Pony stops in show jumping

Question
QUESTION: Hi. I am 14 years old and has done showjumping for 3 years. I have 2 ponies and train every week. We jump competitions in hights of 80-110 cm.
I have a problem that my pony sometimes suddenly stops before the fence without warning. No specific pattern.
Have you any idea why ? What can I be doing wrong ?

Best regards
Cathrine

ANSWER: Hello Catherine,

While I cleaned my stalls I thought about your problem.  Realizing that you train every week, I must ask about your trainer.  Does she ride the pony?  Does the pony jump for her with no problem?  If not:
Have you had the vet check the pony's front feet for navicular disease?  That would cause pain in the front feet and prevent him from jumping willingly.

If the pony jumps willingly for the trainer or other riders, the problems is with you.  You may not be strong enough to make him do something he does not want to do.  You may be holding the reins too tightly.  You may be jabbing him in the mouth.  You may be coming down on his back in the middle of the jump.  He may be overfaced.  Does he always stop? Or just sometimes.  If sometimes, he may be playing games with you to show you that he is boss and not you.  He may hate jumping, period! What does your trainer say is the cause?  Do you have confidence in your trainer?
So you see there are many many things that can be happening.  Try to give me some answers to these questions and I'll try to pinpoint what the problem could be.

Hope to hear from you,
Dorothy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Dorothy,
thanking so much for your answer. I try to answer your quistions.
I have god confidence in my trainer (he has won Grand Prix in Europe)and is instructive and active. But he do not have time to come to competitions. And i wonder if there is a problem he cannot see, because it would not be a problem for him in the way he rides, but a problem for me. Yes, he can make the ponies jump almost every time. The experience jumping riders at the school has high regards for my abilities to ride. And says i am riding good.
It is a problem with both my ponyes. They only stops sometimes. I often have one stops in
competitions and at training.  Then I make a volt and finish the course. This is exstremely frustrating for me.
One of the ponyes has won championships with its previous owner. So the quality is allright. And the new pony started very well for 2-3 weeks, then i started having the same problem as the other pony.
I don't think they hate jumping. They seem glad. The draw to the fences every time. Ears forward and so on.
I have jumped 1,5 m on the big one (148 cm) and 1,4 m. on the small one (138 cm).  The problem is nearly always at competitions, and sometimes at training. This weekend i had 6 starts at a competion. And 6 stops. One in each class.

Best regards

Cathrine.  

Answer
Hello Catherine,

Never do a volte in front of the fence after a stop.  Never turn the pony away from facing the fence if he stops.  Try to make him jump from a stanstill, but if it is too high, back him up until you have room to approach.   This is a game he is playing with you and, psychologically, since you expect it, it happens...he gives you what you expect.  And you reward him by turning way from the fence instead of stuffing him over it.  Punishment is in order if he continues.  If you don't want to punish him, he will continue on his path.  My old trainer used to yell at me, "Stop equitating and RIDE!!!"  So this means that you must stop thinking about how you look and get after that pony.  He needs sorting out.  He must be made to know that if he stops, if he quits, he will backed up and forced over the fence. And if he does it continually, he must be cropped.

Also learn to use your voice coming in to a fence to encourage him.  Your voice will distract him from thinking about stopping.  Purr if he is good and growl if he is not.
On the last few strides to the fence, tap him on the shoulder with your crop and growl deeply as you close your legs.  Grab his attention from his plotting.  This is a pony who has your number.

Good luck,
Dorothy