Advice on how to ride skinnies/corners etc.

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I’m competed my horse at BE90 level. She’s very good XC but my old horse had a thing about skinnies and it’s turned into a bit of a fear for me!

Current horse has never indicated that she might duck out or anything but I just feel like I’m riding them all wrong.

She’s very forward XC and bowls along in a lovely rythem and jumps out of her stride. Great! But when there’s anything a bit tricky like a skinny I feel like I’m totally not doing it right.

I struggle to get her back to the more SJ canter you’d like for that kind of fence, but darent just let her go so end up check, check, check for just a rubbish jump. Does that make sense?

Do I need to review brakes situation so I can get her more balanced? Should I just let her go a bit more? Help!
 
If the skinny is soft profile you don't necessarily need to shorten the canter. Can you shorten for a hard profile fence that isn't a skinny if you need to?
 
As it sounds like your issue rather than hers, I would do training at home. I would come back to a trot in good time that you feel it OK to pop back to canter before the fence. Then you will be within your comfort zone and feel able to ride forwards. Once you are back in the grove of riding the last strides forward then you can almost trot but keep canter and then feel confident to ride forward.

After a while I suspect it will all become more subtle. Slight check to get attention and allow the canter to still come.
 
To build confidence to a skinny I want a bouncy canter, like you would have through a coffin but don't lose power. Don't decelerate on the way in, instead set up your speed and line in time to ride the fence straight and forward.

For a corner make sure you have the line correct - dissect the angle when walking the course and find a point in the distance you want to be straight to.

Widen your hands and have the horse really between both legs - in the words of Lucinda Green keep the horse in a tube between your hands and legs, like squeezing out a tube of toothpaste!
 
Thanks for your replies. I’ve not got any vids but I ordered one from the last BE90 I did, so will post that when I get it. Although the there wasn’t much in the way of skinnies.

I think practicing in the school would benefit us both. I think if I gained more confidence the issue would perhaps resolve itself.
 
Starbucks said:
Thanks for your replies. I’ve not got any vids but I ordered one from the last BE90 I did, so will post that when I get it. Although the there wasn’t much in the way of skinnies.

I think practicing in the school would benefit us both. I think if I gained more confidence the issue would perhaps resolve itself.
Click to expand...

There are 2 things you need to practice, riding skinnies/angles at home in the school but also out cantering in the open you need to train the horse to adjust their balance to your body position, so that if you need to bring them back a bit you can.
 
As people have said, ride over a single barrel on its side at home? Put up side poles first once you're confident then take them away. You could have some canter poles into it so you have to keep a nice canter in and not overly check.
 
Haven't watched video. Widen your hands to prevent her ducking out. Squeezing with your legs for the last few strides also helps. Although given your problem holding the horse this mightn't be wise.

Slow the horse down well before the fence with several *meaningful* half halts. If your horse is the kind to run out you have to jump skinnies in a coffin canter. Practice them in an arena with showjumping poles.

Do lots of downward transitions when warming up for xc. Canter to trot in a couple of strides, trot to halt etc. If the horse doesn't respond in a couple of strides your half halts won't be listened to. You can practice this at home by taking the horse into situations where it gets hyper and wants to run on. Until you have the horse responding safely try a stronger bit for safety.
 
Can anyone have a look at the video for me please?

I’m quite pleased generally how we look, I’m pleased how bold/keen but carful she is. I have lessons flatwork jumping bit I’m not keen on clinics etc. due to the format. I kinda like to get on with the job XC. Any help would be fab.
 
I just watched your video, I think you look pretty good, and the horse really wants to do the job. You are right that the only time the jumping gets sticky is when you've tried to slow her down. Like others have said you need to be able to slow the canter, would it be worth having some 1 to 1 on a course without jumping at first, proper walk, canter back to walk halt, trot etc.?
 
Have a look at the facebook page 'Caroline Moore Event Coach'.

She posts numerous youtube videos about such things as: maintaining straightness, introducing narrow fences, riding at an angle across a fence etc etc which I am sure you would find interesting.

Not sure where you are geographically but she does excellent clinics and one on ones at Vale View, Leicestershire.


PS Just noticed your comment about not liking clinics.....sorry.....still recommend her though for a one on one session!
 
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