how can i get her to respect showjumps!!

[lamprellsarah]

my mare is good now, and will jump 2 and half foot well, but as i get to about 3ft +, she slacks off, a bit and often knocks them down, when i first got her she had no muscle and i spent 6 months getting her fit, at the start she would plow though all poles!!! weither tiny or not!! now 8 months latter she has progressed well, but we have yet to get above this height with show jumps!!

she is a fantastic cross country horse, and will always go clear and well!!

[liberty911]

Although I am really of little use to you!

Maybe asking a trainer for some assistance at this point would be a good plan? If there is a very experienced rider maybe have that person give her a try since I am sure your a pretty advanced rider it might just be a difference in technique? I am not sure I was very helpful but wanted to give a reply since this seemed like and interesting post!

[lamprellsarah]

lol, thanks for replying i think we could both do with some jumping lessons to be honest at the moment i really can't afford it, i work one day a week!!! and have to pay for most of her stuff myself!!
it's not a serious thing really i would just love to go higher and enter in for more comps!!
well i would ask for someone esle to ride her, but she tends to get the hump and not move, or test them out sooo hmmmm it depends if they want to spend hours getting her to listen!!

:) :D

[lleeaannee]

Have you tried doing speads of the height YOU want to jump but with the first rail the height SHE wants to jump? Con her into it. She will think the fence is smaller than it really is.

Alternativley, could you be overfacing her a little bit? Maybe jump smaller for a bit to get her confidence up. But only you would know if she's nervous or jump playing you up!!:D

[lamprellsarah]

urr, she will jump cross country high, not showjumps, we have been jumping small jumps for a long time now, i think it's just me!!! and she is a bit lazy!!

yeah i will try the spread thing, i tend only to do small ones but yeah that may work thanks leane!!

[bettina1270]

Do you jump her with boots? If you do, they might be making her careless. Try open-front boots, so when she knocks it stings her knees a little, resulting in a more careful jump the next time around. Good luck!

[myEllie]

If she can jump three feet cross country then there is no reason she can not jump that high with regular show jumps. What bettina said about the boots may help. Open front boots still give the legs support, but don't provide any cushion from a bump; the horse will really feel it. The problem with a lot of stadium jumps is that even you even brush them lightly they will fall down. If you can get heavy, heavy, I mean heavy :D poles, instead of lighter wood or pvc ones, they won't fall over as easily, and she will feel the bump. It should teach her to pick her legs up to avoid it. A lot of people actually want their horses to get a knock before they go in the show ring because it almost guarentees that they horse will pick up its legs to avoid another one.

[lamprellsarah]

i don't always jump her in boots sometimes i do sometimes i don't she isn't that bothered if she hits one though!!!

[Showjumper]

Most horses disrespect showjumps more than cross country ones for the simple reason that they fall down and don't cause pain, so the horse has nothing to fear, and they know this, so they just don't bother.

Try to keep her mind completely occupied, be really focused, and control her speed, stride length, and do schooling movements if she gets lazy. Really demand that she be more respectful. Do NOT resort to physical force, and don't tire her too much or you'll put her off altogether.

Just keep her mentally occupied with changing stride lengths, and gaits, and do circles and changes of direction. You could even use canter poles (provided they're properly positioned) to guide her into the bigger jumps until she's more used to it - this will make her concentrate harder and she'll realise there's more to showjumping than light little silly multicoloured poles.

Oh, and remember to praise her the second she does it right!

Good Luck and Happy Landings! :D

[lamprellsarah]

hi ya your back!!!
glad to see u posting!! r u still into horses and riding??
thanx for the tips she is better i don't push it too much now 2ft- 3 ft is fine with me anyway, and i have x country jumps to train over now!! we have been let loose on them about 30 of them!!!

[Showjumper]

I still love the animals but as yet, haven't got back in the saddle. If I go back to Cornwall this year, I'm definitely going to go see if Whiskey's still around, and if he is, go for another ride on him - I'm still in love with him! :rolleyes:

[Nickie]

Hi Sarah,

You may want to note - does she slow down on the approach - if so this is you not confident enough. Or just stop dead - this could be her being stubborn or your jumping position making her unbalanced.

But as for getting her over it!

I agree with the Oxer suggestion. Also maybe you could try putting a placing pole or canter poles in front so that she thinks about them and not the jump. Or try setting up a small course with one slightly larger jump. :cool:

Also just a thought - she could be having a confidence crisis herself - maybe the difference between cross country jumps and show jumps is making her nervous. :eek:

It could be that she is sensing you thinking - "she's going to refuse again", she thinks you are getting nervous, and says "Ok mum, you don't want me to go over it - then I won't" she could be doing it for you. Horses care for their riders too. (well some do - mine don't!) :p

Try not to think about the jump yourself. You take your horse to the jump. Your horse does the jump. You just need to get off her back in a good jump position, so she can do it.

Sorry - just another thought - make sure your weight isn't too far forward. The larger jumps are, tends to make people throw their weight further forward, which pushes the horses balance out. Rather than fall over or knock it down they stop. Try getting someone to video you jumping so you can see if this could also be a possible problem.

Dunno if any of that helps! Let us know what happens!

Nicola

[maverick927]

Wehn SJ i make my pony jump solid jumps, like XC. They are filled with fillers and when he hits the jump it doesn't fall down. He soon learnt to respect the jump. I also make him do bounce fences and he lifts his feet much better.