young horse "refusing" xc jumps

[pony_grandma]

I would back right out of this right now. The rider is dropping the horse. The horse needs to learn to go forward first and foremost - SO DOES THE RIDER. Forward on the flat, off the leg. Gallops and developing boldness. Do my recommendation of cross rails in the field and trot trot trot around boldly. Set the horse up for a positive result - always. Low cross rail gymnastics - go-go-go with straightness. Send horse without rider then add a single 2 ft pole at the end, then add barrels one stride at the end after several successful goes (be prepared with a lunge whip to send the horse forward while over the 2 ft pole). Set two poles V’d on top of the front of the barrels.

Are these colored plastic barrels? What color?

[Blugal]

I actually don’t agree with the “go go go” approach all the time. Some horses end up rushing and getting anxious when they aren’t given any time to process what they are doing. That often leads to stopping or running out. This is why I think it’s important to start with jumps they can literally walk over. Any spookiness or hesitation can be met with “well, you can walk over that” and you just stay in front of the obstacle with gentle encouragement until they go. Sure occasionally you will need a helper with a whip (e.g over a ditch) and I am learning more as I go along that you may need to be creative. Lunging over stuff is great. Sometimes horses need that little bit of understanding and extra time and of course, patience of the trainer. I have known horses that refused to go down a bank or into water or over a ditch. It might have taken a really long time the first time - leading them through or using the help of a lead horse or groundperson - but eventually they understood and and through repeated positive experiences, ained confidence.

The horse can’t gain confidence very easily when the rider doesn’t yet have the skills to instill it.

[pony_grandma]

@Blugal

The horse can’t gain confidence very easily when the rider doesn’t yet have the skills to instill it.

I’m partial to very athletic keen horses with bright eyes. I knew that was going to be a problem typing that post. I agree with Merrygoround also. Do you or your friend have the place to set up a jump chute? It’s going to be a problem presenting single fences like this.

[endlessclimb]

@pony grandma

I would back right out of this right now. The rider is dropping the horse. The horse needs to learn to go forward first and foremost - SO DOES THE RIDER. Forward on the flat, off the leg. Gallops and developing boldness. Do my recommendation of cross rails in the field and trot trot trot around boldly. Set the horse up for a positive result - always. Low cross rail gymnastics - go-go-go with straightness. Send horse without rider then add a single 2 ft pole at the end, then add barrels one stride at the end after several successful goes (be prepared with a lunge whip to send the horse forward while over the 2 ft pole). Set two poles V’d on top of the front of the barrels.

Are these colored plastic barrels? What color?

You mentioned it and I realized that I use them a lot: Guide poles. Don’t set them in the gymnastic way (ie, to a tight point at the end of the V), but just one on either side of the jump. If the horse wants to waffle a bit, it will give the rider/lunger confidence the horse will have to jump no matter what, and will take away that panic of “crap, if I don’t get the horse straight RIGHT NOW he’s going to run out”.

[stargzng386]

@someday

So, do you have a video series out? Because I’d watch! I love your ideas!

My friend came over yesterday and things went better. This time she had a crop and a grab strap.

We started with a gymnastic and he was great, no issues at all. Super cute!

I had set up some telephone poles all over the xc field for her to hop over. They were specifically set so they would make a good line with some baby coops. He was very keen getting over the poles, forward and brave. Then she did a pole to a coop and he was perfect!!! Didn’t hesitate at all. She did the smallest coop a few times then did the pole to the larger coop. Perfection!! Everything was great, but then we moved on to the next jump. A telephone pole to barrels. The pole was great, but then a huge “No” to the barrels. She went back around to the coop (he was hesitant this time) to the pole to the barrels and he stopped again. I don’t think she trusts him or herself to use the crop. Ideally, she should have given him a tap a few strides out…I could see he was going to stop and I’m sure she had to have felt it coming. She got off and lunged him over it with no issue at all. I think he’s just really sensitive to her and stops if she has any doubt. At this point, it was too hot and we were toast so she let him be done with lunging over the barrels. We’ll try again next time. I was super excited to see him go so well over the poles to coop though! He’ll be really nice once they get it figured out. Makes me wish I could get a baby…all of mine are getting old and broken, much like me

It sounds like you’re starting to figure this out but I think it would be smart to pick your goals in the beginning of the ride and stick to that keeping in mind that this is a young horse who is learning. It’s very easy to say this is going great let’s do one more jump, the slightly more difficult jump etc. If this horse was stopping at every jump then make the goal just to get over all of the telephone poles for a few rides until he’s completely confident with that. Then move on to a barrel or whatever the next size/question up is. I’m not sure where you’re located but it’s hot where I am and I think also making sure you don’t physically push them too hard at this age is important. If he’s tired and hot at the end of the ride he might not be as game to do something harder or scarier and more likely to stop.

[someday]

Thanks for all of the input.
Update*** My friend (really, it’s not me!) hauled over yesterday and her boy jumped everything!!! She lunged him over everything first and when she got on there were no issues, no stickiness, bold, brave and completely in stride! He looked so confident in his job. I’m so happy for them both and am excited to watch them progress.

[Grasshopper]

It’s great to hear of the progress!!

Sometimes, XC jumps have a different shape/topline than stadium jumps, and it can be very helpful to recreate the shape/question in a stadium setting with tiny jumps that are portable and fall down if needed–especially with a less confident horse.

For instance, I have a gelding I got straight off the track, who at the beginning of his jumping career was super confused by anything that wasn’t a crossrail or straight horizontal across the top. He just didn’t seem to realize it was a jump, even though he was jumping simple stadium fences nicely! I got some blocks and cones in various colors (especially black) and incorporated them into my stadium jumps. So, for instance, I’d start with a crossrail, then make it small vertical, then tuck one block underneath, then a second, then remove the jump pole and just jump the blocks or other objects. Hey, at least I knew he was looking at the top instead of the base of the jump early! Whenever I run into issues with him, I take apart whatever we’re having trouble with and redo one small step at a time. He’s got a great work ethic but is an anxious fellow and gets rattled if he feels like he’s done something “wrong.”

I’m going to fourth or fifth or whatever the neck strap. Also, her boy might get more confidence if she thinks of sinking lightly into the saddle in the stride before the fence (whether trot or canter). She will be more able to feel him and it will be easier for her to put her leg on that last stride, and less likely to tip forward and unbalance him.

[starbrightgalaxy]

What Blugal said.

I started like this with mine last summer with the solid obstacles.