Tail swishing when jumping

[welsh_mare]

I took my rising 5yr old youngster to his first mini hunter trail on sunday. We entered the 1ft 6" class and his first few jumps were awful jumping 3ft over everything and very flat, but i did expect this.

But even when we went round the same course a second time allthough his jumping was much smoother, but still flat, again that doesn't bother me he is a baby. But when he jumped his tail was either straight out behind or up in the air!!.

Is this just that he is young or could it possibly be back problems?, i am pretty sure i could hear it swishing on a few jumps.

Thank-you in advance to anyone who answers.

 

[kerilli]

what he does with it in the air wouldn't worry me, as long as he isn't swishing it against your leg when you ask him to go forward, or putting ears back, because i always think this is a symptom of discomfort somewhere. might be worth getting someone to video you jumping him maybe, might be more obvious whether he's uncomfortable or not.

 

[kick_On]

Is he swishing OR fickling tail???

Fickling tail as jumping means he's using his all his back and is good

, swishing normal implies it against your aids?????

Sounds like fickling to me? Do you have any images???

 

[MandyMoo]

iv seen lots and lots of horses that flick their tails like verticle when jumping nothing wrong with them, jsut how they jump - probs means they are using their back properly.

maybe get their back checked...but if they are not putting ears back etc, i wouldnt worry xx

 

[welsh_mare]

I hope this works (fingers crossed!!!!!!)

Can you tell which was our 1st class & which was our second little trip round?!!!!

 

[rlhnlk]

I think he just looks extremely enthusiastic and keen, probably too much so and is just wanting to go and get on with the job. He looks happy enough, if he was tail swishing in discomfort I would have expected his ears to be back and less of a smile on his face.

 

[kick_On]

i would suggest just she's very keen.

I see nothing wrong as last image, which shows she can get nice shape over jumps and flicking tail shows she's using all her back.

My only suggest to is to jump bigger and give her something to think about

my boy's tail action

but can still do this

 

[welsh_mare]

Thank-you all so much for your reply's you have put my mind at rest

. He is very eager & yes kick_on i think your right about giving him something bigger to think about. Just need to sort out brakes and we will be well away!!!!!!!. Next HT start of may so keep fingers crossed for us

. XXXX

 

[flyingfeet]

Think of King Boris and Mary King, didn't that horse have a tail like a helicopter?

Mine only squishes when I am jabbing the spurs in (generally because he isn't going forward!!)