BethanT
Well-Known Member
As title really, is it really possible to alter the technique of a horse for jumping?
My lad isn't the most careful of jumpers, and he has a tendency to get the height by jumping higher not snapping up his legs - his half brother and few other horses by the same sire have the same technique. As he has no stepped up a level eventing the odd pole down or two are really expensive in an otherwise good day.
At home he knows which of the poles are the hard wooden ones, and so doesn't touch those. XC he tucks up lovely so he does have the ability in him to do it, but over poles he just doesn't care if he has a pole down. So I am thinking I need to help him improve his overall technique by encouraging him to lift up through his shoulders. I don't put boots on him as I am a believer in that he should feel the poles as he hits them, but in all honesty he taps them with his hoof.
List of things I am going to try over the winter season are,
V-Poles
Grids with high sided X-poles
Trotting into certain fences rather than a canter
There are plenty others that I want to try but haven't got round to reading, and my instructor will of course be helping me. But in doing all this can I really alter his shape and attitude towards jumping and knocking fences?
My lad isn't the most careful of jumpers, and he has a tendency to get the height by jumping higher not snapping up his legs - his half brother and few other horses by the same sire have the same technique. As he has no stepped up a level eventing the odd pole down or two are really expensive in an otherwise good day.
At home he knows which of the poles are the hard wooden ones, and so doesn't touch those. XC he tucks up lovely so he does have the ability in him to do it, but over poles he just doesn't care if he has a pole down. So I am thinking I need to help him improve his overall technique by encouraging him to lift up through his shoulders. I don't put boots on him as I am a believer in that he should feel the poles as he hits them, but in all honesty he taps them with his hoof.
List of things I am going to try over the winter season are,
V-Poles
Grids with high sided X-poles
Trotting into certain fences rather than a canter
There are plenty others that I want to try but haven't got round to reading, and my instructor will of course be helping me. But in doing all this can I really alter his shape and attitude towards jumping and knocking fences?