Horse Jumping?

Question

Hi. I was wondering how to get my 4 year old horse to stop refusing jumps. He jumps sometimes, and when he does it's really good, although sometimes a bit high for the small jumps. And usually if I get him to jump, he'll jump only on one side not the other. How can i fix that? Right now when he refuses I take him over it again a few times walking, and then trotting over it. Is that ok? I can't canter over jumps yet because he is an ex-pacer and although he doesn't pace as much now (only when horses are cantering in front of him, not when he's in front though) so it takes a while to get from a trot to canter. Thanks.

Answer 1

Cece is right; 4 is very young for jumping. Many stables won't introduce a horse to jumping until they are AT LEAST 4 (with warmbloods, often 5 or 6) because their bodies are just reaching maturity and jumping is hard on the body.

Don't push too hard. You would be wise to back up a few steps and get in some consistent work over ground poles for awhile, then work up to cavaletti.  Crossrails would come next, then verticals. But don't rush.... only move to the next level when the horse has had practice and experience and appears comfortable by moving steadily and consistently at his current level.

Please don't expect him to turn into a consistent, solid jumper for another couple of years.

The behavior he's exhibiting shows not only inexperience but also fear (over-jumping is a sign of being afraid of the jump).  So start back at the beginning and let him adjust slowly with consistent, patient work.

Good luck and have fun with it.

Answer 2

when he tries to go to one side or the other, have someone put two poles on each side of the jump so he has sort of a shoot (spelling?) to jump through. that way he is forced to jump straight or he has to hit the poles. most horses are not that set on doing something wrong that it will make jumping harder for itself. what you are doing for the refusing is good. if the jumps are getting bigger, that is going to be harder though, so try using a crop and if you feel him hesitating crop him in the rear and he should decide to go over it

Answer 3

He still thinks like a pacer, and until he is thoroughly rid of that way of thinking he shouldn't be started on jumping.

Answer 4

Check out this link, it's really good!

http://lorienstable.com/articles/jumping...

this one is ghood too but not as good.

http://www.horsechannel.com/english-hors...

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 5

I'm kind of in the same boat with you I have an ASB who was an ex-trotter. SO we don't canter either but the best thing that worked for me is using more half halts and body tension and then using more leg. But backing it up with half halts so they do't take off.

Answer 6

The reason why he's refusing is because no one bothered to teach him how to jump. I'm sure someone jumped on him one day, ran to a fence and kicked him over, which leaves a great impression.

You are missing the basic building blocks of jumping, which would be ground poles, cavaletti and lots of circles and flat work. You need to get your flat work down to get him relaxed and forward and on your aids. The second half of why he's refusing is because he's able to since he's probably strung out behind and not on your aids. When you do go to ground poles have a set of four, set correctly, the all different spaces. Go backwards, forwards and diagonally across them.

I have an OTTB that was kicked over jumps and he did those the way you're describing. They also put a severe bit on him (I forget what it's called but it pulled back on his nose when they pulled the reins - he had bald spots when I got him) so they could yank him back after kicking him over the jumps. We went to ground poles and 10m circles. Now I can trot him over a 2' vertical. I have had him refuse only 2x, I made him walk over the 18" vertical and he jumped the 2' vertical from a walk.

Answer 7

Shame on me for making assumptions, but it sounds like neither you nor the horse have actually been trained how to jump. Stop trying to make him jump, you're only making it worse. Find a good trainer in your area and start from the beginning - your horse will thank you!

Answer 8

When you're heading towards a jump you should begin to lead forward but don't get out of the saddle because if he refuses you'll go flying over the jump without the horse. He might be refusing because he thinks you don't want him to jump.

To get him to stop jumping on only one side of the jump. When he is heading towards it turn him towards the middle and urge him on.

That's what fixed my horse.

Answer 9

At 4 years old he is just being very green! You need to take him back to the basics and work him back up to jumping gradually. Start with getting him reaquainted with working CALMLY over one ground pole. When he can do that at all 3 gaits without jumping, then add a second pole a few strides away so it's like he's going through a small line. Make sure you space it correctly so he doesn't have to work to find his distances and get upset. Then trot a few poles to a very small x. When he can do that w/ out rushing, stopping, or overjumping he's ready to go on to the next step. It's a slow building up process, and it takes time (maybe weeks or months) and patience to reteach him to get past his fears. If he doesn't get over them, have the vet check him over to make sure he's not in apin anywhere. Horses will do things that seem behavioral when they are reacting to pain, i.e. bucking, stopping at fences, hollow back, etc. Good article here http://lorienstable.com/articles/jumping...

Answer 10

walk him over the jumps on the ground daily, that will get him used to the jumps, then start having him trot over ground poles, then when he is comfortable try trotting over to the jumps, the slower your going the lower he'll jump also work on getting him to respond to your cue to canter right away.if he still refuses try putting a little pressure on both side of him with your thighs to remind him to go straight

hope this helps :)

Answer 11

I would try carrying a crop if you don't right now take him up to the jump at a working trot (kinda fast if you have to) and right when you get to the jump tap him with the crop.  If you need to take the reins in one hand and us the crop behind the saddle.

I had a horse that liked to refuse and this worked really well.  i am usually opposed to using a crop but this worked better than I would ever have hoped.

Also try setting 4+ ground poles at about 3.5-5 feet apart depending on your horses stride at a trot.  Set the last one about 5 ft from the jump.  Going through these before the jump will give him the clue that 'hey I actually have to keep moving'  

I hope these exercises help!!! Good luck!

Answer 12

you could try plenty of ground work and pole work, as the flatwork needs 2 be quite good really before you can start jumping. He needs to be going forwards well and be between hand and leg. Once you have got some good flatwork, try trotting poles, canter poles etc. A good book will tell you about this, ie. pippa funnels book on bringin on the young horse. You could then try some small fences, with a few trotting poles in front of it to develop a stride. As he is only young i would rush it! you could also try some loose schooling with him, but if he does keep refusing this would mean hes either not ready to be jumping, in pain or unsure of what to do! you jus have to build up his confidence, starting really small and with easy jumps. If you are a fairly confident rider, then you need to ride him thinking 'Yes we will get over it this time' and not 'oh il jump if you jump', as you will be teaching him bad habits. Hope this helps