Getting a green OTTB started over fences

[Mcl1]

Well our first show was delayed due to hoof/farrier issues but luckily there was another schooling show in the area so I was able to get him off the property prior to the show later this week.

I started him in the .6 m, they had a warm up class option where you could go in and jump any jumps you wanted for 90 seconds. I was going to do the first course but he walked in and his eyes bugged out of his head. He stopped “at the first jump” (about 5 strides out). I just let him trot and then canter a lap around, got him over the first one (told him he was the best boy ever), got to the second one, he again refused, I let him take a moment and came back and jumped that (again, lots and lots of praise) and time was up. I had no idea what to expect from him going back for the first class but was just hoping to at-least get him over those two jumps. He was a little unsure to the first jump but once he got over that his confidence just grew exponentially and he jumped around the entire course (I did all the adds because I really wanted to ride him to the base of each jump). I had him entered in one class at .7 and was on the fence but decided to give it a shot and he went in and marched around so confidently, and got the step all around. I don’t know if anyone has ever been more proud of a 28 time fault jumper round .

Overall it was such a great confidence building experience (for both of us, it was my first show in 12 years and first show totally solo). I will admit that I have become a bit of an overprotective and obsessive horse mom and was so worried that he would be anxious and unhappy about the whole experience but he was so good (*as long as I stayed within 2 ft of him - my husband had to get a crash course on show entries to handle the office side of things ).

Here’s the video of our .7 course, obviously not perfect but also hard to believe that less than an hour before this he didn’t want to get near a jump:

https://youtube.com/shorts/zOwbcMlXI1k?si=jWyeso6rfvbHN7-v

And pictures of my handsome guy:

[nutmeg]

He’s adorable! Conscientious to a fault about his changes I see but you do a good job of de-escalation. Congratulations on a successful first outing. Life gets so much easier with that under your belt.

[Mcl1]

Thank you!!

The place I was planning on bringing him to his first show at has much larger arenas which would have been nice to have more time to set him up for his changes and/or simple changes. This course was super tight and I felt bad about throwing that at him but he surprised me for the most part! But he definitely does not like missing changes - it has been a while since we faced that at home, he now generally gets the full change or doesn’t even try which has reduced the drama substantially .

[nutmeg]

You do a lovely, unobtrusive job. Just found this in an article discussing how a sporthorse can perform to the best of its ability and it most certainly applies to a racehorse figuring out corners and jumps:

[ParadoxFarm]

Great first show! You both did an excellent job. Congrats.

[Ponyplusaninch]

I love that there are classes you can just walk in, do what you’re gonna do for 90 seconds, and then walk out. What a great way to build on solo confidence.

I said this upthread but in general, I find TBs overall to more quickly “get with the program” and settle vs. warmbloods. They may start off very high alert but once they understand the ask they go to work which I personally appreciate, having also owned a WB who had the memory of a goldfish (for better or worse).

Hope y’all get to go do some more outings!

[IPEsq]

You are doing a great job. As someone who rides alone a lot and runs into the same problem, I will kindly ask you to work on shortening your reins. A lot. It will help you with the steering (getting your hands wide without needing to go down and back in order to make contact with the rein) and the half halts to be in a place where your elbows don’t get so behind you. I’d also suggest your martingale is a hole or two too long because he is at maximum inversion when he finally gets pressure from it. You are a soft enough rider that you can carry your hands more forward.

It was mentioned early on, but given how he went at the show, I’d throw in some work on a single jump on a circle at home. Not an oval. Circle, like pretty much no straight strides. And a generous but not huge one…20m or so. Not only does it help with rushing and lead change anxiety (reason for it being mentioned the first time), but it will help him tune into you a bit more and follow your hand before, over, and after the jump. At your more advanced stage now, you need better control over the track. Set something small so that you can pick a tighter distance over a longer one. I also like putting the jump across the center line so you get some assistance being on a short side, although you don’t have much of a fence/wall at home.

Next level up is to counter canter some jumps as well. Make it easier like something on the long side. Thinking about the counter canter helps them wait and focus on you a little more.

[Mcl1]

Well I am still a little bit in shock about the update on his second show. I brought him to three days of a rated show (hauled in and back home at night), which seemed like a big swing for him and the only reason I even considered it was that it is my one chance a year to show with a trainer. I figured that if nothing else, I could just get him in the ring for the .65 m classes and get a few lessons. My goal was just to eventually get him around the ring and over everything. All the jumper classes were in the big Grand Prix ring and there were no warm up classes or chances to school in the ring ahead of time.

Despite being EXTREMELY fresh the first morning when he showed up…he stepped right into that big ring and jumped around every single course all week, and even did the .75’s. He really barely even peaked at any of the jumps, he did have some green spooky moments in one corner but would immediately refocus as soon as he had his eye on the next jump. He had a few situations where some baby moments led to him not getting his eye on a jump until the last minute, and although stopping would have been justified he just perked his little ears up and popped right over.

I have been very curious to see what his step is like because it is hard to tell when he is the only one jumping at home. He had zero problems getting down the lines, even with the small jumps.

I am just so, so proud of my little guy. All week I watched way more experienced horses stop out in that ring and to have him just go in and be so bold and honest was incredible and we truly could not have asked for any more from him.

And @IPEsq thank you so much for the advice and exercise suggestions - I had the chance to ride with my trainer friend this week and her advice and feedback was literally identical to yours. I definitely have homework to do for myself (shortening my reins) and for him (working on our turns/drifting issues).

Here’s a few clips of my very good boy:
YouTube link in case the embedded ones are slow:

https://youtube.com/shorts/a4UYSCqvwqk?si=WTHgzYh0D-skvM9I

IMG_2037

IMG_2037

IMG_2073

[IPEsq]

That’s great! I’ve been thinking about getting a Pivo to keep myself accountable about my own rein length.

[ParadoxFarm]

You both look great! You make an excellent pair. He has a nice, springy jump. I think he’s really going to be something as he progresses! (Not that he’s not already something….)

[chestnutmarebeware]

He looks like such a blast to ride! I think you’ve got a gem there.

[beowulf]

I need one for that too. I put nail polish dots on the inside of both my bridle rein[s] where my hands are supposed to be… Dunno if that would work for you? It has definitely worked for me.

OP, he looks great in these videos!! He looks game and brave and has figured out his job - now you just set the line and pace! You sit his little bounces after the fence really well. How has the hackamore been working for you?

[junesj68]

his jump is just adorable. I’m officially in love

[Mcl1]

@ParadoxFarm @chestnutmarebeware @junesj68 Thank you all so much! He really is a blast to ride.

@beowulf The hackamore has been life changing for him. I tried putting him back in a flexible D snaffle and it is like riding a totally different horse, especially over fences. It does make me laugh because this is a horse who spends his entire life trying to put things in his mouth but hey, whatever makes him happy. I was concerned about not having enough control/brakes but he is very respectful of it when jumping.

[IPEsq]

It is harder to teach them to follow the hand and control the body wiggle in a hackamore for a green horse…I wonder if you tried flatting him in a rope halter or side pull as a little more follow your nose direct rein type cue.

Or a combination bit like this https://www.horsebitbank.com/brands-categories/trust/combinations

[Mcl1]

Yes it can definitely be a challenge - I did try him in my mustang’s side pull one time but could definitely try it again. Is the idea to eliminate the leverage of the hackamore?

I have also thought about the hackamore combination type bits if I did need a little more, although I suspect he would do the same things he does in a bit.

[IPEsq]

The idea I had is to use more direct rein pressure to get him aligned from nose to tail and following his nose, to work on having more control over where his shoulders are going and the overall track.

[dags]

@IPEsq

following his nose

This is what I was going to suggest. Like yes, my outside rein and leg will be there to support you, but ultimately horse, you need to follow your nose.

Picked it up from the western folks where a simple lift of the hand gets flexion and a turn. I begin at a halt, drop the outside rein, pull inside rein till horse is looking back at me and I can give a big forehead rub. Drop when they soften and I’m not the one holding their head up. Repeat on other side and so on, till they’re following the rein and I’m not the one dragging their head around.

Then at the walk. Pull/lift right rein, head goes right and if body doesn’t follow, right leg to kick the hindquarters around and get them on track with head. Rinse and repeat with 5 million changes of direction.

On to the trot. I find it really helpful to have a ring full of jumps to circle and weave and change directions around— there should be very few straight tracks. This is done on a stupidly long rein, with pressure only applied to one rein at a time. Lift right hand with a bit of right leg, nose tilts and body follows nose or else booty gets kicked around the corner till it’s tracking behind the nose.

In the end I (usually lol) have a lovely, long-and-low, snakey horse that easily flows through the change in bend as we circle and volte and serpentine without me having to micro-manage shoulders and hind quarters. It’s as useful for loosening up stiff horses as it is for simplifying the elastic ones.

The other exercise I thought of for your guy would be leg-yielding off the track/rail (ie: to the inside) at the canter to focus on straightness and really finding the feel on the outside rein. He is very good at rewarding you by lightening up when he gets truly straight and equal on both reins. It’s when he’s every so slightly still bent inside when you get to the jump that he blows past you a wee bit- but even that seems better in the newest vids. Which btw, well done. He’s looking fab and like loads of fun!

[Mcl1]

@IPEsq @dags Thank you both so much for the exercise ideas, I am excited to give them a try!

Finally got around to getting the pictures my husband took organized and had to share a few of my favorites:

[ParadoxFarm]

Those are awesome! Again, congrats on a job well done.