A Spanner Update. :) Pics. & How do you introduce bigger jumps?

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Stormy123456

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Spanner (She's about 5 years old -ish) and I have been working away at our flatwork, and she has improved dramatically from shoving her face in my head to a quiet, calm session. Canter still has a way to go, but she hasn't bucked in ages, and is much happier now, so I'm super impressed with her new attitude, now that she's realised that it isn't totally boring, and there is some point to it.

From this:
IMG_8438.jpg

and this:
IMG_8445.jpg


To this:
IMG_9254.jpg

IMG_9242.jpg

IMG_9277.jpg

I knoww, I look aweful, but I was so chuffed with how she was going, I forgot about myself. :) Constructive Critique away if wish.

And then we decided to take her show jumping at a local show. We just did the 2ft6, and she flew around, and pinged the lot by miles, double clear and 7th. :) Considering she hasn't seen a filler since for a month and a bit, she was brilliant. Didn't go for any time as I wanted a double clear. :)

Pictures here (click next for the rest - takes a few seconds for each pic):
http://www.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=1PEY001R020125&po=125&pc=148
Which photo should I buy, I'd like to have one, as I have only got one decent jumping picture of her!

Which brings me onto my question, how do you start to introduce bigger jumps? She feels ready to move up, but I don't know how to go about it. I was tempted to stay and jump the next class up yesterday, but didn't want to overface her/ruin a good days work. However I know I can't faff about too much. So would you do it doing grids? (She's done a few grids, but nothing too technical or big), or over a course?

On Saturday, were off to the Atherstone Hunt Hunter Trials to do the beginners class with Spanner, which I'm really looking forward to, before hopefully taking Ballet around the Intermediate at the Pytchley Teamchase on Sunday. :)
 
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Link to photos doesn't work :( It says that they are unavailable.

As for moving up - just move up! If she is pinging round a 2ft6 then I would be jumping her around 3ft at home now, and do a 2ft6 and a 2ft9 on her next outing. Do you need to do grids? Nope, not really, unless YOU need them for your confidence. Build some doubles with the second element higher than the first if you like. Enjoy :D
 
http://www.photoreflect.com/store/Orderpage.aspx?pi=1PEY001R020125&po=125&pc=148

Sorry. :) This one works.

Thank you Weezy. :) Ahhh, okay, she's my first "youngster" as such, so I didn't want to do anything drasticly wrong! I don't particularly need any more confidence, so will set a few jumps up, and have a go at the weekend. Thanks. :D

FrodoBeutlin, thank you. :) Dad's photography isn't half bad, there was a fishing competition on that day, and I had to drag her out the field, as she kept chasing the fisherman!
 
she's stunning :D you've done a great job with her
in terms of jumping, as weezy says, just try it! as long as its fairly gradual she probably won't even notice! if she does get scared or stop or anything just put it back down and don't get the temptation to go too big over the course of one session... :)
 
I loev that trot pic :) The one below you have tipped forwards but then you haven't in the others so I doubt that is anythign to worry about! Just make sure you don't carry your hands too wide. It is very easy to do with a youngster but they learn to lean on the contact like that! Overall though it's only a small thing :)
 
I would try introducing bigger jumps as part of a grid. This will give you both confidence and you won't need to worry about striding etc. Do you have an instructor? Maybe s/he can go through some fun grids for you that you can 'up' on your way through? Enjoy :)
 
Thank you Starbucks and Diggerbez. She looks horrible in the old pictures, she's matured and muscled up a bit more, I think she still has a way to go though. I'd never jump too big at once, my instructor has drilled it into me about pushing her too much, but I feel I'm going too slowly now, as she finds the jumping so easy.

OneInAMillion, thanks, never knew that about wide hands, have actually been told in the past it encourages them to bend correctly, and been told to have them far wider. :O Thank you. :)

Thank you Little Legs Eventing, I have an instructor, and she will probably be helping me, but I wanted to get some ideas first.
 
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