I only jump in a lesson 1x a week and I jump myself over smaller stuff 1x a week. 2x total and we never over jump them. The problem is that its not all the time that he does this so it is really hard to tell exactly what it is - the past couple weeks, I have been 100x better about “picking” and micro-managing. Yes he has gotten better regarding this in the past couple weeks as well so I know I play a part in it but his flat work has really blossomed the past couple months and I think his strength is increasing as well. But when I still see the deeper distance, he still seems to do it.
The horse has been free jumped and has a great instinct & form. It is absolutely not that I do not trust him, its more like I do not trust myself when I see the deep distance. I actually trust him way more than I trust myself - but my brain always says to pull back for the deep one.
I did end up putting my double jointed D ring happy mouth back in. He was previously in a D ring with a copper lozenge which he loves to flat in but we were jumping in it as well. I had a lesson last night and we found every single distance without the pulling past the distance. I only didn’t see one distance which was a little deep (2’6" wider oxer too, yikes) but my horse easily made up for it safely and it didn’t phase him or even make him blink; something that I think a couple months ago he wouldn’t have been able to do.
I found that he was more open and flowing and the only thing I changed besides his bit is riding with more confidence in myself to the jumps. The other day when I jumped the bigger double-boxed derby style jump, I felt it gave me the confidence I needed and got him out of his boring routine of stepping over 2’6". I did this by continuing through the corner and using lots of outside leg & rein to get him straight and moving up to the jump… All the things my trainer tells me to do in lessons.
I do have a pro who rides at our barn and shows our horses for us ride him when I can afford it - she is very capable and does training rides and shows a bunch of our horses. She suggested me to let himself put himself in that spot and “stick him” to let him back himself off. By allowing him to make his own mistakes, he is learning to do it himself. If I keep picking and picking, he is just learning to push past my hands — dang my motherly instincts.
Anyone have any more thoughts on this? EDITED to add: I know a couple posters did suggest me dropping him and letting him work it out as well.
