Reasons a pony may not jump a fence please

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Monty's Mum

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Hi I have a small pony who will trot or canter to a fence, seems to 'stall' at the point of take off, then steps over the jump (this has been for jumps between 6 - 12" high). If really pushed on & kept going she usually goes over it like a trotting pole, rather than doing a jump. It is not trying to refuse, and never goes to duck out. Any thoughts please?
 
Without more information perhaps she's been "taught" to do this. If jumped on a lead rein pony often gets socked in the mouth from a novice rider left behind or a leader who can't keep up. Or maybe small rider with no leg yet who can't give a positive aid to jump? pony sounds kind and willing though.
 
As well as everything millikins said a pony can lose confidence when learning to jump if they hit a pole which can obviously hurt them or if the rider became unbalanced even if the rider did not jab the pony in the mouth. I would go back to the start and teach the pony to jump from scratch on the lunge before adding a balanced rider still on the lunge to start with then off the lunge and keeping jumps small until the pony builds confidence. Grid work is good for teaching them to get the striding right. For single jumps a good ground line and a placing pole helps the pony to arrive at the fence on a good stride. If you do not know how to do all this get a riding instructor to help you.
 
Sounds like she can't use herself over her back properly. This could be because she has learned this out of self defence to an unbalanced rider or lead rein, or because she has learned that if she jumps properly the rider falls off. But it could also be that she has some pain in her back or hocks which makes the take off stride painful for her. Or her saddle doesn't fit too well and is pinching her shoulders if she tries to rise. Because the fence is so low she doesn't have to jump but can make the exaggerated stride you describe.

It would be worth having a vet check her over for pain and her saddle fit checked. But then as Firefly suggests see is she actually knows how to use herself correctly over a jump and then work her with a light balanced rider to remind her that this is possible. Some ponies do just have a very vertical action over a fence. We had a wonderful ex scurry pony who had to be re-taught to jump. He had a stunning pop on him but jumped a bit like a hovercraft!
 
Funny story. I use the method explained below. The first time I raised the bar 6 inches (150mm), one pony hit the bar with a front foot. From then on, he was convinced he could not even step over the bar. It was quite funny! He got over it in a few days, but as said above, confidence is the key. Once they learn that jumping is easier and quicker than stepping over, they will prefer to jump. Also if they are in a hurry! Jumping is faster.

Scroll down this page to "Jumping".
http://morrichhighlandponies.co.uk/Training.htm
 
Sounds like she either doesn't understand what is required or it hurts her to stretch over the jump for some reason, possibly her hocks hurt or her back. I am just guessing, but that would be what I would think if it were mine.
 
can you lose school her with a pony who loves jumping and see how she naturally jumps? she might go up a gear following another pony and you can see what kind of jump she naturally has in her when shes having fun and relaxed.
 
I had a baby like this once, and if I rode strongly he would launch. That of course taught him that jumping was scary, so he would go back to exaggerated trotting...

We went back to loose schooling, in a disciplined way, as in correct gait, 2 helpers, no cutting corners or slamming to a stop.

We introduced a jump, and the horse was left to sort it out. Not in just one day, it was over several sessions. I did not put a rider back on him until he would canter to a double on loose schooling. Once a rider (me) was back on I held the neck strap and we went back to 'loose schooling' with me as just there, rather that doing anything.

Once he had sorted his balance and confidence out with a rider he was then ridden to the fence, and he made a jolly good jumper, always careful and very bold. He was Irish sport X Irish cob, and what a sight he was, big feet and head, jumping like a rounded, wither-high pro.
 
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