Tips for jumping?

[Emma_xbx]

My horse enjoys jumping and is forward. However, after landing a jump he always pulls the reins out of my hands by instantly snatching and pulling his head down after the jump (he does tend to lower his head during the jump too). I do have a good contact with his reins and I’ve tried a shorter rein but I really don’t like pulling on his mouth and it has no effect as he just pulls his head down further! He used to do this when I first started jumping him but then stopped but is starting to do this again... It’s just frustrating as he is forward to the jump and I feel like I’m pulling on his mouth way too much and it is starting to have a negative effect at shows. Does anyone know any tips on how to stop this, feel silly asking this but it is starting to fustrate me.

 

[Emma_xbx]

Should also had his tack has recently been fitted and is perfect, teeth recently done. Physio checked etc ^^

 

[be positive]

You need a good trainer to see what is going on, horses should lower their head when jumping correctly so it may be that you are trying to keep it up higher than he wants and he is snatching to try and get more freedom, otherwise it could be that there is an issue with the saddle fit that is causing discomfort or numerous other things could be going on, either way it is not really easy to advise on here as to what may help you, far better to have someone on the ground who can help once they know what is happening.

 

[Red-1]

As you are asking for 'tips' rather than a full analysis (which would be best with a good trainer on the ground), if a horse lands and lowers his head excessively to bog off then I would halt sharply.

Sometimes they start this because they are a bit unbalanced, so land running forwards, and the rider is busy congratulating themselves on jumping the fence so don't immediately re-balance before the corner. This soon becomes a habit, and in fact the horse will end up rushing on the forehand.


I would start by improving the canter/walk transition, direct transition.


This would start making the canter better generally, then move on to a jump that is small enough that the jump itself is not an issue. I would halt the horse, say, 5 strides away after the fence. When this is possible ten 3 strides away.


Initially it may take some rather direct aids to get a horse to pull up quick smart when they have habitualised to running around the corner on their heads. If so, then make sure the horse is good and balanced on the flat, then start with a canter pole after sharpening up the response on the flat.