All equestrains i have a question?

Question

i rode a horse in a horse show named 7-up. He did great when i practiced 15 minutes before the show, then when i jumped my corse, he leaped over them like he was jumping over a bus. i think it was because he was nervouse. wut do u think?

Answer 1

I think that your horse is kind of scared of the jumps (if you know what I mean). I don't think it's because he's nervous I think it's because he is being overly careful. He's saying to himself "If I knock over one of these jumps my owner won't give me love and attention for the rest of my life."

Answer 2

Did you practice over the jumps that you jumped in the show or did you practice in a schooling ring and then jump different jumps?  If you practiced in the schooling ring and he hadn't seen the jumps in the other ring, he may have been kinda nervous about them... you should always take your horse to see all the jumps before you jump them in the show.  

Were you practicing over higher jumps than you were jumping in the show?  Often times riders will practice over higher jumps because it's easier to do the lower jumps in the show... but that might make your horse think that they were still the tall jumps.

Were there other horses in the ring when you were practicing?  your horse might have noticed that he was entering the ring alone and known that he was showing and wanted to do well... horses get excited just like us.

If neither of those were true, it might have been you...  you probably don't realize that you were doing anything different, but just by being at a show atmosphere, you would be riding differently... you're a little more nervous and your horse can tell when your mood changes.  Even if you didn't feel nervous, I'm sure you went in the ring for your course and were a lot more serious than you normally are for practicing.

Answer 3

I think he was definetely nervous. This happens to me every show. During your ride (the real one where you get judged) you were probably nervous too, who wouldn't be? I think maybe he sensed that you were scared about the course, and he trusted you so much that he believed there was something to be nervous about. (Thats good that he trusts you though =] ) All's I can say is the same thing my instructors say, "BREATHE."  =]  If you concentrate on the fences and your horse, not the judges, or the show sounds, or everyone watching, I think you'll be fine. I've only placed well at my beginner shows, and thats because I was concentrating so hard on doing evrerything properly. =]  I think you'll be fine, atleast he didn't run out of the fences like my pony =]  Props for atleast making it over the fences! =]  Good luck.

Answer 4

no! you were probely doing something he didn't like!

Answer 5

If the horse is unfamiliar or scared of the jumps or even not being set up to the jump properly he will do that.

Decorations, flowers, and bright colors, or even just unfamiliar jumps can scare him;

just practice with THOSE exact jumps before the show to familiarize him.

You may also want to just walk him up to the jump and let him see it and smell it before jumping over it.

If you are very NERVOUS not giving a straight enough approach or a clear enough signal he may just be kind and do a big jump, or sloppy  jump instead of ducking out;

Try to calm down think over your course and say it out loud

DONT CUT CORNERS come up to jumps at collected and even pace, no too fast

Squeeze his sides with your legs fairly hard about 10 feet or 4-5 strides before the jump as a signal to your horse saying get ready we're going over it!

Hope these tips help. Most importantly don't go to a show with a horse you haven't familiarized yourself with and ridden atleast 3 or 4 times! Practice is what will help the most bcause every horse is different so just make sure you have a bond you will quickly pick up his attitude and quirks.