Show problems

S

Shaunareaney

New User
Joined
2 July 2019
Messages
4
Visit site
I have an 8 yr old ISH gelding. He behaves perfectly when schooling at home, when using a hired arena for showjumping schooling and in the warm up arena at shows. However, once he gets in the actual arena he will sometimes spin around without warning or buck when coming into fences. I has gotten to the stage where he is bucking and spinning so much we've been eliminated numerous times. Looking for any ideas on how this could be fixed?
 
Does he do this at the first fence or part way round the course? Is it the same in clear round as in an actual class?
 
Leaping said:
Does he do this at the first fence or part way round the course? Is it the same in clear round as in an actual class?
Click to expand...

He mostly does it within the first few fences. He did it at a few fences when schooling today but he gets out of it once he’s jumped a few fences in the course
 
Shaunareaney said:
He mostly does it within the first few fences. He did it at a few fences when schooling today but he gets out of it once he’s jumped a few fences in the course
Click to expand...
So it’s not just shows, he doesn’t always behave perfectly when schooling over fences then? If this is new behaviour I would be checking saddle fit and getting physio out first.

If he was only ever doing it at shows, in the actual class, like you said in your first post, I would say possibly competition excitement/anxiety, which hopefully would improve the more experience he gets.
 
Upthecreek said:
So it’s not just shows, he doesn’t always behave perfectly when schooling over fences then? If this is new behaviour I would be checking saddle fit and getting physio out first.

If he was only ever doing it at shows, in the actual class, like you said in your first post, I would say possibly competition excitement/anxiety, which hopefully would improve the more experience he gets.
Click to expand...

He’s had his saddle checked and his back and teeth looked at.
I agree with you that it’s a sort of anxiety he gets from being in the arena.
 
Could you do some no-pressure, little shows to see if that makes a difference? As in clear round at a local yard, as opposed to a serious class at a competition ground. So then you’d know if it was anxiety at shows or not.
 
Some ponies do just work out that if they stop repeatedly they get to go out and stop working. Once they work that out it is really hard to stop because when you are competing its true. It used to happen from time to time in BS juniors and PC (never to us thankfully but there was usually at least one team member struggling with this with one of their string) and it usually meant the horse was competition sour.

The most effectve response IME is to turn away for 12 months and see if they come back. But I also absolutely accept that this is only an option where you have the resources and more than one ride. So outside of that - back right off. Low level CR only. (And if he is really bad try to go right at the start as you might take a while!) Take an instructor so you can get some eyes on the ground to be sure your nerves are not making the situation worse and that you are not over anticipating poor behavior. You could also try some really low level safe XC schooling, or jumping on hacks so he is jumping fluidly out of a stride. But don't do that if he is unsafe! Don't jump at all at home for a bit so he can only do the thing he likes in an arena. Work up slowly to entering shows but HC (So you can keep trying and not get eliminated) and really low. Tell the organizer why you have entered and what you need - you may have to ride first so you don't hold things up too much.

Take it really slowly (and in the meantime learn to enjoy dressage!) and you should get your jumper back in time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top