Refusing jumps

[Bluefilly]

We did our first gymkana sunday,we did the 35cm jumping and my mare just kept refusing,we were in a trot to keep her in the arena and straight then we went into a canter and did a few jumps clear.
We knocked down 3 poles and had about 3 refusals.
So after a break and a few other classes we were going to do the 45cm but while we were practising she refused and i fell of right on my bum on the hip bone. Thats the day after she tripped and she fell and i went straight over and landed on my head,back,arm and had a headache/swollen and grazed back and arm.So we sat the 45cm out.
We do about 45cm if not higher at home.
Lately shes been refusing the jumps at home too.
While it was our first competition it was still at our local pc we go to so its a familiar location.
We have riding lessons weekly and my instructor tells me to push her on and keep her straight and keep her in a trot,which sometimes she ducks out of too.She wont jump in a trot and will only clear them when shes in a canter.
What could the issue be?
Is it something we should just keep practising or not push her to do something she doesnt want to.
And shes about 16hh and 5yo this year tb,so its not like she cant.
Thanks

[Showjumper]

It sounds like you do a lot of jumping. Do you ever just hack, school, or do groundwork with her? It sounds to me like she's got a bit sour/bored/fed up and needs a change for a while.

[Bluefilly]

We have weekly lessons with my riding instructor,no jumping until end of lesson when we do about 3 jumps.
When i ride about 3-4 times a week we usually do the same as what we did in our lesson. I like to take her out atleast once a month because we do pc twice a month already.
I wouldnt say its a lot of jumping,only a bit more lately to practice for the gymkana.
Theres no issues with stopping jumping for a while,she used to love it and still when we ride she tries to leave the arena and heads straight for the jumps, can pop over a few and then she has had enough.
How long do you think we should stop jumping for?

[TEmily]

I would agree with Showjumper here I wouldn't jump more than twice a week including competitions, your horse would definitely get fed up. A 16hh TB should be able to stride over 45cm without any effort at all even from trot so this is definitley something in your horses head.

Maybe try some loose jumping or jump her on the lunge so she can get it clear what she needs to do without worrying about a rider. This might boost your confidence as well as you'll be able to see that she's capable of jumping much bigger fences. Its easy to start getting tense when jumping if your horse always stops and if you are tense you'll make it worse.

Some horses just take a bit of time to 'get' jumping - Maddie a mare on our yard was just awful at first, she really couldn't work out what to do with her legs - now she's just got her fourth double clear in 1m Discovery classes so she cracked it eventually!

[~*sugarlump*~]

It could be that she's lost confidence, especially if she tripped and fell when jumping. I would try giving her a break and starting from scratch. Lots of trotting/canter poles, maybe leading onto a little jump. Remember lots of praise when she does jump.
TBs can be very sensitive to rider, and if shes nervous and senses your nervous then this could make it worse, so try to remain calm and confident.
good luck!!