Where do i go from here? : (

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Flashbacksj

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so im at a loss on what to do...

My horse was jumping very strange at a competition a few ago... and after thinking it through i decided it could well be his saddle causing him to jump strange.

But. the saddle fitter has been today and says the saddle fits perfectly... so well infact she would sell it to me again today as a well fitting saddle! which is great but now im at a loss to know what has caused him to be jumping strangely... which he has done again today as part of the saddle fitting visit...

we did a 3 day show at the beginning of april and prior to that... i.e. end of march... i had his back checked... and his teeth sorted ... ive made no change to his feed or his work load majorly...

he is maybe a little on the chunky side but thats the only known physical issue he has at the moment...

he was pretty fit for the 3day show so i dont think its fitness... he is otherwise himself aswell so...

any ideas... im completly at a loss to know where to go from here...

for info i attach the video of him jumping at the show... where he was jumping very oddly incase that helps with any advice: (he is the grey cob in the video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQCShND8z70

any help im feeling pretty deflated right now... i just want him happy again!
 
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Was his back checked by a physio or osteo?
I only ask as he looks reluctant to step under with his quarters which is stiffling his canter which in turn is putting him too deep to his fences.
 
As I don't know his way of going when he jumps normally, it's a bit difficult to say, really.
If you think it's a physical problem rather than riding/schooling problem, I would get the vet to have bloods done and also have his teeth checked.
There definitely isn't enough forwardness and he tends to chop a little stride and catleap over jumps, but mainly oxers/spreads, he seems to come more confidently to the uprights... strange as it might sound, it could be that you actually go after him to much, chasing him forward and he becomes reluctant...
But check the physical issues first.
 
I was thinking the same, he looks very reluctant to jump and is getting very close. You dont look as together as you normally do when ive seen you in your other posts. I would try and get his back checked and then if that makes no difference go back to schooling and getting him to step under in his canter more.
 
Well he's a little porky - so could just be finding the exersion a bit too much. But if you don't think it's that - I'd have the vet to do a lameness workup.
 
I know you said you had his back done not long ago but it could be that he has been hoonying round the field and pulled something out since then.

Could be something is rubbing and caused some soreness but if only whilst he is jumping he feels different then probably not this.

My suggestion would be try jumping him again at home, if he still feels strange then get vet out and see where he is sore.
 
Is he any different when he's being jumped on different ground? or without a rider on him?

Any changes in his feet?
 
This might sound really stupid, but have you had his eyes looked at/tested? If he is having problems judging the distance or even seeing the fence that might be why he is acting a little strangely?
 
Frank can get a bit like that at times, not the most flowing feeling is it, and he will do it at any height, 3' being our usual SJ max. He normally gets a chiro check but sometimes nothing is wrong and he seems to come back better for a break from jumping

also I note in your youtube you say the weather was hot..... Frank (as a cob!) doesn't operate in the heat he really doesnt like it and gets increasingly stuffy. He was truley awful 2 weeks ago even though he is fully clipped atm.
 
Hii all... thanks for the replies.

His back was checked (march 26th i think) by a Mctimoney(SP?) chiropractor.
Hi teeth were checked and rasped under sedation... i.e. very well... that same week i think.

this is him jumping as he normally would... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVgXdS2rZGw

The hard ground may have been a issue as he has begun to jump much better off a surface... but he has always prefered good to firm rather than soft/wet ground...

good thinking on the eyes issue... had wondered about that as he had a cancerous tumour treated last summer and that area is a little swollen again at the moment... so might be causing a little trouble?

Then again i loose schooled him... and he was jumping better... but i didnt really build anything of a reasonable size... and he has been fine over 2ft9 and lower...

im thinking.. Back check again.. just to be sure...

Vet is coming to do his jabs tomorrow anyway so i will maybe mention the issues to them and see if they can shead some light on it...

just so confused!

if his back shows no issues i may try some fun XC schooling/playing and see if he is just as unenthusiastic about that... as he always loves XC!!

if only he could talk : (
 
I haven't watched the clip but my horse has been through similar ways of going and it has often been down to his back. I noticed a significant change in his way of going one time (not jumping) and I knew damn well he had caused it by (somehow) managing to crawl under a fence - he had done it on a previous occasion without mishap but the next time guess he may have slipped when getting under and just out something out! A treatment from a physio may be all that is needed, they can do some silly things to themselves in fields.

If that is all clear then i would maybe look at his weight - could be if he is a little overweight he could be mildly laminitic and therefore feeling his feet certainly on hard ground so I would be aware of that as a possible cause as he wouldn't necessarily be lame if he was feeling sore in both feet but it could may him be 'choppy' in his action.

If all clear on that point then maybe he is a little stale jumping and maybe a good burst xc would make him better, maybe you are over-riding, over-correcting, getting tense - who knows. There could be so many reasons and it's a case of ruling out the physical first really.
 
He looks like he is lacking impulsion coming into the jumps. You said he is a bit on the chunky side at the mo, maybe his fitness is'nt all that and he is tireing quickly. On the video he seemed to get worse the more the video went on. I think just concentrate on flat work and hacking till he has lost a bit of his porkyness :).
 
It does look more flowing in the second vid but the jumps are much smaller. Perhaps he is just feeling a bit plump and unfit? From the first video I didn't think he looked reluctant to jump as such, just a bit unenthusiastic in general if that makes sense? Maybe if he jumps a lot you could give him a break for a bit to rekindle some enthusiasm!
 
I'd agree he's not as forward as in his vid from 2009 and looks reluctant to come off a longer stride. So agree, there's something not right.

Footy (hard ground/laminitis warning) might be my first thought, developing spavins second and back/mouth up there on the list of suspects. Who is your EDT and why was he sedated?

As long as physical issues are ruled out, a spot of XC might freshen him up, though I'd beware of making things worse if he has a condition brewing.

The jumps are higher in the first video - not sure if that is a factor?
 
What about feet? I had a similar thing with George last year, just after we changed farrier. Was easily solved but essentially too much toe pressure. Vet would be able to tell.

In fact the change in way of going is quite strikingly similar!
 
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