a combination (second time jumping it, first time fine) and he did a horrible stop from a serious pace, dipped his shoulder and the momentum sent me like a missile into the arena surface, face first. I never trusted that horse after that.

 

[Red-1]

I'm another who thinks there doesn't need to be a big decision.

For others, ycbm and I met up last summer and we had a ride on Somerford's farm ride, so we have met in person. We were, I believe, similar in that we have both jumped huge fences in the past, but don't aspire to do the same again. We had a lovely ride out, we both popped fences, both had a laugh, did new stuff, paddled through the river etc.

Two happy riders with beautiful horses, having fun. What could be better?

I would simply continue in the same vein. When it feels like fun, pop a fence. If it doesn't then don't.


ETA- just cross posted with your update. Hmmm, that sort of dirty stop would concern me. I would chill about it for now, just enjoy doing whatever you fancy and we should meet up for another ride out this summer!

 

[SEL]

Great food for thought, thanks.

A little more info on the dirty stop, it's absolutely last moment, stop, twist and dip shoulder. In my last lesson he was jumping beautifully and I put him at our first "wall". I thought he was committed, but at the last possible moment he chickened out. The instructor said to me "I have absolutely no idea how you didn't fall off".

The answer was that I thumped my right hand and arthritic wrist into the base of his neck so hard it hurt for a week even though I was wearing a wrist brace

I wonder if those hocks are a bit of a niggle when he jumps. It was the big buck my Appy started giving as a 6yo landing after jumps that got the vet X raying her hocks.

 

[NinjaPony]

Despite buying a champion M&M working hunter who had been around RIHS and the whole circuit, I have always hated jumping. I used to either pop him over small cross poles myself, or pay someone else to give him a bit more of a jump. His old owners only jumped him at shows, and I think that and my lack of interest helped keep him sound right up until I lost him. Once we realised he had some mild arthritic changes, I cut the jumping right down to ‘the odd small one for fun’.

Lots of people think it’s bizarre that I hate jumping, but I always have done and I’d happily never jump again!

It sounds like both you and Ludo would be happy enough with the occasional small jump, particularly if he has hock spurs. I’m not convinced jumping proper fences is helpful for horses with minor hock ailments, but it’s good to keep some variety. It’s not about the height, it’s just something else to do.

 

[ycbm]

I wonder if those hocks are a bit of a niggle when he jumps. It was the big buck my Appy started giving as a 6yo landing after jumps that got the vet X raying her hocks.

I wonder about that too. In fact I think that might be the crux of the decision, why would I jump a horse who might be having an issue? It puts doubts in my mind and I'll put them in his if they aren't there already. Safer for both of us just to give the idea up.
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[ycbm]

This is all really helpful, people, thank you.
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[ycbm]

we should meet up for another ride out this summer!

We must!
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[dixie]

This could be me writing this only I’m 10yrs younger , even down to having a fabulous young horse with a great jump but fast stop
I think psychologically I feel there is unfinished business as I ubruptly stopped jumping when my last BS horse suddenly got issues.
however I no longer have the desire to keep up the training to do him justice to compete BE or BS and my nerve has gone.
so it’s not fair on either of us.

luckily for me he is a fab horse to hack and do fun rides on, so I’ll be doing that plus clinics over poles etc and just see what happens.

I would say, try not to put pressure on yourself and enjoy him for the horse he is.

 

[HobleytheTB]

Nothing wrong with just doing ground poles, raised poles, small crosses, the odd log out hacking etc. I got to a really nice place 'jumping' with my ex racer last summer, popping sensibly over very small cross grids. Gave her lots of confidence and helped with hock/ stifle flexibility and strength. We have zero ambitions to ever compete, so I'm not worried about getting her to her full potential in term of height. She has a few physical issues too (including mild hock ocd), so if she's happy and confident with little crosses the so am I!

 

[Flame_]

I ride past all the jumps. If I ever try asking horse to go over something he can't do one leg at a time there's about a 70% chance he'll tell me to jog on. There's no danger of coming off - he's 100% committed to not doing it and is very clear and determined about that. I go back to riding past the jumps and feel guilty for a bit about having stupid ideas. My horse is smarter than me.

ETA, meant to say, there's certainly nothing wrong with avoiding activities that come with a reasonable risk of broken bones, layoffs and hospital trips.

 

[Gloi]

I'm mid sixties and have become much more anxious about injury. I don't think I'll do much more than low poles any more.

 

[BBP]

In your situation I would go with your gut and probably not push it. I don’t know enough about hock spurs to comment on that aspect.

I think I’m going to have the opposite problem to you, I have had 3 horses in my life and all have been the kind of jumpers that destroy confidence (in fairness to them I think due to injuries/issues I didn’t have the experience to recognise at the time), so I just gave up. Now I watch my 2 yo playing in the field and he is such a natural and jumps for fun. He jumps his water trough, the steps up and down the bank in the field, and has jumped one gate and 1 fence, each about 1m20. I’m getting more confident just watching him! So I think I’m going to have to take up jumping just to keep him happy ?

 

[M1lbie]

I’m 70 and am anticoagulated so have a distinct aversion to parting company! Consequently I now jump small fences that are a calculated risk as much as possible, no riding is completely risk free. My overgrown pony is a brilliant hack but also loves to pop the odd jump so I have a lesson once a week, jump a few and do flat work with my very experienced instructor who understands my reservations, I also do riding club pole clinics and grid work, I no longer go cross country however. It’s not the same as it used to be but I am realistic about my limitations and this seems to keep the pony happy and interested and we both have fun with no pressure. I’m sure with a younger jockey his potential would be fulfilled and he would be out competing but he doesn’t know that! Hopefully he’ll stay sound and make it to old age and retirement with me.

 

[ycbm]

In your situation I would go with your gut and probably not push it. I don’t know enough about hock spurs to comment on that aspect.

I think I’m going to have the opposite problem to you, I have had 3 horses in my life and all have been the kind of jumpers that destroy confidence (in fairness to them I think due to injuries/issues I didn’t have the experience to recognise at the time), so I just gave up. Now I watch my 2 yo playing in the field and he is such a natural and jumps for fun. He jumps his water trough, the steps up and down the bank in the field, and has jumped one gate and 1 fence, each about 1m20. I’m getting more confident just watching him! So I think I’m going to have to take up jumping just to keep him happy ?

Go for it!
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[LadyGascoyne]

How does he feel about little xc fences @ycbm ?

Maybe natural obstacles might help to get his confidence up and reduce the chances of a dirty stop.