My horse likes to put his head down a few strides before a jump

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Hannah Gilbert

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I have just brought a 20 year old, 16.3hh thoroughbred/ Irish Draught. He keeps putting his head down too much a few strides before the jump and then sometimes doesn't jump it.
Is there anything I can do to keep his head up before a jump?
 
First call would be the obvious checks; saddle, back, teeth.

How high are the jumps? How are you riding into them? What does he do when it is a pole on the ground?
 
He's had his teeth done and his saddle was fitted for him. The jumps are only about 2"3' and he does the same to a pole on the ground and always jumps over them in trot and canter.
 
Tbh its hard to comment without actually being able to see what he is doing.

Is he running onto his forehand? Is he backing off the fence on the approach? How was his jumping before you bought him? Did you jump him when you tried him?

Obviously the best thing you can do is find a good instructor who can watch you both and then make a plan!
 
He doesn't seem to back off he doesn't feel like he's going to stop but then he does sometimes. We didn't really see him being ridden the lady asked if wanted him and we went and picked him up the next day. He was just so I could get use to horse before I get a younger one have been riding 14.3-15hh.
 
Did you see any videos of him being ridden or jumping before you bought him? Did you get him vetted?

It's hard to tell without seeing it happening, but i would probably be getting a vet out to give him a once over. It may be that he has some pain somewhere and putting his head down is evading it. When you say his saddle was made for him was that recently?? If not, I would get that checked too as horses can change shape.

Did they say he jumped when you got him? It's risky buying a horse you've never seen ridden!
 
Have a few lessons with a good instructor. It may be as simple as you unbalancing him by leaning forward too early on the approach or it may be a schooling issue for the horse to take on. You need to have someone on the ground to watch what happens.
 
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