What should I do with him?

This fall, I am thinking about *possibly* getting back into doing some small local shows with Beau. We have previously competed in HUS/HJ but to be perfectly honest, I really don't like Hunters much at all. He's won me quite a few first place ribbons in HUS, but it just doesn't hold my interest and I don't enjoy it much. I think there are other things out there that he'd be a lot better at and enjoy a lot more.

This video is of Beau and I doing Gambler's Choice at a local show a few years ago. Please excuse my total fail at planning ahead (can only take each jump twice per direction) and my steering him away from a jump at the last second near the end. That was 100% my mistake, he did not refuse, I turned him away.

The arena was also a complete mess; about 99% mud and puddles which he was not used to being ridden in; I'm really proud of him for doing that well. I believe he was barefoot also.

This is just to give you a feel for his movement, although we haven't jumped in over a year and a half, and we would definitely be doing a lot of refreshers before competing in any shows.


Much more recent picture though still almost two years ago (actually a video still, sorry it's blurry):

I can definitely see you guys doing jumpers. He's got the speed for it, and the jumps in the video arent challenging him at all!

Good luck in whatever you decide!

I'm sorry, but I don't get it. Your still shot shows that he isn't tucking well. Is he bored with the height, or not careful? (He pulled one rail, but I guess the mud could account for this.)
Certainly, he's a willing jumper. Do you have any shots of higher and wider?
I can understand if YOU want to do higher and wider, but I guess the pictures/videos don't say to me that your horse wants this, too.
Do you have more?

I guess I should phrase that a little better, lol. By "this fall" I meant, that is when I can get back into riding. I don't necessarily mean start showing him this fall, by any means. I want to get back into lessons/work with a trainer before I do any of that.

As for the video and picture, like I said, these are from over two years ago. I also didn't by any means want to go higher/wider, I just want to get away from the Hunter ring. :P So I was looking for suggestions on what I could consider. That's all. And no I sadly don't really have many jumping shots. :/

I also think he pulled the rail because I took him into the jump at a godawful angle and I remember him sliding just a tad in the mud when he took off. It was my fault either way though. He tends to get careless/strung out when jumping which is, again, my fault. I already know I need to do a lot of consistent flatwork and get him off his forehand and better balanced before I do any jumping, which is what I would do either way because he's been out of work for a while.

All this is just hypothetical right now, but like I said I was just looking for suggestions on things he might be better at than the Hunter ring in the future. :)

How about Dressage and cross-train with trail riding and maybe barrels once in awhile just for fun?

He's flicking his tail an awful lot like he's annoyed or in pain. Have you had that investigated? My horse never flicks his tail under saddle unless he's VERY annoyed and that was while he was being a fresh ninny the first canter round. After that he doesn't.. so that is why I ask.

I see jumpers for this guy. I think the vid does him (and you) no justice. The footing is a joke, the jumps are boring, uninviting, and don't form much of a question for the horse/rider.
Personally, I like the still shot. He's pushing off with both hind feet, his ears are pricked forward, and he's using his neck/body correctly over the fence. I'd like to see him square up and not hanging a leg... but you know what? I think if the fence was a nice oxer with some fill underneath, he'd thank you for the challenge and give you a nice, solid jump!