scary fillers

[maplesyrup305]

hi again! when we are at home koko will jump fillers fine, but when we get to the show ring, she will refuse at the first sight of a filler! does anyone have any tips in regards to her jumping any filler, first time?

[Tinger]

That reminds me of a 14.2 grade C pony i used to ride waaaay back! She'd jump anything and everything at home, get to a show she'd spook at anything with a scary filler. I found that when i first got in the ring, id walk her very closly past any jumps i think she might spook at so she can take a good look at, i always trot around the ring so she can see that there not going to eat her and that usually helped.
I'd see if you can hire out a indoor ring or something where you jump at regually if possible, and set up a course with fillers, and jump it like a competition, but with all the atmosphere of a show!
Also if possible make sure you do the clear round before any novice or open classes, i know its not always possible, but if you can it might just get her to see that if she can jump it once she can do it again!! hope this helps! x

[Perfect Pony]

sometimes shadow can have an 'off' day where fillers are the scariest thing ever!!! So everytime i go showjumping i do a clear round before any class to prepare myself and shadow menally aswell as physically, i too also walk shadow right next to the ones which i think he will freak out at!!! Good luck at your show :D

[intouch]

Most fillers are "rider scarers"! If you can ignore them, your horse will too. If you look at them - specially if you get it in your head your horse won't jump them, then he won't!

[LadyFrost]

I just rode a pony at a show with a problem like that. She jumped amazing in warm up, but the moment she got in the show ring she wouldn't jump anything. I say just get them going at the speed they are comfortable with, and just squeeze, and don't jump ahead. We got disqualified twice because I kept making my mare canter and she didn't want to, then in the last time I just made her trot it and she did amazing. Just need to accept horses think differently. Sometimes they think we're stupid I bet :rolleyes:

[ponytude]

If the oppertunity ever presented its self Perhaps you could walk her up to the jumps and let her reach down, touch them and sniff them. Then this way anything new can be sorted out before you are in fron of the judges.

[jumping_eventer]

I have a TB that usually will jump anything, however we went to State Champs for the first time recently and we had to jump in a crowded indoor arena. It was his first experience at a show of that calibre, as well as his first experience indoors! A few people started leaving when we entered, and he just switched off completely and I couldn't get him listening. The bell had already sounded so I had no choice but to try and get him going. He went over the first few OK, but he jumped one of them a bit tipsy, and wasn't even looking at the next jump, just looking at the people. Suddenly, he turned and saw the filling, freaked and ran out, totally past my leg. He refused again, we were sent out and had our second round five minutes later. The announcer then asked everyone to remain in their seats, as the current horse (ie. Louie, lol) was new. He went perfectly, and coming up to the filler I dug my spur into his side and really rode that fence...my trainer was laughing afterwards, saying that I was gonna get over that jump if it killed me! Lol. All I can offer is that every horses has their 'favourite' direction. Louie shies and refuses to the left, so if I think he's going to have a problem with something, I keep my left leg on, and my whip in my left hand.

Figure out what side your horse prefers, and make sure if you think he's going to have a problem, that you're a step ahead and ready. In approaching, don't lean forward in anticipation. Sit deep, close the legs and drive him into the contact and into going forward. If you feel him start to slow, give him a a press, or kick, with you calves and move him up.

There's no cure to refusing, it's in a horse's behaviour to run away from something that scares them; so it's all about prevention.

Hope this helps!