jumping form

[EventPony]

Tiffany nose dives over jumps, and it gets very annoying, especially over larger jumps, becuase even if i dont balance on her neck, she pulls me down, and im afraid that one of these days, shes going to pull me right off.....im not sure if this is just the way she is, or if she was somehow taught that way (in a lesson the other day, my insructor asked us if we knew why you should never set up a bounce or a line with a fence to a smaller one, and she said it was because it taught your horse to dive over fences, so maybe something like that, or something else, taught her to dive over them)...so if it isnt natural, does anyone know how i could fix this problem?

[Showjumper]

No two horses jump the same, and not seeing Tiffany I can't tell you if it's just her natural way of going or not. However, you've probably noticed that if you pull against the horse, it will just pull back. This is the same with jumping - if the horse gets the idea that when it jumps it will get hauled in the mouth, it will launch it's head forward first to avoid this. I'm assuming she's a riding school pony here and gets ridden by lots of riders with varying degrees of ability. Could you ask your instructor for a private jumping lesson? Go back to trot-poles, and when you go into jumping position, drop your hands before she drops her head. If she pulls, give her more rein. Go towards the poles at trot, and just encourage her to trot calmly over them. When she's doing this calmly without hauling you down, increase their height a few inches, and do the same. Don't do too much in one lesson, and should she start hauling her head down again, go back a stage and make sure you've mastered it before you move on. Good Luck and Happy Landings! :D

[EventPony]

Ive tried jumping with very loose and no reins, and she still does it.....My instructor says its just the way she is, because with everyone who leases/rides her, she is that way...I full lease her, so no one but me rides her right now....

[Showjumper]

Maybe she had a bad experience when she was learning to jump which encouraged her to do this, and the memory of it has stuck with her?

[EventPony]

I really dont know...I know she doesnt like jumping that much (she doesnt hate it or anything, but she would much rather be out eating grass:D )..actually, so would most other horses, but i dont think she loves it or anything...i dont know...

[Showjumper]

Most horses don't mind jumping, and even like it - I try to never jump a horse who blatently doesn't enjoy it - but some have to be brought around to this way of thinking by showing them how much fun jumping can be. However, if Tiffany just doesn't want to jump, forcing her will only encourage her to the belief that jumping is a punishment.

[EventPony]

I definitely dont have to force her to jump (well...some things...the roll top.......) and she doesnt not like jumping, she would just rather be out gallopin on a trail, ya know? She would probably jump the moon out on a trail, its just the whole jumping in the ring thing...shes very lazy in the ring:D

[Showjumper]

Sounds like just about every horse I've ever ridden....:rolleyes: Start off jumping her on the trails, go with the flow and enjoy yourself. She'll enjoy it as well, and if you can form a good partnership with her in which you can jump outside without either of you being nervous, then when it comes to jumping in the ring, the confidence you have in each other should prevail and you shouldn't see any difference in her. Good Luck.

[EventPony]

thanks!