My green OTTB hesitates a little before fences. No chips or anything, but appears just to hesitate. I actually can’t really feel it under saddle (doesn’t feel like he is thinking about refusing or anything), but the barn owner says it looks like he just sucks back or hesitates at the base. He comes into the jump with a good pace I know there is a certain amount of rocking back onto the hocks with the takeoff, but it sounds like she thinks it is more than that. I’ll try to get some video, but wondering how to work on this. I’ve started schooling gymnastics, hoping that will help.
Use way more leg off the ground, not just to the fence. You might even use a little tap with a stick behind your leg once - just as a reminder to go forward.
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I’ve ridden two of these in the past several years. They aren’t quite jumping out of stride but rather giving a small stutter at the takeoff. In both cases these were careful scopey horses. In both horses, a following hand and being careful not to mess with the rythm going to the jump helped a lot. How long has this horse been jumping for? How does he like to approach the jumps?
My green horse was the same. a 5 jump gymnastic line and a 9’ placing pole every now and then has really made the world of difference for her.
[QUOTE=supershorty628;7648142]
Use way more leg off the ground, not just to the fence. You might even use a little tap with a stick behind your leg once - just as a reminder to go forward.[/QUOTE]
Totally agree with this. A cluck or two a couple steps out can help too.
[QUOTE=Scratch N Dent;7648188]
I’ve ridden two of these in the past several years. They aren’t quite jumping out of stride but rather giving a small stutter at the takeoff. In both cases these were careful scopey horses. In both horses, a following hand and being careful not to mess with the rythm going to the jump helped a lot. How long has this horse been jumping for? How does he like to approach the jumps?[/QUOTE]
Thanks all. I’ve been riding with roller spurs occasionally to enhance the leg aid at the base. I’ll add the tap and cluck as needed. He is forward and balanced to the fence. He definitely shows good scope- really lifts his shoulders and rounds up nicely. I just don’t want it to look like a refusal-type hesitation.
[QUOTE=AgainstAllOdds;7648193]
My green horse was the same. a 5 jump gymnastic line and a 9’ placing pole every now and then has really made the world of difference for her.[/QUOTE]
Haha, just set up a 9 ft pool to a cavaletti to three one strides last night. I’ll work on mixing up the gymnastics to keep him engaged and learning his spots. I kinda wonder if its just his green-ess showing and him double checking where to take off.
He’s been with us for 2 months. Previous owner only had him for 2 months- “too much horse” (he’s the gentlest thing ever, but green). Unknown history before that, but previous owner was told he had jumped a bit and “foxhunter” (not sure what string).
Leg at the base. Leg at the base, leg at the base. It sounds like he is just a little unsure and making sure he sets himself up right, but he needs your support to keep him from getting stuck. My horse does this sometimes before big oxers when we first raise the jumps and what he needs is to know I am there and ready.
Don’t wait until the base. A couple strides before, sit down in your saddle and pulse leg, leg, leg all the way to the base. Combining this with a light half halt will keep him from getting rushy and help him set himself back and make it easier for him to push off the ground. Basically, you’re saying “you can do it, you can do it, Do it!”
I would be careful of clucking. A., because it can distract them and B. because sometimes when we cluck we forget to apply the physical aid that actually is needed. As my train says, “Don’t cluck, ride.” Fair disclosure, I have growled/shouted “Go!” (possible with explicative) when I felt a tricky spot coming, but I think it was more for the benefit of steeling my resolve to get through it than because it did anything to help the horse. :eek:
I’d just like to add it’s not always about more leg with green beans. If I add more leg to my horse over fences she will start charging the fences and just get quicker, not a better spot. Sometimes they just need help at the base to figure out their take off which is where 9’ ground poles come in handy.
[QUOTE=AgainstAllOdds;7649745]
I’d just like to add it’s not always about more leg with green beans. If I add more leg to my horse over fences she will start charging the fences and just get quicker, not a better spot. Sometimes they just need help at the base to figure out their take off which is where 9’ ground poles come in handy.[/QUOTE]
That’s why I said leg with a half halt. The half halt helps the rider channel the momentum from the go signal you give with the leg. 
9’ pole is exactly what I was going to suggest.
How high are you jumping him? If he is hesitating maybe some little confidence building jumps or starting the same jumps out lower to make him feel good?
[QUOTE=AgainstAllOdds;7649745]
I’d just like to add it’s not always about more leg with green beans. If I add more leg to my horse over fences she will start charging the fences and just get quicker, not a better spot. Sometimes they just need help at the base to figure out their take off which is where 9’ ground poles come in handy.[/QUOTE]
Yeah I was thinking that maybe I was overdoing it with the leg coming in and we were coming in too fast. I’ve been focusing on half halting as we establish a good rhythm and then adding a bit of leg at the base.
[QUOTE=MyGiantPony;7651110]
9’ pole is exactly what I was going to suggest.[/QUOTE]
I think I’m really going to work with 9’ poles. Just so we can both set ourselves up good.
[QUOTE=tua37516;7651390]
How high are you jumping him? If he is hesitating maybe some little confidence building jumps or starting the same jumps out lower to make him feel good?[/QUOTE]
No more than 2’3" at the MAX. Lots of crossrails and 2’ish jumps. Just started doing some gymnastics- bounces and one-strides.
I would be careful of clucking. A., because it can distract them and B. because sometimes when we cluck we forget to apply the physical aid that actually is needed. As my train says, “Don’t cluck, ride.” Fair disclosure, I have growled/shouted “Go!” (possible with explicative) when I felt a tricky spot coming, but I think it was more for the benefit of steeling my resolve to get through it than because it did anything to help the horse. :eek:[/QUOTE]
haha thanks! A reminder to actually ride (and not just sit there) is always appreciated!
To solve this problem, get that Instructor app for your iPhone. It will tell you “leg not detected” if it thinks your horse is about to do this in front of a jump.
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bumping this since I would love more suggestions as well. Thought my horse & I were almost past this sticky/stalling behavior before takeoff but it’s rearing it’s ugly head again… Thanks.
I have a sometimes squirrly, very sensitive OTTB mare. When I started training with my current trainer she pointed out that I had no lower leg contact. I was holding my leg off of her because I was afraid of her ‘go.’
We spent months working on the flat making sure my leg was always on her. Not necessarily squeezing, or kicking, just constant contact. We worked a lot on lateral work, but really it was just me strengthening my legs and improving my base of support. It translated to her jumping because she knew my leg was there to support and encourage.
[QUOTE Juxtapozebumping this since I would love more suggestions as well. Thought my horse & I were almost past this sticky/stalling behavior before takeoff but it’s rearing it’s ugly head again… Thanks.[/QUOTE]
Have you ruled out something may be hurting him? Horses are so smart and if he knows he has to push off and something is hurting, he is hesitating for good reason!
