Fiona
Well-Known Member
Took D and Sophie for an SJ lesson this evening. Went well, one exercise in particular with trot or canter poles on a serpentine was really great.
We did one at the end which he found v difficult..
Consists of three fences in a line (each 36 feet or a normal three strides apart), and firstly all were v small and asked to approach in canter and put four strides inbetween each part. This went OK.
Then fences 2 and three went up to about 1-1.05 and he had to put 4 strides inbetween no 1 and 2, then open up for three strides between 2 and 3. He managed this eventually on one rein, but not on the other, in fact it was quite funny as Sophie quite obviously thought he was going mad, noticeably twitched the reins out of his hand over 1, and did the line perfectly with three and three strides.
Obviously in a way this demonstrates that she is still perhaps slightly behind the leg, and not able to push her into the bigger canter necessary for the three strides from 2 to 3.
However I thought this was quite an advanced exercise in that I have only ever done onerel dist at a time before - ie 2 fences 50 feet apart and jump in five strides, then shorten for six, and even perhaps lengthen for four.
Have never done a shorten and a lengthen in the same distance before esp with the dist set as standard ie 36 ft between each.
Sorry - am rambling here, but just wondering if any of you have tried anything similar, if so did you manage it OK, and if not how did you get it eventually.
Must admit if had been at home would have moved the middle part a foot or too to make it easier at the start and then perhaps sneaked it back again.
Any suggestions??
She is a v v careful mare, and perhaps doesn't need to do this type of exercise as much as a horse who is careless in front. Would we be better doing everything on forward distances to teach her always to go forwards.
Fiona
We did one at the end which he found v difficult..
Consists of three fences in a line (each 36 feet or a normal three strides apart), and firstly all were v small and asked to approach in canter and put four strides inbetween each part. This went OK.
Then fences 2 and three went up to about 1-1.05 and he had to put 4 strides inbetween no 1 and 2, then open up for three strides between 2 and 3. He managed this eventually on one rein, but not on the other, in fact it was quite funny as Sophie quite obviously thought he was going mad, noticeably twitched the reins out of his hand over 1, and did the line perfectly with three and three strides.
Obviously in a way this demonstrates that she is still perhaps slightly behind the leg, and not able to push her into the bigger canter necessary for the three strides from 2 to 3.
However I thought this was quite an advanced exercise in that I have only ever done onerel dist at a time before - ie 2 fences 50 feet apart and jump in five strides, then shorten for six, and even perhaps lengthen for four.
Have never done a shorten and a lengthen in the same distance before esp with the dist set as standard ie 36 ft between each.
Sorry - am rambling here, but just wondering if any of you have tried anything similar, if so did you manage it OK, and if not how did you get it eventually.
Must admit if had been at home would have moved the middle part a foot or too to make it easier at the start and then perhaps sneaked it back again.
Any suggestions??
She is a v v careful mare, and perhaps doesn't need to do this type of exercise as much as a horse who is careless in front. Would we be better doing everything on forward distances to teach her always to go forwards.
Fiona