AboutDenise LaChapelle www.Laurelmountainfarms.com Expertise I am a student of the Horse. How to deal with "problems" and find SOLUTIONS with real QUALITY that RESPECT the HORSE is my goal for this site. It has been my great fortune to be able to focus the last 10 years studying the Buckaroo/Vaquero style of horsemanship, this is what the Natural Horsemanship movement is based on. Ray Hunt, Buck Brannaman, and Ricky Quinn are my teachers and mentors. I continue to study and ride with these great horsemen.
I am happy to offer help in starting colts, re-starting troubled horses, helping you find a "better way" with horses and sharing with you what it means to be a student of the horse. Western show disciplines; Showmanship, Trail, Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, as well as Hunter Under Saddle and Three Day Eventing are my passions. I enjoy sharing my 30+ years of experience with all levels of horse owners; children, amateurs and serious competitors. Please visit me at:
www.Laurelmountainfarms.com
Experience My Equine model to the left is my AQHA gelding and super pal, "Hip Chip". I have been fortunate to learn from some of the top horsemen in the nation over the past 30 years. It is now time to start giving back to those who truly love and appreciate the horse. Laurel Mountain Farms was founded with the purpose of sharing good horsemanship. I have had a broad range of experience from Three-Day-Eventing, to the western show disciplines. I understand the common thread of good horsemanship that runs through all types and styles of riding. My goal is to assist people in better understanding their horses as horses. To build an excellent foundation on which many different disciplines can continue to grow.
Organizations American Quarter Horse Association, USEA
Education/Credentials Learning good horsemanship is an oral tradition passed from master to student. At an early age I started riding with noted clinician Richard Sharake at Horsemanship West. Although I have ridden with many top flight trainers and instructors, Ray Hunt has been the most influential and has had the greatest impact on my horsemanship. To be a student of the horse and to in some small way pass along the gifts Ray has offered to me, is my greatest educational accomplishment.
Awards and Honors I have campaigned horses to many State and Regional titles. My horses and I have earned 14 AQHA High-Point All-Around titles, won multiple AQHA year end high point awards, and have qualified for the AQHA World Show.
We bought our pony 10 months ago for my 13 year old. He has been consistent with jumping and clearly loves it. Never has he refused just been very excited and jumped everything clear.
However he refused 3 times at the weekend. First was a refusal in the school at home. Second was in the warm up ring at an event and the 3rd time was jump 9 after clearing jumps 1-8. He has never ever refused before.
We will be checking his back and tack. Teeth are fine. Some say its just being naughty. Some say he could be bored with it.
He has lots of lovely hacks and events once a month ususally.
Any advice or opinions would be much appreciated.
Answer Hello!
Boy, this is a tough one! Usually, if your horse is going on well and then strange little refusals crop up, my first inclination would be to look toward pain issues. At jump 9, he has been out on course for a while but not really long enough to be tired unless he is going intermediate or advanced! I'm guessing he is going out novice or training? How did he handle the rest of the course or did you retire after the refusal?
Questions cross country can be varied. If the jumping questions are something that this pony has experienced before, then again, pain issues would be at the forefront. If the questions are dark into light, angles, drops, or water something that requires more of horse and rider, then I might be thinking that it is more an issue of willingness and education. This does not explain the refusal at a warm up fence at home. How did the school end up? We do have to look to the responsibility of the rider as well. Is she balanced in the tack, is she off his back and allowing him to jump, is she offering enough of a release over the fence, is she catching him in the mouth prior to take off. You know the old saying, and I think this came from Jimmy Wofford, when in doubt, wait it out! Your rider must be sitting up to the fence with an attitude and a feel that says "We are going!" If her hands are soft and she is riding with a supportive leg, if there is a proper crest release, if she is riding on a nice straight line, all of these things have a major impact on successfully navigating the fence. Remember, the horse is not in this alone! If it is not a pain issue, you must look toward the rider and examine what dynamics are going on here.
So, ride each fence as an individual, ride it correctly, ride to the base of the fence, then sit up and wait with an attitude of "forward"! Event horses have to be thinkers. If the horse is forward and the rider is out of the way and supportive, then the horse can feel the need to chip or go long. Be watching, the refusal is not happening at the base of the fence it is happening about 6-10 strides out! Be watching here for some possible answers to this puzzle.
Let me know what the vet says. Fill in some of the missing information and we will go from there! Event horses rarely get bored! Scared, yes; bored, never! If the lower levels are boring, you just move up!
