Motivation needed - spooky SJers

[CrazyHippo1]

I dont really post much on here, but was hoping I could get a bit of motivation to help me see the light at the end of the tunnel!

I own a 10yr old TB X Welsh mare who I've had for almost 2 years. However a good 8 weeks of that she was lame (hoof imbalance), then we had sand colic and then in feb of this year I fell off and broke my arm.

D was my 'first horse', although I have had shares and things previously..she was/is a lot more challenging than we first had thought. I have spent a long time working on her flatwork and I think we're almost there with it...we're actually managing to get placed in dressage!


However jumping is our problem. She's got all the scope she'll ever need and make us a 1m course without fillers and she'll step over it. But we're really struggling with the fillers. If we can do a clear round say...and she gets to have a look and a leap, then generally she'll go in the class and be a lot better. But she's wasted in some 2ft class..she makes no effort, but I cant seem to do the bigger classes as she spooks at the fillers so much. Usually its just "back off but jump it" (often have it down mind you), but some times (more rarely but its a real problem) she'll come round the corner and be backing off 4/5 strides away then plant herself. The only way you can move is back...if we break the fence down, remove the filler shes fine...then slowly creep the filler back in and she's fine. But you cant go doing that in a show really can you!

Sorry for the huge post, Im just somewhat stuck and cant really see which way to turn. Just hoping someone else may have been in a similar situation and could tell me it all came right in the end!

 

[EMF1]

the main thing is perseverence with any kind of spookyness with horses. You need to be sure that you aren't expecting her to back off from the fence, i would try grid work, with some fillers e.c.t. (not every fence) and send her forwards is she ok just walking around them? if not i would suggest schooling her around fillers and other scary things at home, hopefully its just a confidence thing, and with some time she'll be jumping fillers like normal fences =]

 

[Mrs_Wishkabibble]

I had the exact same problem. I also have a Welsh x TB (nicest horse I have ever had and wouldn't part with for any amount of money!!!) she was fine but was spooky with fillers. I have hired out different arenas, schooled over fillers of all types and only 2 weeks ago we were jumping Flymo leafblower boxes as I needed to get through to her that when put my leg on and say jump I mean it - if she started backing off I would tap her down her shoulder with a short jumping stick. Her confidence has built no end. In all fairness she didnt have a dirty stop, she would just grind to a halt square, she was a bit unsure at times so I gave her the benefit of the doubt and let her have a look. I always have the fillers out at home and she doesn't bother now. I have just registered her BSJA and have been out today to indoor arena she hasnt been to for nearly a year and jumped 2 double clears, only looked at the first fence and that was it. It will get better, you have to do more and more until she is almost bored of it - not bored as such but you know what I mean. I bet it is because she has been off work for a while. Was she spooky with them before?

 

[CrazyHippo1]

Thank you both

Some fillers she'll be fine to walk round, then she might back off on the approach. Water trays are a big problem..and there something that she wont even walk near to start (thats a work in progress!..)

Trying to think about before our big fall...she would still throw the odd dirty stop, and back off things but I dont think she was ever this bad. However, last year (due to being lame all summer) she only did a handfull of SJ comps, many of which were little local things with only a few fillers.

Its just so frustrating, one filler is fine...the next is obviously going to eat her! Thank you for the encouragement

 

[EMF1]

i would deffo say then that its just a lack of practice =] props just needs to get out and see a few more scary things LOL

 

[SteveD]

Its very normal for horses to sppok at fillers when they are not used to them....heres how I normally go about giving them more confidence to deal with fillers.

start with some very small fences, and introduce the fillers slowly. Put some poles up against the top pole of the fence to act as a funnel into the fence as this stiops them running out.
Personally to avoid accidents and allow me to drive them over the fence properly I often lunge or loose jump them over the fence as they tend to leap over it and give it lots of clearance (cat jump), at which point most people fall off), doing this you can get behind them a bit with a lunge whip and GENTLY pusuade them over it until they know its not going to bite them.

Once they can jump a single fence, build a grid with poles along the long sides to try and discourage them from running out/

Regarding water jumps I use a sheet of blue tarpaulin and walk them over it (at first from the ground)...once they will do this...get someone to rattle it a bit until they walk over it quietly and confidently, then start to ride them over it quietly
Let us know how you get on....

 

[Nats_uk]

I had exactly the same problem.

When I first got my horse in 2005 he hadn't jumped and he would stop at a simple cross (without fillers), he fractured his pedal bone in August 2005 so I didn't start jumping again til spring 2006 and he was back at square one. But........

With a lot of perserverence and getting him out as much as possible and showing him all sorts of fillers (including rthings like ugs on poles) at home this year I was at Trailblazers finals for 75cm and 85cm (aiming for 95cm/105cm this year) and he easily jumps round a course of 3'3-3'6 with fillers at our local shows. I am planning to register him BSJA next year

There is light at the end of the tunnel even if the tunnel seems long - I even had days I was considering giving up with the jumping and keeping him as a dressage horse!

 

[CrazyHippo1]

Thank you all, feeling a lot more positive now. Nats_uk...thank you! It's nice to know that others have been there and come out the other side successfully! Good luck with the BSJA next year!

Will certainly give some loose jumping a go, hoping to hire out some venues with instructor too so we can practice in a competition environment. Will keep you updated

 

[samp]

This is a great post to read as my horse is the fine, she'll jump poles at any height width etc introduce a new filler and we start backing off a good few strides out. Again we are trying to get her out more but we are still at the stage that we get eliminated showjumping. I am hoping she'll get oout of it one day??