They Tried Everything Except This

I did an experiment last month with six show jumpers.

All frustrated. Their horses kept knocking at least one pole per round when it really mattered.

They'd tried everything. Different tack. New trainers. Changed feed. Vet visits. Multiple professionals examining the same problem.

Nothing explained why the knocking kept happening.

The Simple Solution Nobody Believed

I created specific exercises targeting the shoulder and pelvic girdles. Ten minutes. Three times per week. Ground work only.

The riders were skeptical. Ten minutes seemed too simple to work.

In four weeks, every single horse was jumping clear rounds.

What Actually Changed

The riders went from disbelief to belief the moment they started the exercises. They realized how hard the movements actually were. They felt what their horses had been struggling with all along.

Then they understood.

The poles revealed a body problem. When the pelvis and shoulders can't do their job, the front legs can't lift properly. No amount of jumping practice fixes weak foundations.

Why We Overcomplicate

Riders naturally reach for complex solutions. More jumping. Better equipment. Expert opinions.

But the answer was simpler than any of that.

The body controls the limbs. We don't ride the legs. We ride the body.

Those riders had spent months addressing symptoms while the cause remained untouched. Ten minutes three times weekly gave their horses what months of jumping never could.

Strength where it matters. Function following form.

What Your Horse Is Telling You

Your horse might be telling you the same thing mine told those six riders.

They communicate constantly through their body, their movement, their resistance. Listen to what they're showing you.

If you're frustrated with knocking poles, resistance, or tension that won't resolve despite trying everything - your horse is already showing you what needs attention.

You just need to know how to read it.

Struggling with jumping frustrations that won't resolve? Reach out here and tell me what's happening. I read every message.

Want to learn to read what your horse is telling you? The Horse Listener teaches you to understand the foundations everyone else misses. Learn more here.