Working with a horse that lacks confidence over fences?

[Girlracer]

Just after some advice.

My eight year old thoroughbred is super in every way, a little quirky but generally quiet and straightforward.

However over fences it all goes to pot, we have huge ups and downs. For example on May the 11th we got round two rounds of showjumps, albeit not all that stylishly but we got round. Then the next day he stopped, spun and dropped his shoulder at an upright with a small filler under it and I managed to break my ankle.

In hindsight there is the possibility the saddle was giving him some gip. But it certainly isn't the first time he's done it over the three years I've had him.

He just seems to really lack confidence and hates to touch anything.

Bearing in mind I am now a little nervous of injuring myself what do you think my best plan of action is from here?

Currently I've been popping over little X poles every time I school for both our benefit really. And I'm off to a funride next weekend, he is always a little better once going xc so I hope to build our confidence that way. Them maybe hunt and team chase over the winter?

I've never competed him consistently and I'm sure if I could get out once or twice a week he'd improve massively but realistically I'm limited. But I desperately want to event, I never have and it's what I bought him for really (have re schooled myself) he's got all the ability in the world it's just un locking it that's the problem.

I think I need to be careful not to get too keen in whacking them up height wise and just concentrate on the fundamentals?

Here he is show jumping in May the day before my fall.

And yesterday, maybe the third time we've jumped since my fall in May. (One off fences though)

 

[be positive]

Fun rides, hunting and TC are ideal for getting the confidence built up, otherwise plenty of gridwork never getting too ambitious, always making the distances correct, build up the difficulty to gain his confidence without pushing the heights up too much, finish each session on a good note, possibly even dropping back for the last few fences so he feels really brave and the trust develops at each stage.
Try and set him up to succeed even if each time you jump you start from the same point, the horse getting the feeling that it is so easy that he wants to do more will help you progress more steadily than pushing to achieve something that is more difficult or out of his comfort zone when he may start to find it too hard and take the easy option by stopping.

 

[Girlracer]

Fun rides, hunting and TC are ideal for getting the confidence built up, otherwise plenty of gridwork never getting too ambitious, always making the distances correct, build up the difficulty to gain his confidence without pushing the heights up too much, finish each session on a good note, possibly even dropping back for the last few fences so he feels really brave and the trust develops at each stage.
Try and set him up to succeed even if each time you jump you start from the same point, the horse getting the feeling that it is so easy that he wants to do more will help you progress more steadily than pushing to achieve something that is more difficult or out of his comfort zone when he may start to find it too hard and take the easy option by stopping.

Thanks for that. That is the idea behind the team chasing etc really to really get him thinking forward and gain confidence and have some FUN!

I will definitely start doing some little grids with him, perhaps even grids of poles on the floor at first as he can sometimes get a bit upset if it doesn't go perfectly and resort to this sort of thing -

But I felt like we were really getting somewhere before my fall, I really need to remember that it seems worse because of the injury. I'm reality if i had just gotten up and got back on we would probably have moved on and stepped back a little before trying again. He has a new, fitted saddle and has had a total MOT and is feeling in really good shape.

 

[AusRider]

Well done for taking on an ex-racer and re-schooling him yourself. It sounds you like you and your horse have have now reached a stage where the you might need some help with the jumping.

If your aim is to event, then I would look for a really good event instructor who is strong in the jumping phases to take weekly lessons from (if that is affordable). An instructor who is very technical in both showjumping and cross country will help you iron out the jumping issues you are experiencing, and give both you and your horse the confidence you need to eventually tackle an eventing showjumping and cross country course. If you want to event, the minimum you probably should jump your horse is once a week, especially if you have been having trouble with the jumping. Although you have been jumping at the end of your rides, an instructor will give you specific jumping exercises and goals to work towards, rather than pootling over cross rails at the end of a ride.

Other than that, I think your horse looks a very sweet and honest type of horse, and you've done well to bring him along so far.

Hope this helps.

 

[Girlracer]

Thank you.

I suppose I have never had consistent jumping lessons, although was during a lesson I broke my ankle. I worry though because I often feel as though instructors sort of expect more of you than we can give (maybe we look the part, all the gear and no idea!). I just need a nice understanding instructor that will take it slowly with us.

I had regular flat work lessons at one stage and I can probably afford fortnightly lessons.

 

[swellhillcottage]

Agree with getting help - hope your ankle has healed well - I am on time out with a majorly broken one now!