“Hello H&C, I have just got a new pony whose name is Spikey, he is a 13.2hh chestnut part Arab. The problem is that he is scared of jumping and also hitting or moving the jumps with his back legs as he thinks they will chase him. He was being trained for show hunter pony classes and we were told he was kicking out at a pony in the next paddock and got his leg caught in the fence and cut to the bone, which has left a small scar. He does now go over the jumps but he panics (sometimes bucks) if he nicks it or hits it. 

Please help, he is such a good pony for Pony Club but you can’t do Pony Club with a horse that bucks  after jumps. He is good at dressage but has his energetic moments and was very good at jumping before his accident but we don’t know how to get him to trust them again.

Please help, Alisha C.”

H&C Expert Jenny Rudall replies: “Hi Alisha thanks for your email and I hope I can help.  It sounds like Spikey has lost his confidence and it may take a lot of time and patience to regain this. I suggest when it comes to jumping you just have to start again.  Firstly, you could try getting someone experienced to work him on the lunge over poles. This way he can hit poles and buck without fear of unseating the rider and by being sent over them repetitively he will learn that they are not going to eat him.  This kind of rehabilitation will not happen immediately and he may settle over the poles in one session and come out the next and still find them terrifying so be sure to repeat exercises.

Double Distance Trotting Poles

Poles can then be built up into jumps on the lunge and over time this may help him build up some confidence without the rider on board.  When riding, you could try just walking him back and forwards over a single pole on the ground, let him sniff it if he wants and keep walking over it repeatedly and praising him until it is no longer scary.  Then you can place poles at a distance which he can walk over and then down over some trotting poles.  With trotting poles, to start with put them at double the normal distance apart so he trots two steps rather than one, this will give him more opportunity to sort his feet out and less to worry about if he hits one.  This may take a long time but patience with Spikey will pay off.  When poles are no longer an issue you could start building him up over some jumps and if he hits one don’t make a big deal of it just come again and praise all the way.  I hope this helps  and I am sure you will be Pony Clubbing in no time. Jenny”