Also in NL but thought might get more help in here....big jump

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Agent XXX999

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Hi

I am facing a bit of a dilema with Bruce and his jumping.

He is still quite green with regards to his competition experience....so I am trying to get him out and jumping around courses. Last winter I jumped him BN/Discovery, then didnt do anything all summer because of lack of transport.

In my lessons I have been jumping 1.20 courses and 1.30 grids. I have been trying to keep him up and together and jump technical things (doubles, combinations etc) I now have him much more 'together'. I have also been working on strenghening him in canter. as he can still be quite wobbly.

This is a photo of us in the 1m yesterday

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Which is the first time he was out for 6 months. He went clear but I had a 'navigational error' going in to jump 7.....

Anyway - my question is this.

Do you think I should get out and jump bigger classes to make him 'think' a little more, and not leap over everything? I find it really hard when he jumps everything like it is 1.50 and we both seem to go better over bigger jumps....my position goes quite squif when he leaps like he does...

And...

Any way I can stop him giving everything quite so much room?

Also, I dont want to break his boldness but I want to teach him that he does not have to make quite so much of an effort over 1m jumps?
 
Personally I wouldnt be complaing if my horse gave everything such room! Arch has got a humungous jump, even over trotting poles he'll launch over them. Im very happy with him giving everything such space.
But I can see you point about concentrating more, if I take Arch round a small course he charges at everything at 1 miles an hour, so I do tend to stick to the bigger fences with him, as he has to think and I think it gives him more confidence aswell.
 
He still looks very green over a fence with legs dangling and him gawping at the fence. Tbh I wouldn't rush him up the levels too quickly...just give him plenty of experiences so that things don' appear so scarey. Some horses do naturally just give the fences feet to spare though. Trike used to be particularly bad for this...but has improved over time. He still throws the odd wing-topping jump in a BN though which can be quite entertaining
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If it were me I would concentrate on improving and strenghening the canter to eradicate those 'wobbly' moments. Giving his fences lots of air is usually a sign of greeness and you may frighten him by moving up too quickly. I would want to be getting consistent and balanced clear rounds and giving him plenty of exposure before moving up the classes.
 
I would be careful jumping bigger classes on him. At the moment if he jumps too big into a combination or a related distance he won't get in trouble, but do that at 1.30 and you'll have an accident.
 
I think that if it was me, I would be doing lots of smaller fences in a grid, that way it keeps him thinking forwards and not upwards!! I don't think you need to do bigger fences as it may frighten him. He needs to learn to think more so you need more exercises that challenge his brain. Try and make fences with the v's on them to make him tidy in front etc.

Lovely horse btw.
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Lovely horse, I wouldnt rush him, gridwork, gridwork, some different work jumping also not just SJ, some fun sponsored rides over different height jumps etc, variation of size will soon sort him out.

My old horse still gives everything loads of room! even at 2ft3 its like launching to the moon!!
 
You dont mention his age. However, I would take him out as often as possible to as many different places as possible, which should help with him being spooky. I wouldnt jump the bigger classes though especially if he is youngish as he could finish up frightening himself & switch off completely. Do you ever train over a good old fashioned hogs back fence?
 
God he looks the spitting image & got an identical jump of a horse I used to have! How bizzare - whats his breeding?
 
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I would be careful jumping bigger classes on him. At the moment if he jumps too big into a combination or a related distance he won't get in trouble, but do that at 1.30 and you'll have an accident.

[/ QUOTE ]

See I would agree but in my lessons he is much more together over 1.20 and 1.30 grids?

He is by Accord II - a Rhienlander. His name is Bruce.
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