xc problems (nappy)

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HeyBigSpender

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Hello,

I was looking for anyone with experience in this area of horses being nappy in the xc.

The first jump is always an issue but he's fine in the warm up first of all a bit of background: I have no idea what my horses past was like, other than I've had him for 4 years, he's my first horse, who I naively bought as a "problem horse". We had to start going back to basics as he didn't really know anything about anything, flat or show jumping. We started from the beginning reschooling (he's was 8, 12 now) he didn't go over show jumps, either refused or went through, especially spreads, whatever height. Since, he is now currently competing at BD elementary successfully, show jumping up to 1.10m, and on a good day he can do BE100.

I'm not sure on the exact issue, I've taken him to different clinics, lessons, everything, I've had a lot of people tell me to get a new horse, and in my heart of hearts, I know its the right thing to do if I want to event.

I would like to say I've never ever pushed him xc, only done what I feel he's comfortable with on the day (well if we ever get close to the jumps) I have no shame in doing 50cm if that's all we can do. However I haven't xc or evented him in 2 years. XC, on a good day, he is a xc machine, really nice, sensible, powerful, jumping everything like a pro, and genuinely enjoys it, but the majority of the time, we're vertical rearing, bombing all over the place, galloping, generally trying to buck me off and he can get dangerous. (he's not like this in the school at all) As I said, I have never over-faced him with anything. He can also get silly out in an open field in general, by himself, or with other horses.

Competitively he does amazingly in the dressage and show jumping (60/70cm competitions) but I can guarantee you, out of the starting box he starts refusing the first jump from the first stride, and when we eventually get there, its the same old same old, rear, then will go over it upon second presentation. We will then get the minimum of at least 2 more refusals. There's absolutely no correlation to reasoning behind why he refuses jumps, as a rider, I don't think I do a lot wrong (not perfect) but based on what trainers have to say about how I jump them, as well as my own feel from experience.

I was looking for more people who have had similar experience and their solutions rather than people giving me schooling advice, as I feel I've gone down that route with many-a trainer, so would like to think its not a schooling issue as such (back, feet, teeth, saddle etc checked)

He has just been started on a magnesium based calmer, which I was wondering if it could help, as his attitude in the school/to life has changed drastically since being on it (he's not naughty as such, but in the summer can get a bit fizzy so thought I'd see if it would make a difference - it has :) ) Haven't tried him xc like this!!

Any advice from similar experiences will be greatly received, as I would genuinely not like to give up on him - I know just like people you can't make horses do what they don't want to do, and that's fair enough, but I think when he enjoys it, he really enjoys it, just a bit perplexed really :(
 
Have you taken him hunting? If not, I would try that (bloodhounds so he's really going forward rather than stop/start). If that doesn't work he may just not have the bottle for XC so would sell him to a home where he doesn't have to go cross country and find yourself something that wants to do it. It's meant to be fun!

Not what you want to hear but if lots of trainers have tried and you are still not getting to where you want to be, either change your goals or stick to dressage and pure sj.
 
You know the saying "never teach a pig to sing. It frustrates you and annoys the pig"? If it was me I'd stop trying to take him XC, neither of you enjoy the bad days and if you can't eliminate them why keep inviting them. If you both enjoy SJ and dressage focus on that. Who knows why he does what he does but he's a horse and he can't talk.

My pony was nappy as hell when I got him, there are videos of our first few events where I am working sooooo hard to get him to go anywhere near the first fence (he used to do this SJ as well) but he got better each time - NicNac will testify he is the ultimate XC machine these days!

Sorry this isn't a terribly helpful reply but I firmly believe life is short, we should put ourselves first and banging ones head against a brick wall with a half ton plus animal is a waste of time and effort and potentially dangerous. I hope you enjoy the other option enough to have a great summer
 
Heya guys -
Thanks for all of your replies, unfortunately I agree with all of you. I wouldn't like to be made to do something I wouldn't want to do just because someone else does, I guess this was just a last resort for the last glimmer of hope. I'm not a "dressagey person" I can do it, I enjoy it but it's not what I want to do, catch 22 when you're in love with your special steed 😂😂 thanks guys 😄
 
How about team chases or some pairs classes round ht courses. Might help him find the fun. Otherwise it might be better to either retire him from xc/eventing as others have said.
 
Ditto hunting. Or team / pairs HT where he can go with another horse? Sometimes they are nappy getting out of the start box at competitions because they have to go away from friends. Neither hunting or pairs will solve that - as others have said that might not be worth the effort to solve. But it would possibly get you both out and enjoying it again?
 
I tried to event a lovely ISH a few years ago.

Bought him from the hunting field - long story short - would do a lovely test, jump clear, set off xc, then jump 2 fences and pull up.

Couldn't get him going until I'd been eliminated and the next horse had started and gone past. He'd then go, even if he couldn't see it in front of him.

Sold him to the States to go show jumping, where he was very happy and successful!
 
Hmm this is a hard one!

I've been there myself - had a very very nappy pony who absolutely hated to leave the start of a xc course. He also used to be a pain jumping past the gate showjumping, but that was fixed fairly quickly with just some positive riding on my part!

Cross country he used to simply stop dead about four strides out from the first jump, and would buck if you tried to make him move forwards towards the fence. Frustratingly he was amazing cross country schooling, very scopey and seemed to really enjoy it- focused beautifully and loved the harder questions (tricky combinations etc.).

I worked on it by doing lots and lots of training - every single time we went I would warm up as though I was at at a competition, go through the start and then jump a line of fences. Even if I went to clinics with other horses he would ALWAYS have to jump first away from everyone else - I never allowed him to get into the habit of getting a lead/ jumping towards other horses.

I also dropped the height we were competing at, and even if he refused to jump the first fence I would circle him in trot and trot him straight past the first few fences if I needed to and then jump the rest of the course- so that he was always made to finish the round.

It did take about a year of hard work to sort the problem, and I always had to ride a 'flying start', and he would tend to be a bit sticky at the first fence and any where we passed the warm up etc., but he would no longer refuse and we did stop getting eliminated! In fact towards the end of my time with him we were winning regularly at BE and pony club events together, always finishing on our dressage score.

So whilst I wanted to let you know that there is hope out there for nappy horses - I think it is ultimately your decision. I had the advantage of knowing that my horse had previously gone cross country without problems, so knew it was fixable. Also his 'tantrums' were very small and manageable- whereas it sounds like your horse can really throw some shapes! I would be worried about getting hurt, there's no point in injuring or scaring yourself for the sake of a clear round.
Also- we all do this for fun! If you're not enjoying it maybe it's worth taking some time to think about what you want to get out of riding your horse. Do you think you would be happy if you had to accept not being able to event? Could something like team chasing/ pairs be worth a try just for a fun confidence boost?

I know how frustrating it is, I can remember more walks of shame back to the lorry park after elimination at the first fence than I care to recall !! So you have my sympathy- I really hope you can work something out that makes both you and your horse happy 😊
 
Well, "horses for courses" as they say. Sounds like you have a Combined Training star! There are plenty of riders who bottle out at the thought of XC but are happy in an arena with dressage boards and show jumps that knock down. I'm sure you could find him a good home with such a person.

In the past I have watched grown adults come out of a clear round ring in tears because their horse/pony simply won't jump. My personal advice to them was to try a different discipline.......... they might have a long distance super star on their hands!
 
My dads old hunter who i inherited was a great hunter but would never go XC if he didn't feel like it. He'd often only do one round of show jumping as well and was rather difficult to hack! I don't think here was anything up with him, he just only did what he wanted to do!

Not worth the effort on your part I don't think and you don't really want to 'make' him if he's really trying to tell you he doesn't want to do it.
 
We had one like this, he hated xc and wouldnt jump anything even if the rest of the pony club disappeared over the fence and into the distance, had him professionally xc schooled but made no difference. Daughter wanted to event so we sold him to a sj and dressage home who loved him to bits, he was happier too. Totally understand your frustration, but if you want to enjoy eventing perhaps its not the right horse.
 
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