mark walker

"Hello Patricia!

Yes you need to see if he doesn't have any physical problems with your vet first.

If there is nothing, it can be several things. If he's young and "green" on the jump, he is probably having fun or trying to release the pressure because it is difficult for young horses whose back is not fully muscled, he will calm down with the age.

If he's used to it, it can be a bad habit. Try to stop him right after the jump (you can even put a ground pole after the jump so that he has to stay focus even after the jump). You can also do a lot od mechanization lignes, he won't be able to "run away" and go crazy after the jump.

It can also be a problem due to your position, if you don't follow enough the jump with your hands, he will make you understand by doing it so don't hesitate to move your hands forward during the jump.

Finally, go quickly at your place after the jump because if you stay on his shoulders, it will encourage him to run and do stupid things like trying to put you off.

I hope i could help you :)"

"Thank you Maddy!

Well it was kind of the same for me when I started showing, but now I'm used to it so it's fine.

I often do a workout session the day before a show, so when it's time to sleep, I feel that I need to rest! I eat a light dinner, and to fall in sleep, I try to visualize my last show, and do my course in my head, it helps 🙂"

"Hello Ben!

Grackle nosebands are the most strict nosebands, it puts pression on everywhere on the horse's face. It avoids the horse to open the mouth and blocks his jaw mobility. It can be good to spread the pressure but you can't put it on every horse (young horses usually don't support it).

It is also the most difficult to adjust (it has to be in the middle, not too much at right/left or up/down in order not to bother the horse's breathing).

However, it can help the horse not to put his tongue over the snaffle. For every nosebands, you need to adjust it well (not too tight) in order not to harm the horse.

Finally, you have to choose your noseband depending on your horse's morphology."

"Hi David!

I assume you are referring to what happened ni bercy during the FEI World Cup Finales, with the columbian rider Carlos Lopez.

It was very sad to see that kind of behavior at this level, and the sad part is that it's not an exception..

I surely think that the FEI can make bigger efforts in order to improve the controls and avoid theses slides. Of course, it's not just about what happens during shows.

More sanctions should also me enforced."