Youngster unimpressive jumping :-(

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TillySJ

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Hello, would just like some thoughts please. My lovely youngster turned 4 a few months ago, and has started seeing some jumps as part of his education. He's a cracking type (wb), well bred from eventers and really moves. I did hope to event him in the future, but since he's started popping a few fences, I must say, he's not very impressive!? Now the fences we've presented him at have been small (under 60cm type) and very inviting, little cross poles etc etc. I wasn't bothered about technique, just that he was going forward and got to the other side looking like he at least enjoyed it a little. He isn't interferred with, just ridden forward nice and quietly with lots of praise, i believe they need to find thier own feet! He just seems a little lethargic and passive about it all. To his credit he has jumped everything asked of him, teeny fillers and what not, but he's not adverse to hitting a pole, and sometimes looks like he just doesn't enjoy it. He makes an ok shape, but i've seen far far better.



Now, am i right in thinking its just down to him being a baby and maybe not capable strength wise/confident wise in making a decent effort? I know lots of people who said thier babies were less then impressive at 4, especially warmbloods, but come 6 they were like different horses and were going fab! I know he's not fit enough and doesn't have fab co-ordination yet, i do understand that, and I'm really trying to ignore it and just let him find his own way, it's just quite hard to see your prized horse lookinga bit "meh" lol.

He's equally as unimpressive loose jumping and just stands in the corner, then when he tries seems to spring off on all fours, and I really don't want him to hurt himself. I love him to pieces regardless, and it's not the end of the world, I just thought he'd be a little better.

Do you think time will tell, or the writings on the wall?

Thanks for any advice, apologies if this comes across silly or like i expect miracles, i truly don't! I love him regardless, we will do dressage instead! :-p
 
i dont no much about this but i know my mare who is know 14 still wont loose jump willingly but can easily cover 1,30 jumps and if i present her with a little cross pole she doesnt jump very well as she doesnt seem to think its worth her time. i know you shouldnt jump high with a 4 year old because they arnt fit enought or strong but he may enjoy jumping more interesting bigger jumps when hes a little older. my mare loves to fly over a big jump with her ears forward and tail up. i dont think anything is black and white with a horse. just be patient and try changing little things to see if anything helps
 
I used to own a 4 year old exactly like this! I found he was much better away from the yard, it may be worth renting out a place and trying him ? Also he seems a lot more forward when doing xc and much more scopy. It does improve with age though, I sold him s few years ago and now he is doing intro and ore novice eventing
 
Thanks for the replies. I do feel a bit catch 22 with the height thing you mentioned madeline as I see your point and this was one of my thoughts, maybe it's just not worth his effort. I'm just a bit worried that if I ask something more of him, that he just isn't upto, it'll undo all the good work and he may frighten himself. Rowy yes we've hired out some really nice show facilties on good surfaces a number of times, and to be fair to him, he had a lot more spark there and really enjoyed it. We'll keep doing this, maybe he just can't be bothered at home. It's just a bit disheartening when you're surrounded by friends with 4 years olds absolutley ballooning and basculing for fun! But I know i'm very lucky to have him, so will persevere at our own pace! x
 
I, too, would recommend trying him away from home. Do you have a XC place near you that you can rent out? Reason I ask is that sometimes they suss quite quickly that poles can easily be knocked (especially the plastic ones) so they get lazy and can't be bothered - my TB is 15 and kicks trotting poles all over the shop rather than picking his feet up, yet put him in front of a solid XC fence and he tucks his feet up nicely - occasionally I'll pop a wooden trotting pole in the middle of the plastic ones and you can almost see him wince when he wallops that and it doesn't instantly fly out of his way! When faced with a solid, albeit small, log, they know they have to pick they're feet up. "Natural" coloured fences make a good starting point too. You could lunge him first before riding him, to get him used to the idea of solid fences and being away from home will probably be a bit more exciting for him too at his tender age, so may give him a bit more bounce.
 
Carefulness can't be taught. They either naturally are, or they aren't. Most less careful ones do know the difference between knockable fence and a solid one (don't ask me how they learn this!) but IME you could try every method known to man (kind and otherwise) and they'll still have poles. Your most reliable way is to school them properly on the flat and be very accurate to the fences. You'll give him the best chance of jumping cleanly (if his technique is basically good) and enjoying it if he doesn't particularly like the experience.

If you have an ultra careful, 'gives trotting poles three feet' type, you have to be even more thorough with their education as they can easily frighten themselves and chuck it even more readily. So the basculing babies may not be as preferable as they may appear in comparison to yours.

Mine's a middle-of-the-road, ho-hum trier. No world-beater but then again enjoys the job, is as careful as he can be and knows his limits. Takes the worry out of it whilst keeping the fun in.
 
i dont think you should push him to jump any bigger but i think my point is that he might be better when he has progressed slowly and in a year or two when he can jump bigger he might be more like careful and you wont just have to stick to dressage
 
i wouldn't worry too much about this. many horses that have an AMAZING loose jump lose it under saddle. similarly, many babies that are WOW when they first start jumping are doing this out of nerves- they are brave and so will jump but aren't sure about the fence/filler hence give it loads of height- soon enough they realise that fences aren't frightening and they loose this excessive jump. think positively- he has jumped everything that has asked- so he is brave and doesn't appear to be overly worried about the whole process (with some babies people misinterpret "enjoys it" for "nervous and a bit worried so a bit hyper about it")

you won't know if he's going to be careful or not until he gets further with his education. as brighteyes says you can't teach them to be careful. some people think you can (using a whole manner of methods, some not so bad, ome downright cruel)...but you can increase their chances- by riding them correctly and presenting them well at a fence. yes i think its a good idea to get him XC schooling- not so it makes him 'respect fixed fences'- but to add variety to his schooling :)
 
Take it easy hun :) My horses have been completely different beasts at six/seven to what they were at four :D.

I'm not keen at all on all these younger horse jumping classes, I get quite irrate about it all. No wonder so many horses are broken by the time they reach seven!

Sorry, I do get hot under the collar. Horses can go on to enjoy long and comfortable working lives, therefore being 'useful' to the majority of owners, therefore standing a better chance of a good life, if they are given the time to mature and grow without the added stresses and strains that hard work brings.

You, as you say, just enjoy your lad :D. See what time brings :D
 
MrsMozart said:
Take it easy hun :) My horses have been completely different beasts at six/seven to what they were at four :D.

I'm not keen at all on all these younger horse jumping classes, I get quite irrate about it all. No wonder so many horses are broken by the time they reach seven!

Sorry, I do get hot under the collar. Horses can go on to enjoy long and comfortable working lives, therefore being 'useful' to the majority of owners, therefore standing a better chance of a good life, if they are given the time to mature and grow without the added stresses and strains that hard work brings.

You, as you say, just enjoy your lad :D. See what time brings :D
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Echo Mrs M completely. He is still growing and he's still learning how to co-ordinate everything at the right time. I'd personally turn him away for a few months to carry on growing, he'll come back bigger and stronger than ever and far more capable of doing what you ask better.
 
i think the key is little and often. If a young horse only jumps once a week or so, they've forgotten next time you do it or seem un-coordinated. My 4 yr old has gone to someone who specialises in producing young horses and she jumps maybe 4 times a week (maybe 6 or 7 fences). Never big, cross poles or little fillers maybe only 2ft or so. Her technique is still a little untidy but she is so confident, will jump skinnys, ditches, water trays, any filler etc because her confidence has never been questioned.
 
Is he clearing the fences though? That's what i would be concerned about more - if he was just running through them then that'd be a concern but, he's just jumping them without putting unnecessary effort on then it wouldn't worry me at all. I prefer the laid back attitude in a young horse. It is much easier to encourage a bit more oomph as then get older than it is to slow down and calm a rushing youngster who over jumps ever fence (IMO anyway).

Take my sister's horse - we bought him 6 years ago as a 4 yo. He looked a nice type (andalusian x TB), just had a nice way about him - so laid back he is practically horizontal - I tried him over a couple of little fences and he had no style at all and his steering was all over the place - however, he jumped what was in front of him and didn't make a fuss at all. He has carried on in that vein the whole way and he has one hell of a pop and loves his jumping. Plus it is very very rare he touches a pole. He has also proved to be very bold xc too and certainly can do the speed no trouble at BE events but he does not get silly/giddy, he just gets on with it and jumps anything.

So, I would not worry - enjoy the fact he just takes it in his stride and i would just take him to a few shows, try some courses and see how he goes.

When mine was 4 he was pretty much the same, he never over-jumped anything yet he ver rarely touched anything. Careful horses know where their feet are they don't have to put more effort in than is necessary if jumping just comes naturally to them.
 
When my horse was 4 I put a few very small jumps up really just to vary his work and try and inject some enthusiasm into him. He used to jump with his front legs and forget about his hind legs and wasnt exactly enthusiastic. I pretty much forgot about jumping as Dressage was what I wanted to do but a couple of years later I stuck a jump up whilst lunging and wow, he flew it, so excited, through a few bucks in and really enjoyed himself.
I wouldnt rush it, hes still a baby and Im sure it will all come together soon.
 
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