Refusing jumps

[I don’t like mondays]

Hi, we’ve had my daughters pony a few years and he’s part of the family. He’s in his 20s (doesn’t look it) he’s a been there and done that. First few years we just hacked and did walk and trot, this year we’ve started doing jumping (daughter could jump before we got him but he’s quirky so she took her time getting to know him)

He’s perfect in many ways but, he has a dirty stop in him (where he speeds up and throws my daughter into the jump). The first time he did it was out, when my daughter was slightly nervous as it was an oxer so we put it down to rider nerves.

He used to be great at home and only did the dirty stop out. Now he’s started doing it at home too. I’ve spoken to his old owner and he did this as a youngster too. My daughter can’t really progress as whenever there is a rally or show she gets dumped! These are only tiny jumps too (40cm). Shes not nervous, gets back on and tries again. Also she’s a lovely quiet rider and has never pulled him in the mouth (never hangs off him, more likely to have loops in the rein).

She’s super keen to keep jumping and loves this pony but I’m thinking we should call it a day with jumping (as in focus on other things- he’s got a home for life with us). Is he trying to tell us he can’t? He seems to love jumping. He jogs and is very enthusiastic!!

He’s got mild hock arthritis found a couple of years ago (vet said 1/10 on X-rays but due to age) so I’m getting hocks re injected this week, as they are due. Part of me hopes this could be why he’s refusing more? Or does this sound like s deep rooted bad habit as he’s always done to a certain extent? If it’s that I don’t think it’s fixable. When he’s good, he’s epic (and wins). When he’s ‘bad’, his rider eats dirt and gets broken bones!

Thanks

 

[AmyMay]

He’s 20. You won’t change him now. But it’ll be one of 4 things;

His age
Arthritis
Rider
Simply not interested

 

[I don’t like mondays]

He’s 20. You won’t change him now. But it’ll be one of 4 things;

His age
Arthritis
Rider
Simply not interested

Thanks Amymay. I’m hoping it’s 2 as that’s more fixable. The sad thing is, he seems to love it. As soon as he sees a cross pole he starts prancing. I wonder if I should stop my daughter jumping as these stops don’t feel safe

 

[I don’t like mondays]

They went to a show in the summer. My daughter ate dirt after the first jump. They did the next class, he jumped perfectly and won. I just don’t get it

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would think its a combination of the hock arthritis and just age, thing is just because they get excited about something doesn't mean it's not hurting, I personally wouldn't jump anymore with hock arthritis being that age because I would rather slow down and have one that can stay in some sort of work for longer and be comfortable.

 

[smolmaus]

As soon as he sees a cross pole he starts prancing.

This can be stress too. The combination of getting overly fizzy, firing himself at the jump then stopping would make me think it hurts. He obviously knows his job and what he is supposed to do so if he is saying he can't I would listen.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

OP, if the hock arthritis was mildly diagnosed 2 years ago, if he were mine then I'd be getting fresh xrays to see if/how it has progressed, before getting injected.
A lot can change in 6 months. Good luck x

 

[I don’t like mondays]

Thanks all. Very good advice as always. Whatever happens he’s part of the family so can always be a pet

With the hocks before the vet said they were so mild it was borderline weather to inject (he was coming up a bit short in cold weather). Good idea, I’ll get X-rays again

The weird thing is, seems like he’s always done a dirty stop (even when he was 6). Maybe this time he’s sore, bless him

 

[Pippity]

Thanks Amymay. I’m hoping it’s 2 as that’s more fixable. The sad thing is, he seems to love it. As soon as he sees a cross pole he starts prancing. I wonder if I should stop my daughter jumping as these stops don’t feel safe

Prancing could equally mean he's anticipating pain from going over the jump.

 

[IrishMilo]

I personally wouldn't spend more money on x rays unless you have it to burn. He's old (ish), you know the OA is there and he's telling you clearly something isn't right. You'd be better off just stepping him down and being guided by him on what he's happy to do. I also wouldn't let a kid keep riding a dirty stopper, it's not fair on them.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

Prancing could equally mean he's anticipating pain from going over the jump.

I don’t think I explained the prancing very well. It’s like a jolly forward walk where he holds himself nicely (rather than being skittish). I think he loves jumping but maybe realised (at the last minute) he isn’t as young as he used to be

 

[I don’t like mondays]

Flatwork he’s still amazing at. He’s got the top line of a 10 year old. He looks so well this winter. Maybe a slower pace of life is the way to go

 

[ester]

If he’s speeding up I wonder if it’s just the difference between him ending up on a nice comfortable stride and a not so great so comfortable for him these days stride.
I wouldn’t X-ray either, I used injections as the diagnostic…

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I wouldn't x ray either just get them injected.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

He’s always been a speed demon, even as a youngster. He has no breaks at times (but my daughter loves that about him)

 

[ester]

Yes but then he’s scuppering himself

 

[Squeak]

Realistically, as an older pony who has always had a stop in him, I wouldn't be encouraging your daughter to keep jumping. I've heard there's no faster way to ruin a rider than for them to ride a stopper and that does seem logical. At 20 you're on an uphill slope to solve it pain/age wise and if there's something else that means he's always done it then you're going to be hard pushed to solve that at this age and you wont know which one you're dealing with.

 

[Gloi]

I think it's a bit unfair to keep jumping the pony when he's saying he is finding it uncomfortable. Stick to flat work with him and look for a younger pony to bring your daughter's jumping on.
Everyone gets older and stiffer horses and people alike.

 

[AandK]

I would chat with vet and get him looked at initially, likely something is hurting so he doesn't want to jump. If hocks are sore, then I would medicate them. Personally, I would do this even if you decide to call it a day jumping (which I probably would given his age/background). If his hocks are sore, they will be whether he is jumping or not.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

I would chat with vet and get him looked at initially, likely something is hurting so he doesn't want to jump. If hocks are sore, then I would medicate them. Personally, I would do this even if you decide to call it a day jumping (which I probably would given his age/background). If his hocks are sore, they will be whether he is jumping or not.

Thank you. Yes he’s definitely getting his hocks done regardless as they are due

 

[Carrottom]

You don't say what you are injecting his hocks with. If this means he is pain free and you wish to continue jumping I would suggest some training with a rider who can prevent him speeding up so that if he stops the rider doesn't come off.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

You don't say what you are injecting his hocks with. If this means he is pain free and you wish to continue jumping I would suggest some training with a rider who can prevent him speeding up so that if he stops the rider doesn't come off.

Steroids into the hocks

 

[MagicMelon]

Thanks Amymay. I’m hoping it’s 2 as that’s more fixable. The sad thing is, he seems to love it. As soon as he sees a cross pole he starts prancing. I wonder if I should stop my daughter jumping as these stops don’t feel safe

I personally think that horses jogging / looking super excited to jump are often just really anxious and unhappy. If it were me, then I would retire the pony from jumping. It sounds like a long term thing that the pony has a history of doing, and now it has arthritis so its hard not to think it could now be being caused by pain. Id get a different pony to jump if you can, sounds like your kid could have a nasty fall soon otherwise which might dent her good confidence.