Horse problems with jumping

Question
QUESTION: "My horse is a 16 hand, 15 year old quarter horse gelding, named Buggs. Within the last six months, he has been very difficult to the jumps. He tends to throw his head up, and then yank it down, and if often unseats me. He is a very sensitive horse, and I really try to adapt my riding style to meet his needs. I sit lightly in the saddle, don't hang on his mouth, but rather maintain a firm yet giving contact with the bit (which is a Dee Mullen Barrel Bit). Yet when I approach the jumps (now less than one foot cross rails) he tries to gallop towards it, and if I make him trot or canter it, he will swing his body around, almost swiveling so that when we reach the jump, he is either completely turned around or sideways. I have always considered myself a pretty calm rider, but he makes me nervous when he does that; I can feel his body fighting to leap out from under me. So, although I used to be able to jump 2'6" courses with him, I now do very small single cross rails. And I don't think it's solely me, because none of the trainers at the barn can ride him well either. I changed my saddle to have a wider tree, and although he seems to like it, he still races at the jumps and swivels his body and yanks his head down. I have been working just on walking up to about ten feet before the  jump, and then asking him to go into a relaxed trot, and sometimes he'll do it, but other times he'll race at it. The owner of the barn, a very experienced horsewoman, says that he just loves to jump. He'll jump anything, but on his own terms (racing full speed ahead). I try not to be repetitive; once he's done something right, I move on. I am at a loss of what to do. Is there anything that you suspect I am doing wrong? I know that Buggs loves to jump, and his tack fits him well. His feet have been checked, along with his back. Although his feet are soft, he has great shoes to help protect his front feet. Do you have any suggestions to help me keep him quieter to the fences?"

ANSWER: Hi Megan

I would suggest that your boy is getting excited about jumping....and is just wanting to get to the other side of the jump as fast as he can.

To get him more settled, try putting the jumps up before you start schooling, and just walk and trot past them, canter past them, do anything but go over them...just let him know that yeah, jumping is fun, but unless he does it on the terms you set, he isn't going to get his own way and upset you by racing at them.  

Also, my suggestion would be to try a different bit, maybe a three ring Dutch gag (sometimes known as a continental gag, or bubble bit) just to give you that control, or one with full cheeks on, like a full cheek fulmer snaffle....or even a martingale.  

Put grids up, with a stride between the fences, make him think....trotting and canter poles before the fences, just to take his mind off the fact he's jumping.  

Canter or trotting poles before the fence will make him sit back more on his hocks and make him easier to control.  At 15, he's going to be set in his ways, and it will take time to change his way of going, but both of you will find it easier in the long run.  

Has he ever had an accident whilst jupming, as this can lead to anxiety and rushing fences.  

Another exercise to try is to put up the jump stands, and have a pole led on the floor between them, walk over it, and when he's calm, go up to trot, if he starts rushing, then back to walk, till he calms down again, then trot, and when he's trotting calmly over it, go up to canter...then get a friend/instructor/helper to put the fence on the first hole...just trot up to it, nice and calm, and he should just trot over the slightly raised pole...do this until it's a proper fence, and just keep trotting...if he breaks to canter, go onto a circle, and back to trot, drop the fence back to the previous height, and trot over it again....he will get the message that rushing gets you nowhere, and he will calm down...


Also try singing softly to yourself...this will help you get over any tension that may be transmitting itself to your horse.

Hope this helps, and if there is anything else you want to ask, or any other problems you have, feel free to come back and ask me!

Good luck

Emma xx


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

QUESTION: Hi Emma
The jumps are always put up before we start schooling, and we do all of our flat work (about 25 minutes) past them. He has a martingale, but I am hesitant to use a harsher bit on him, as he does have a sensitive mouth. I want him to be responsive, but not in pain. Would the continental gag or bubble bit be harsh on his mouth? Also, we do trot poles before jumping, setting them up in a line so that he can't race through them. I would like to try cantering or trotting poles before bringing them up to the jump -I haven't done that with him in a while. I don't know a lot about his past, but one of my trainers (who has left the barn to be an EMT) suspected that he was beaten over the jumps, or had some sort of other bad experience. The way she put it was that he was so afraid of being hurt for doing something wrong that he was too afraid to jump -always second guessing himself. When he does something right, I immediately praise him and rub his neck, and he seems to settle a bit after that. Thank you so much! I am sorry to bother you, but I am desperate for help with my horse! I know that his behavior is an indication that there is a problem, either with me or with his bad habits. I'll try out everything you suggested and try to update you on how he's doing.
         Thanks again, Meg

Answer
A bubble bit or continental gag is not a harsh bit..I do all my pre show schooling/hacking/jumping in one with my arabian mare, and she is exceptionally fussy about her mouth.  You need to find one with a quite thick mouthpiece which is jointed.  

Trust me, it won't hurt him, and it'll help you wth the control.  Also try the pole on the floor between the jump wings.....it'll help him to realise that jumping is not nasty, and that he can relax and enjoy himself.  

I hope you have many more years of fun and enjoy your jumping!  Any other problems, please do ask, and I'll try my best to help.

Emma xx