Horse who hits rails behind

[Lord_Helpus]

I have a 6 year old who was a dressage horse until we discovered his forte was in the hunter ring. He is a champ as a hunter, except for this one problem.
My trainer says he might just be weak behind and the problem will go away. But his dressage background should help, not hurt his hind end muscles. And he jumps the baby oxers with 2’ to spare.

He is only jumping 2’6 now (no problems at 2’) and the pro meets every jump perfectly. There are rails in front and behind to get him to take off and land the correct way. He is 6 and has incredible flatwork. And he never hits a jump in front. But I worry that this problem will become a habit.

[merrygoround]

It is usually a case of the rider coming back down in the saddle too soon .

[Cocorona]

Came here to say the same thing, @merrygorounds got it

ETA: I’m not sure if this is your dressage pro or a H/J pro but regardless, its good to keep in mind that someone can be a pro in name- even deliver a young horse to every jump perfectly- and still have issues with their position and their own weaknesses. I’d recommend having a different pro or accomplished ammy jump your horse around and see if the problem persists

[4LeafCloverFarm]

Do you have some video of this horse jumping, so we can see what is happening? Some (new to jumping) horses can be lazy in front or behind (or both) until they figure it all out. Some just lack the coordination/muscles at first to launch themselves appropriately. While it is possible that sitting up mid-air or too soon can cause a horse to drop his rear, these are fairly small fences, so I’d think that would be less likely.

Anyway, hard to say without seeing it happen. So a video might be helpful.

[Blinky]

I doubt if LH is using someone not proficient.

I got my horse as a early 6 year old from a dressage barn. Now 7. He was big and gangly. Tons of scope and a big stride. The smaller jumps are easy and 1. they get sloppy and 2. they are young so sometimes just lose their focus. As you will raise the jumps…he will over jump and then probably have the same thing happen. I wouldn’t worry about it during the green years.

[tinah]

Is this the turn-and-bolter?

[ElementFarm]

do baby gymnastics help him sharpen up? Sometimes the younger ones (especially if they’re big) kind of forget where their legs are. Gymnastics can help them focus on their form.
Also, make sure all your jump poles are heavy, solid wood. --No PVC. The plastic rails are so light, the horses barely feel it when they hit a rail. Solid poles give solid feedback. (similarly, don’t use polo wraps)

[findeight]

Just guessing but…

Put the rails up and add more substance. He may not be paying attention and lacking respect for what he is stepping over. He’s 6, an age where many don’t start them over real low, airy fences to avoid starting them out as sloppy jumpers. 2’9” or 3’ simple verticals with good ground lines is a bitter place to start…sometimes something as simple as painting the rails get more of their attention then faded, dust incrusfed, chewed up schooling rails.

How are his hocks and rest of his hind end ? Discomfort behind can make them not want to rock back or pick up behind and there could be some conformational hip and shoulder angles the aren’t letting him fold up so he has to overjump to get all the parts over or just hit the rails on the higher fences.

Could be rider induced too.

Have to see some video and a still shot from the side to see what you got here.

[Lord_Helpus]

@tinah

Is this the turn-and-bolter?

LOL. Yes it is. We decided not to lunge, but to ride him every day. Pro rides
im 2 to 3 times a week, depending on her show schedule. Other days he works in the ring or on the trails (in SP we have 4000 acres of land to ride on). This horse is really fancy and worth all the challenges he is throwing at us.

[tinah]

I’d treat for epm and see how he does. I know it’s kinda off the wall, but over the past couple years I’ve seen all sorts of weirdo behavior and not-quite-rightness fixed by a course of epm meds.

[jonem004]

@tinah

I’d treat for epm and see how he does. I know it’s kinda off the wall, but over the past couple years I’ve seen all sorts of weirdo behavior and not-quite-rightness fixed by a course of epm meds.

I’d probably try some weighted boots behind before I got too far into meds. Or a square rail that has a little more bite to it. If that’s not enough motivation, then by all means pursue medical intervention. I do appreciate the trend we’re seeing toward understanding and diagnosing neurological issues.

[Justice]

Try v poles. IME they fix a lot of greenie bad tendencies. Also aluminum gates are great, light but make a horrible sound when hit. Have you jumped him through a chute? Does he do it then? Sometimes they really need the chute for 2-3 days to figure their bodies out. Obviously you don’t want to lunge him over jumps lol! And please post video so that we can drool.

[Lord_Helpus]

Does anyone know how to get a video that was sent to me from a video from a cell phone. I think I have downloaded it to my computer. Then again, I might not have.

[4LeafCloverFarm]

@Lord Helpus

Does anyone know how to get a video that was sent to me from a video from a cell phone. I think I have downloaded it to my computer. Then again, I might not have.

Are you on a PC or Mac? If a PC I might be able to help.

[Lord_Helpus]

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fv%2Ft15.3394-10%2F69767694_1105738266281417_1836937601030815744_n.jpg%3F_nc_cat%3D100%26_nc_oc%3DAQnt8j9SIvNUxlm_ooxa2b5GuvcUnMBehOsQxJn7UtXXdtEBN0HTk34fMdoTZGMHrTI%26_nc_ht%3Dscontent-iad3-1.xx%26oh%3D838eb28221246d3c2df6a35f10051ab1%26oe%3D5DF3F881&h=AT2lRNIUNYl73cUggMTyCpEdhZQppRnoxwYW01LKhlaKCey2lSvGRJsmuYr5hMjEEMfZPRTKGTb3YWcR35_e3aM8MpZMlI9IvPePJHy22PwArWoMvw3Q8WcyOzED-uQU-kM

[IPEsq]

I think this is actually common for dressage horses or dressage bred horses when they are green over jumps. The front end is usually super and then the hind end sort of just comes along for the ride. I would try some wider, low oxers mixed with taller verticals, and set some lines where you need a more rolling canter, not collection. Even works if you set a trot in canter out line right. You want to encourage push and more bascule through the back. Don’t worry about light in front and sharp knees (guess is that’s already there). Think more about over and across.

[knic13]

@Lord Helpus

Linus has had just about everything done which can be done to a horse. Neuro vets from NC State and New Bolton. have looked at and there is a fancy name for his problem, but I am in bed and too lazy to get up. BL: He has a neuro problem at C 6-7 and T1… This is why he switched from the confines of dressage to the neck freedom of hunters, and he loves it I am trying to get and this is the last thing I know how to do,
I give up’

Not to be an alarmist, but the poor hind end form over fences may be related to the neck.

[EmilyM]

i have to say that most of my young horses tend to have a hind rub when they are green to jumping. sometimes they don’t quite have the coordination down, or they have attention deficit and sometimes forget about completing the jump behind. I"m not sure how severe your issue is. Even when my horse started doing the first year greens, he would have an occasional rub behind if he lost some focus. I think it can be simply a green mistake.

is he cracking the rails in half or having a light rub?