Spooky show jumper!

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pigsmight:)

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Hi guys i am new to this forum and was just wanting some advice, i have a 7yr old ish whom i have recently affilliated BSJA, she has been out and done a few bn classes, going double clear every time, it was her 4th bn on sunday at a new venue and she was v spooky in the arena, she has allways bn a bit this way out and can be verry hard to get her to look at the fence, and as there was one of the arena party sat near the first fence i couldnt get her to go anywhere near it!! so buzz and elimination for me,
so getting to the point she has been to lots of different venues unaffiliated and done pc and rc since she was a 4yr old so has seen plenty, i was wondering if anyone uses sheepskin blinkers whilst sj and what you think to them
i am i need of some advice as i am worried that she will loose her confidence she has allways been verry brave sj and doesnt stop just once she has seen something rigside ect that she doesnt like that is that dummy is spat out and she wont go anywere near that area, thanx guys
 
I had similar prob with my boy a couple of weeks ago..
He's 5, but been out done lots of unaffiliated stuff, and been in the arena we were jumping in dozens of times, jumping and dressage, but suddenly he went completely green on me and was stopping and looking at everything!! Usually you can't ride him at the fences as he goes too deep then cat leaps, i have to let the fences come to me then squeeze him up, but that day to get him anywhere near i was really havin the ride him into them. That was his first affilated bn though so i'm wondering if he was a bit overwhelmed... He can easily do the height so i know it wasn't that that was putting him off. I'm taking him schooling there in a week or so before the next comp to hopefully get his mind clear of all the scary things in there, but went back 5 days after jumping to do dressage comp and was a dream!!! didn't look at anything... so i'm stumped...

Hope you get ur problem sorted... its too expensive to keep getting eliminated!!!!

Sam xxx
 
Hmm, a tricky one - my horse's problem is he spooks at everything (mainly fillers), always has and always will (15 years on he still does it!). However, it doesn't really affect his ability, he's just a bit of a monkey but still generally gets round clear and in jump offs he does concentrate more.

The only thing I can really suggest with yours is that if it's not the fences themselves she is bothered about but more the surroundings then try and get in as quick as you can - ie before the previous competitor leaves the arena and give her a good chance to look at everything. Get a canter going or make her do a few rein backs, etc etc, something to make her listen to you. Some venues it's easier than others to do this but letting her have a good old look first before you say "right, now let's get serious" may be a way to help her.

Don't get stressed about it but you will need to get firm. I am sure you will not be alone in your situation. By all means try the blinkers, it may help and if it does all well and good.

They do say the spookier the horse the better the showjumper it is after all!
 
i am so pleased to read this knowing im not the only one! i have just brought a TB 4 yr old, and i know they are known for this kind of thing, but i brought him with the intention of affiliating him in SJ, but he is the same, everything is soooo scary the first time round! its like he thinks everything will jump up and bite him on the bum! now ive read this maybe im being a bit soft on him, and should be a little more forceful when approaching new things, i know he is a baby, but I really would like him to be a bit braver, but it made me smile when its said the spooky ones make good showjumpers, so heres hoping!
 
Thanx guys, i have got a couple of lessons befoer we go back again a week on thursday and im gonna take her round the clear round and then BN if all goes well, and i will hire some children to stand by the fences when i jump at home :) i will have a try of the blinkers and let u no how we get on x
 
When mine was 4 he spooked (as he does still now) at fillers and I used to go round BN as my sort of 'warm up class' as,once he'd had a good go round there and looked at everythung he'd take it more seriously in the jump off and disc - we never (or very very rarely) knocked anything down. It can be annoying when you're trying to get strides etc but you just have to be aware to ride the horse to every fence and don't let your guard down, be ready for them to spook so you're there to rectify it quickly.

It is true I did hear the saying about spooky horses making better jumpers - maybe it is because they are very awrae fo where everything is and they generally are very clean jumpers. You watch some of the top SJers - so many of them freak out at the dressings in an arena - plant pots/ornaments etc yet they'll take on thoese huge fences!!!

Good luck with all your spooky jumpers - makes life more entertaining anyway!! lol
 
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