schooling jumping in a group

[Saskatoonian]

I’m an eventer who’s always wanted to try hunting but never had a horse who was a good candidate, so when my friend offered to loan me one of her hunters while my eventer’s in rehab… well, needless to say, I’m hooked after going twice. Just wait til my eventer gets to check this out (I hope I stay on)!

Here’s the question though. Part of the benefit to my friend of loaning me this horse was that I’d bring him along a bit in his jumping, and at home, he’s improved. However, he’s a a complete slug at home, and strong out hunting. No surprise, really, but he jumps like an idiot in a group - even with a decent distance from the horse in front of him, trotting or cantering, he just flings himself at the jumps. Doesn’t matter if I try to ride him or stay out of his way. How in the world do you school this? Hunter paces? School him at home so that he has the experience to make better decisions? Thanks!

[Beverley]

If it were me, I’d start with a group of friends at home, where you usually school, and play follow the leader, alternating positions. And little games like, having him sit facing the fence on the approach while your friends go past and jump. And- on the trails, not jumping- have people pass you, you pass people, at all speeds, make your horse halt while others move off, etc.

Hunter paces would also be a good school, lead part of the way, follow part of the way.

And, recognizing the fundamental problem is that he just isn’t paying attention to you- lots of flat work (group work would be good here too) and getting him to pay attention to you when YOU want.

[Saskatoonian]

Great ideas - thanks! Yes, he’s apt to pay attention to the other horses, and I guess I"m not uncomfortable with that (because though he might fuss sometimes, he listens to me). In the jumping, though, well, not fair to expect him to jump well with distractions without letting him work out how to do it well without distractions, is it?

[Beverley]

Another passing thought- when schooling at home, set up combinations with awkward distances- they don’t need to be big, 2’6" works fine, I school both trot and canter- but the upshot is, horsey has to learn to solve the distance issue, and thus learns to pay more attention to ‘his’ duties approaching the fence.

I routinely do that sort of thing when starting horses over fences, but it occurs to me that maybe others don’t. I want my hunters to take some ownership of getting from one side of the fence to the other!.

[Saskatoonian]

Luciinda Green would love you! Yes, others - myself included - do this, though I’m less apt to actually set something up at an akward distance as just let the horse decide where to take off and stay out of his way. Funny thing how, if you have the balance and power, and the horse knows where you’re going, it works, and they build confidence. Best of all worlds.