Why is horse knocking every pole?!

[merlin84]

So first proper share loan horse is working out well. Not really a schoolmaster as I originally thought but we are making some progress on the flat despite regularly feeling a little bit scared!! Haven’t tried to introduce jumping yet as our canter work needs refining.

Anyway we have started to try pole work and he absolutely will not pick up his feet. I tried poles round the clock face type thing and even just a single pole or two and he taps them nearly every time. He will pop the poles like little jumps if I give him a squeeze on the last stride but that’s not really helpful either as I don’t want to jump him at this stage, just get him to lift his feet up!

I have my instructor coming in a couple of weeks but any thoughts in the meantime?

 

[windand rain]

My guess is he is on the forehand and not lifting through from behind without seeing him it is impossible to tell. You need to establish a light contact then push him forward into it. He should then become more animated and lift himself up and forward. All transitions should be forward even downward ones you must use legs and body to get everything not your reins the contact should remain light at all times

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Are you sure that his saddle fits correctly, or could it be that the points dig in when he lifts his feet up?

 

[merlin84]

No expert on saddle fitting unfortunately but he has saddler out twice a year. Will have to check with owner when most recent check was.

Being too on the forehand does sound likely. The problem is when I drive him too much with legs/seat, I get a jump not a lift!

 

[be positive]

How old is he?

 

[windand rain]

No expert on saddle fitting unfortunately but he has saddler out twice a year. Will have to check with owner when most recent check was.

Being too on the forehand does sound likely. The problem is when I drive him too much with legs/seat, I get a jump not a lift!

You need to get the forward animated movement on the flat before including the odd pole

 

[merlin84]

He is an oldie - ex show jumper and even more ex ex-racer so will definitely have done pole work before. All the horses I have ridden have been fine doing a few poles to break up the flat work so was surprised to find he wouldn’t.

 

[Tiddlypom]

As he’s an oldie and an ex SJ er, so he ‘should’ know what he’s doing, I’d be thinking stiffness/arthritis. Also do check the saddle fit. Though he could think poles on the ground aren’t worth bothering with.
Do you know if he was a careful jumper when he was younger?

 

[TotalMadgeness]

I'm thinking arthritis too - in the hind legs. Before treatment my IDX with bone spavin dragged his hind feet so he'd always knock the poles. Sometimes though he'd rush and hop over the poles. After treatment though he's much better...

 

[be positive]

As he’s an oldie and an ex SJ er, so he ‘should’ know what he’s doing, I’d be thinking stiffness/arthritis. Also do check the saddle fit. Though he could think poles on the ground aren’t worth bothering with.
Do you know if he was a careful jumper when he was younger?

That was why I asked as it is often a sign they are having issues with their hocks, the fact he knows what to do will not help if it hurts to flex the joints, you need to find out more before trying again as it may have gone unnoticed up until now and the owner may be unaware he is finding it hard.

 

[merlin84]

Thank you everyone that is so so helpful to know. Will stop the pole work until hocks checked. Don’t want to cause the poor boy any pain!