Developing a horses 'bascule' over a fence

Dusty85

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Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone had any exercises for helping a horse develop a nice bascule over a fence.

Nothing at all wrong with my horse physically/saddle wise, Im just trying to develop his technique to be the best it can. Scope is not a problem, but sometimes i think he will throw himself higher rather than use himself more effectively.

I do have regular lessons too, I just wondered if anyone had any good exercises/grids (I do love a grid :D ) that may be useful!

Thanks!
 
Second inverted v poles, was using them to help mine last week. set up a grid of three fences with one stride between each fence and a pole to help make the stride rounder. Use a placing pole quite a short distance in front of the first fence with V poles on the first fence. If you are brave enough walking into this (obvs keeping the fences small enough) and not asking for trot until the placing pole really makes them use their hind end and lift through the shoulder.
 
V poles on the floor rather than the fence. Instructor has known a horse tip up over V poles so always just has them on the floor and they work really well.

Grid of low (ish) wide oxer, big upright to low wide oxer all on one stride. As big as you are comfortable with but for a horse working at BE Nov we work up to having oxers at 1-1.05m but WIDE and the upright at 1.20m. Sometime using the V poles as well.

Really helps with the shape over a fence, as you are changing from opening them up to getting them to draw their shoulders up and back.

If they are too forward to the upright as mine is then the v poles are a must!
 
We school ours in a grid ending on a wide but moderate oxer with a pole placed on the top of the two poles diagonally. Certainly makes them give it some air and is great for getting them using their back ends and become more 'elastic'.
 
Canter poles to a ground line before, and then after the fence. Also
A canter pole after the fence so they stretch. Agree with v poles it gets their shoulder back.
 
A wide square oxer really makes them bascule. You don't need to have them too big for them to work. I used to have a crosspole, stride to wide oxer, stride to wide oxer.
 
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