I sent my 17.3h coming 5 year old to Florida with my trainer this year to get some miles (and hopefully get sold because he grew too tall for me). Due to his size, we didn’t start jumping him until just a few months ago, so I didn’t get to jump him much before he went to Florida. I’ve noticed in the videos that are sent to me that he primarily lands on the right lead, but occasionally lands left in the front and right behind. It’s pretty rare that he lands cleanly on the left lead. His right to left lead changes are not good either. He picks up both leads fine and jumps off both leads fine. I had him vetted prior to going to Florida and the vet didn’t find any red flags. WWYD? Is this a big young horse that needs to get stronger or should I have a vet investigate? Would the RH stifle be your primary suspect or something else?
First thing I’d want to know is if he does this with every rider.
How high is he jumping? Is he actually showing, or just getting some work done? A 5yo who’s already 17.3 really hasn’t fully figured out his body yet, that’s just a lot of growth, and he hasn’t been jumping long
Saddle fit is another issue to look at, not all saddles are symmetrical, unfortunately, especially if they’re regularly used on an asymmetrical horse and not checked every 3-6 months.
Did he do this at home?
Interestingly I just saw a post on FB (don’t think it’s the same horse, that one sounds like an older horse), asking for help with a very similar problem
General consensus from the comments were to check the neck first and then hind suspensories - even if sound and sound in flexions, blocking made the horses land correct and then they ultrasounded to confirm minor problems
Edit - I would take this info in addition to what JB said to start with above. A big young horse is definitely still trying to figure out where their body parts are.
I’d consider cantering a pole on a circle to see if that helps.
My vote would be for big young horse that needs to get stronger and get used to his body. Doesn’t sound like he’s been in consistent work that long and would have been going through growth spurts up until pretty recently (maybe still going). A few months really isn’t enough to build the strength needed to hold a balanced canter over fences.
What does your trainer think? They’ll have a better feel of the situation than anyone here.
He’s only doing the 0.80 and 0.90 right now. He just steps over — he isn’t jumping super high and landing in a heap or anything like that.
He didn’t do this with me before he left, but I was only trotting jumps, or trotting in and cantering out of straight lines.
He holds the lead over a pole without issue. I did tons of poles with him as a 3 and 4 year old.
He’s been in consistent work since he was broke as a 3 year old and has done thousands of trot and canter poles… I just held off on jumping until the fall of his 4 year old year
Is he anticipating the turn? What happens if you jump him in a nice long straight line? My young horse will try to cut the corner if possible.
I personally wouldn’t be concerned. A lot of that past work doesn’t really count from a fitness standpoint since his body was changing so much. Your trainer is still going to be the best person to weigh in since she’s the one feeling what’s actually happening.
I would want to see if he does it on a straight line, and I would want to have someone else ride him. Sometimes a different rider will pick up on something the regular rider is missing. Has your trainer mentioned this to you? If not I would certainly bring it up. If not, why not? Is yours just a string of many so maybe there isn’t as much focus on/to detail?
Two different pros have ridden him and he’s done it with both of them. One has a more European style while the other is more of a hunter rider. He’s landed cross cantering off at least one or two jumps in every round he’s done. They tried schooling him in the hunter ring and he did it there too, always when he tries to land left. My trainer thinks it’s a strength/balance/training issue… I think there’s something else going on. I’m anxious to see and ride him soon.
Horses can be handed just like people. I’d trust the trainer knows what they are seeing/ feeling. But by all means keep an eye on this
