need some xc ideas

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lucygunson

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Well I am feeling very down heartened with my ex racehorse went sj on saturday he was fab jumped all the fillers without even looking, the fences were about 2ft6, took him xc last night in preperation for a little ODE we are doing on Sunday well he was a complete plank - I wasnt over facing him he would stop then would jump after being re presented then I would put him at the same fence again he would stop no rhyme or reason for it I wasnt just jumping 1 fence at a time I sequenced a course together to get him to go forwards and in a nice rhythm there was 1 fence in particular a house - (he had perviously jumped a different house so it wasnt new to him) that I couldnt get him over he had completely switched off I was there for about 15mins and he would not entertain it at all so I know it is the worse thing to do but I gave up took him to some other fences we were on a complete duff stride and he jumped it but had every opportunity to stop and I wouldn't have told him off if he had, I have had him for 2 years in Dec mainly did dressage last year to get the flatwork established with a bit of jumping but now starting to jump - nothing seems to sink in with him my old horse when she had jumped 1 type of fence that would be it for life.
I have a saddle fitter coming out on friday to look at my saddle as I know it doesnt fit fantastically but it is padded up to fit, maybe when this is done we may get an improvement after that if not I am thinking about giving up on him and saving some money to buy something that I can event.
When I go into the fences sometimes he will go and I can feel he is going to go and that he is switched on and other times I can feel he is having a look and no matter how much I kick there is nothing there!
I really dont know what to do with him or try next, I have never had a horse who doesnt jump - guess I have been lucky, he raced on the flat 5 times and they gave up as he didnt like it, I am thinking about taking him hunting to make him braver or blow his brain but I guess if he isnt going to make it I dont have a lot to loose - so frustrating as his dressage is fab but sadly I dont want to just do dressage!!!
 

Have you been schooling with another horse who you could follow the first time around a small course so that he is more concerned with keeping up with them than with what he is jumping?
Failing that- hunt hunt hunt!!!!
 
I hope you don't think I'm being critical, but I really think you need to be more patient. I appreciate that your previous horse learnt very quickly but horses are different. I've had some who learn very quickly and others who need to build confidence and go schooling on more than a number of occasions before competing. If you've only just started jumping and haven't been XC schooling before then I don't think it's at all strange that he found it scarey. I've had horses who may jump one type of fence fine in one environment and then are completely scared of the same type of fence in another environment. Also I've had horses who are great XC but find SJ difficult. I suggest taking him out schooling a lot and if possible, go with a friend who can give you a lead over anything that he finds scarey. It wil give him confidence if he's following a friend.
 
Havent tried that, I dont think it would make much difference as he isn't bothered about other horses also I dont really want him to jump when following but then do it on his own even less than he is currently if that makes sense - I am stubborn!!!
I think it may be hunt hunt hunt they are cubbing down the road in September so I shall see how he takes to it!!! may need superglue may not if hunting doesnt work I dont think anything will!!!
 
I don't think you did the wrong thing in moving away from the house and going off to jump other fences - it sounds like you had reached stale mate and knowing how stubborn ex racers can be there was no point in having an arguement. TBH I would have turned away much sooner so it didn't become a big deal but can fully appreciate that you didn't want to back down either!!

SportsmansB is right, you really do need to go with some friends so it makes it a bit more fun for him. If he isn't used to XC fences they will be very strange and scary for him so having someone to follow is invaluable. Its not about hime 'learning' to follow others, its about giving him confdence to take the fences on and trust you that they won't bite. Hunting would be no different as you will still be following loads of people!
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Unfortunately, tempting as it may be, now is not the time to be stubborn - a gentle, patient approach will get the results in the long run (and we all know that racers can dig their heels in with the best of them so you have to swallow it and work with them!!
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Also another reason i didnt back down is because usually he will have 1 stop take it on board and then jump perfectly happily
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I have booked up for adult camp with him in the middle of sept so will hopefully have some willing horses to follow - it is at the same venue we went last night so that will be interesting to, unfortauntly dont have anything to follow at the moment as the hunters have only just come in to do their road work
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he has been xc schooling before 3 times to the same place where each time I have asked a bit more and he has been fine but he has not been to this venue before

I know that is the correct approach I am just so annoyed with him at the moment!!
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Going to jump him at home tonight, not looking forward to the ODE on sunday even though it is only 2ft max!!!
 
Claud - no dont find it critical any help will be fantastic, I wouldnt mind but he has been xc 3 times to the same place to get him 100% confident each time asking a different question that he has taken on board all the time, 1 plus side from last night is that he did go in all the water jumps straight away which previously took 15 mins to get him in at the other location
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Had a vaugely similar sounding problem with my mum's horse. We broke him in so in theory any problems are our fault but I disclaim any responsibilty for his attitude to jumping between the age of 6 & 7!
It was a bit embaressing at comps where he would refuse to go near the smallest fence on course heading towards the exit...we used to just enter HC and explain to the judge that we might skip a fence we thought would be trouble.

Beau LOVES jumping, it is his rason d'etre, especially if he can do it at speed!

BUT, there was an extremely fustrating period when the jumps got up to aroud 80cm that he started stopping randomly at all sort of SJ fences (never had trouble XC..probaly becasue he was going to fast to stop!). There was no consistency at all in what he stopped at or where.
In the end we think it was just a confidence / testing boundries issue that took a long time (year) to work through. Now he jumps all XC & SJs with out blinking.

So be patient. If he refuses first time come in again with lots of leg/voice in really definite we ARE going over way. Once he does jump the problem fence give him loads of pats and then go off and spend the rest of the session on things he isn't bothered by.
He used to switch off as well and just flat out refuse to even look a1t the jump, and I think it was his way of saying "OMG stress!!! Can't cope! Help...shutting down......"
We found we would ALWAYS loose if we kept on trying to get over a fence he decided he wasn't going to jump that day. With SJ we could knock them down to a pile of poles and go over that. But if we came back in a day or 2 to the same fence often he would just jump it no problem. So try and avoid making an issue out of any particular fence, and just be patient and spend lots of time messing around at a height he is comfortable with.
Don't ride with a 'today we will jump' attitude try and jump something once a day (SJ, XC or anything we found on a trail) and if you find you have caught a good day do a bit more.

Oops that is a bit of an essay, I hope some of what I said was useful, and not too much like stating the bleeding obvious!

Sending jumping <<<vibes>>> your way!
 
Jimbolina - Don't worry about the ODE. Think of it as a schooling exercise; don't get stressed by it. I often use such events purely as a schooliing exercise. Remember he could get more uptight with all the stuff going on so if he refuses something just stay calm and represent him to the fence. Have you tried trotting in to the fence in a strong trot? At 2ft there's no problem with him trotting in and it may give him more time to look at what he's doing and make it less easy for him to run out.
 
Felicity_09 - he is 6!!!!! How old is Beau now?
whats so frustrating is that he jumps anything at home he happily pops 3ft so its not that he cant jump and what he did jump last night he was flying with lots of talent!!!

Thank you for your vibes they are well needed
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Claud - i have asked them if I get eliminated if i can continue as i dont want him to learn after 3 attempts he can go home!!! yep tried trotting and cantering last night neither made any particular difference to him, he doesnt run out just stops dead which is nice in a way i suppose!!!
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Jimbolina - 6 is still quite young if this is new to him. One of mine will quite happily jump 1.10 SJ but will sometimes have a brain freeze if he's presented at a 2'3 XC jump! Just keep taking him out as much as possible and I'm sure he'll relax and everything will click. Good luck with the ODE and let us know how you get on. Most of all, enjoy it!
 
Well last night decided to put up some scary jumps and some blue barrels (he has jumped the blue barrels so many times happily) scary tv box fine, scary white plastic water trough fine - blue barrels i am just going to switch off but we got through it in the end, going to jump him everyday until sunday so its not a big issue on sunday, will let you know how we go on sunday - could well be a dressage report!!!
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