Building Skinnies at home - ideas pls :)

[Cullohill]

So lately Bud has been testing me some what xc running out at a skinny type fence last two times out. So i have been on a mission to build and jump as many different ones as i can at home to practise.
We had some good sessions in the arena, but when i moved jumps into field it made the difference and he ran out. Last night was our 3rd session in field and big improvement no run outs so pleased. i have now worked out that i have to really ride him if i don't he thinks he doesn't have to bother jumping it, i've relaised i forget to kick! he is such a forward horse i have got into habit of just sitting there as he feels like he's going so any tips to make me kick also appreciated

Now i need ideas of other types of skinnies i could build to test us both.
Here is what we jumped last night, it was on a curved 4 strides and jumped both ways. As you can see i have barrells - can i build anything else with them?

We have also jumped curving line of two sets of the two barrels side by side.

What else can i build? different striding maybe? Double maybe?
I could get hold of some pallets, could i use them?
Any other ideas

Any as he is back in good books, prob not for long here's Budsie hiding in his out in the field outfit with his little friend.

And close up of mini Maysie as she is so cute with her muzzle on for dieting purposes

 

[SpottedCat]

As it also looks like you have a short pole, Matt Ryan had me jumping one barrel stood on end (like you have the two in the pics but only one) with a pole balanced on top (using a handful of arena to stabilise it!!). That is v skinny but the pole makes it more jumpable if that makes sense? Started off with wings too then gradually took them away.

 

[Cullohill]

Yeah had thought of that one saw him do it at equine event with glass of wine balanced on each end of the short pole. Not been brave enough to try it yet but think will do have couple light single wings could use, good idea to put them there first.
Thanks

 

[daisycrazy]

You can make a corner by standing three barrels upright in a triangle, if that makes sense. And yes, put them on different angles and striding. If you had quite a solid pallet I suppose you could support it somehow parallel to the ground so you have a square fence to jump, either as a corner or straight over it. Perhaps support it with smaller barrels to start off with, depending on how big the pallet is! Used to have my horse jumping single upright oil drums on a serpentine and then turn down the centre line and jump them as a double strided triple. Built up to it from the sorts of things you've set out above.

 

[deskbound]

How about building more on a 90 degree corner - land, two straight, one turning, one straight - he then has to lock on to the second one faster. You can see the second one clearly in your pics, much easier, but some of the Int's I've seen recently are not so kind.... Pallets are good, esp with some brush sticking out of the top. Also, what about sticking a feed bag (weighted with stones or whatever) in front of one to make trickier? Think the key is to push yourself and him so that when you get to a competition you can think, oh, i did something similar last week

 

[Lolo]

How about single upright barrels. Build biggish spreads then a few strides after have the skinny. Once you've got the hang of that, put them on a curve, or a dogs leg.

 

[Chloe_GHE]

you can use pallets, I know they would be frowned apon by BHS bods but I have jummped them!

What about some bales?... horses often seem to find these the spookiest of all coulf you not stack say 3 up like this

_
_
_

on top of each other, a sort of wide skinnt to start with then change it so that you have 2 like this

[[ stood up long ways with the third behind them like this _ to stabilise it?...

or maybe to make them a bit more spooky try hanging rugs or tarp over your barrels

 

[Cullohill]

Thanks everyone so great ideas. will get him over some single barrels, and make a corner type, and some different angles. Also get some pallets and save feed bag to make a ditch infront of one.
Don't have any bales that shape, have mini round bale haylage must think how to use them, also could use shavings bags as they are square could use them like standard bales.
Good thinking everyone

 

[punk]

We use pallets!! If you use two, you can slope them towards each other at the top and use a 'block' to stablise underneath - then you can jump it either way.

Make sure you use good solid ones though - not the flimsy, splintery softwood ones!!

 

[Safina]

We use polyblocks or a barrel with a short pole balanced on top. If you have a floor helper try barrel jumping and see if you can get down to one - I find if you start with 3 then go down to 3 then 1 they get the idea better than just trying to start with 1 alone.

Another neat trick is to just set up an oridinary upright but add a channel using two poles a different angles so you really have to focus on straightness and the right part of the jump.

 

[Gamebird]

I think using a wide, biggish oxer then 3 or 4 turning strides to a skinny should help. This replicates more the sort of thing you get XC (table to skinny etc.) and makes it harder for him as you have to open him up for the first one. I suspect that if you are only jumping skinny to skinny that you'll start off in a more controlled, collected fashion than you would XC. If you build the oxer as a true parallel then you can lay a plank diagonally across the top poles which really get them up in the air and makes them jump it as more of a table than a SJ (Ken Clawson trick, but I'll take the credit if you like...).

Also agree with three barrels in a triangle, you can jump it pointy end on as an arrowhead or sideways on as a rather nasty corner.

 

[Cullohill]

Good point i think thats partly why it was going well in arean as we were in SJ mode nice and collected, will get OH to lug wings into field to make big oxer then make barrels to a triangle.
Not sure i'll put plank across as don't usually want him up in the air anymore than usual

but good trick to have up me sleeve, don't worry i won't tell Mr Clawson

 

[lizzieb]

I agree to try a decent oxer to a skinny as I find this is always much more of a challenge than 2 skinnies. Jumping it the other way round i.e. skinny to oxer is useful too as it can be difficult to make the distance after collecting back from the oxer. I also jump 3 sets of 2 barrels standing side by side on a decent S shape which tests accuracy turning both ways.

 

[kizzywiz]

Oli Smith helped me the other week, & we did the 90 degree turn thing, really helped as long as I don't drop her the last stride!!

 

[Jane_Lou]

We have 3 of those red and white block that they use for closing roads, they are great for skinny practice - keep your eyes open for "unwanted" ones on the side of the road