To all knowledgable horse <span title="riders/trainers-showjumping??">riders/trainers-showjumpi...</span> Please help!!!?

Question

I have a 17.1hh 9yr old gelding who is good in all respects but when showjumping is not careful. He jumps anything you ask him to but just touches it slightly because he doesn't snap his legs up, no matter how big it is (even 5ft). This means that I never get a clear round which is soooo annoying as he can do it and is amazing at jumping! What could I do to correct this problem as it would get him very far? Please please please help I don't know what to do!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

Do u jump wooden poles or pvc?  I know at home we only jump pvc and our ponies would get a little sloppy if we let them because the pvc doesn&#039;t hurt.  Do u use wraps or boots?  Try jumping wood without boots on him one time to see if it wakes him up.  Some cruel people would suggest &quot;poleing&quot; him  taking a bamboo rod and striking his front legs as he jumps, but this can make horses crazy refusers and is just cruel.  Let him hit wood poles himself a time or two and if that doesn&#039;t help i don&#039;t know what to tell u.  Some horses just aren&#039;t careful and don&#039;t have the heart to jump what the height shows require of them.  Does he like to jump?  My horses are always hot on the fences almost to the point of rushing them, they have the desire to do it and do it well.  If you horse is missing that spark then there is nothing u can do really.  Does he hit the low fences as well?  Does he mainly rub with his front feet, belly or hind feet?  How often do u school him over fences?  Is he tired or sour?  If he always misses with just the front or back something may be hurting him or pinching him, or he may just not be fit enough.  One way u can strenghten his back end is by doing collecting work and doing hill work.  I do hill work a lot with mine after the winter before i even show them fences for the season.

Answer 2

Sophie:

He&#039;s a clever lad, but not that clever. You can catch his lazy feet on a cross country course,something low yet respectable like a 3&#039; round. Another trick, water buckets under the jump give it depth,and wrapping the poles in bubble wrap is safe and sane. The idea is to make him aware of their location, so you get that clear round.You probably tried a tap on the croup just before he strikes them,so he is awake just doesn&#039;t feel any reason to leave them up.Those neat tucked knees are a natural skill,and schooling over birch or wood might help.What does he think of 5&#039;6 and 6&#039; ? Combined training gives you a fit aware and skilled athlete,have some fun and try CCI. You wont suck at the dressage part.,.honest!