Correct shape when jumping?

[Nels]

I jumped my loan horse over some coloured poles for the first time yesterday - he is a green 6 year old who over the last 7 months has been working very well on the flat (i am having dressage lessons). To give his some change to his normal schooling routine I put some 2 ft jumps up yesterday and tried him over them. He has a nice big natural jump and so he didn't hesitate in his approach to the jumps and seemed very confident and happy to be going over them (no refusals/run outs)...BUT I found he would get very close to the jump (possibly to get a good look at it where he is a baby?) and so was taking off very close and then making an awkward shape over the jump which felt quite uncomfortable. I tried moving the ground pole out by a foot to give him the idea of taking off earlier and so creating a smoother shape but wondered if any of you can think of something obvious that i may be doing wrong and anything else I can try to improve his 'flow' over the jumps??
I will be having some jumping lessons when my instructor returns from her holiday but wanted to pick your brains first please!
Thanks x

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

To be honest I would wait a week or so for your intructor to return from holiday. That way you will get one to one instruction & she will be there to see exactly what you are doing, or your horse is doing & correct you properly.

I wouldn't bother trying to jump the gun...wait till she comes back & she'll put you straight