Barefoot horse question #2?

Question

I already asked a question about my TB horse going barefoot but..

My gelding is really althetic and fit and happy so we wanted to start him jumping! but alas he just is not good at it. When they first started the lesson he jumped over the first time, (i wasnt riding him :P) But afterwords he just charged strait through. I mean, the girl riding him was scared she was going to fall off it was that bad. (and shes not a fearful rider!) Anyways... he has always been clumsy, like if there is a pole or cone or something on the ground he will run over it, trip, stumble, collect, act normally again etc.

Anyway! to my question (yay!) If he goes barefoot and is able to feel the ground will that help him with jumping, is there any other training methods i can use since i dont own him yet so i cant rip his shoes off like i badly want to do...

Answer 1

Don't start him initially over jumps.  I would start working him over cavaleties (make sure he's nice and collected even in a walk).  Simple as that.  He needs to learn to pick up his feet, and he needs to learn what the cue is for jumping.  A horse will jump, but a good horse will take it's cue from it's rider on when to setup for the jump.

I don't think it's his shoes.  In my experience, that really doesn't have much of an effect on whether a horse will pick up his feet or not.  It sounds as though he's simply being lazy.

He needs to be collected up in whatever he's doing (arena work and trail work) and paying attention!  Not only for his safety, but for yours as well.

Answer 2

MY TB DOES THE SAME EXACT THING... he runs over poles and cones and trips over rocks on trail rides .. Ive been jumping for 10 years though, i think its just that he is young and hasnt ever had to deal with obstacles cause he is an OTTB... I just work him over ground poles and give him alot of support with my legs and hands and he gets better and better. I also do some lunging work over poles and jumps so i can watch what those clumbsy hooves are doing. Just be patient ... and dont rush your horse .. train slowly and patiently with TB's they are very sensitive...