Common Jumping Problems

[MerryMAL]

Hey, I joined a few minutes ago. I have recently started a free, online magazine for equestrian teenagers entitled Teen Riders. I am working on an article called Common Jumping Problems, where (although the title's pretty self-explanatory) I will list the most common jumping problems, and for each add tips and advice on tackling them. When I say jumping, I mean show-jumping or jumping in the school - not cross country. This is where you come in. Please can you tell me what jumping problems you've experienced, along with the ways you combat them. Thanks.

 

[jesterfaerie]

Are you looking for problems with the horse/rider/both?

 

[TS_]

Demolishing the jumps rather than going over them

Loss of rhythm coming into the fence.

Umm I'm not sure really myself and pone are just generally rubbish

 

[sea_view]

I would say for my PC kids their problem is thinking the faster into the jumps is better and I have spent time getting them to think about rhythm and balance. I'd also say firing in the last 3 strides to bigger fences - again solution looking at rhythm and balanced approach.

Other things, looking down one shoulder when jumping, dropping contact and not riding away after the jump.

 

[SharerSarah]

Lower leg flicking back over fences causing a loss of balance........*thinks trying to remember how i fixed it!*

I'm pretty sure standing in my stirrups during canter to make sure my knee was relaxed and lots of no stirrups work, transitions from canter to trot are good because if you grip with your knees you bounce off!!

 

[JenHunt]

looking down at the fence, tipping your body weight too far forwards.... solution - concentrate on looking past the fence on the approach and on looking up at the next fence (or where you're going) as you go over.

 

[DTMDAN]

Calm, calm, calm jumping is boring.

Both rider and horse get excited and this leads to a total lack of control and in my case usually flying lessons!!!

Look where you are going not at the jump.

 

[megwan1]

nerves!!!!!
thats my problem anyway even after doing the jump and proving it wont kill me i'm still nervous...

also position, i've lots of different positions people seem to be in some of which dont look like the text book one (mine) lol

 

[brighthair]

I have a few that I tend to do!
- get nervous
- drop hands on approach
- look at the base of the jump not where I am going!
- when I get nervous, I also "drop" the horse, so take my legs off and drop the contact a few strides out

 

[ladyt25]

Horse backing off at fillers and losing impulsion.
'dropping' the horse at the fence.

Previous problems I have had pony was refusing to start a course at all and then, when it did, plunging towards and rushing fences. How do you help stop a horse panicking about jumping?

 

[MerryMAL]

Hi guys and thanks for your input. jesterfaerie, I am looking for problems with both horse and rider (and sometimes they can effect each other, eg. rider is nervous, horse panics, rider panics to try and control horse, horse loses impulsion, horse refuses, rider is even more nervous next time they jump...)

 

[wench]

horse running around jumps or stopping in front of them - mine does this to get out of doing anything!

 

[Cedars]

Not giving the final push, resulting in run outs/being flung over the jump as he skid stops! xxxx

 

[bushbaby28]

folding too early/going before the horse or getting left behind would be major ones i think

that and nerves

 

[ForeverBroke_]

My problem - falling off

Sorry, totally unhelpful but totally true !