encouraging horse to jump oxers

[milo'n'molly]

Just wondered if anyone had any idea on exercises how to get a horse to jump wider fences.
I have friend who i drive to shows and his horse is very capable (will jump 1.60 uprights) but struggles to make the distance over oxers smaller than that and will often take the back rail down behind

 

[SpruceRI]

Reduce the height by a lot!

 

[milo'n'molly]

yeah, that would do it but he does it over smaller oxers yet has pleanty of jump

 

[TheMule]

More freedom through the reins- if he's coming down on the back rail then he could just be feeling the contact.

 

[Countrychic]

I would get his back checked first. Then his saddle as you are asking him to reach out and that's not fair if he has pain somewhere. If all fine I would work on triple bars and oxers with a lower front rail trying to teach him to stretch his frame. Make sure the rider is allowing with his reins too.

 

[milo'n'molly]

he's kept on the same yard as mine and has chiro and saddle fitter regularly. He has a very high action in general and tends to move upward rather than open his paces even on the flat. (think gelderlander more than traditional kwpn)

 

[Kokopelli]

Could his rider be sitting up too early?

 

[Countrychic]

Then why is he being jumped over 1.60 verticals? He needs to slowly worked on gymnastic exercises that lengthen him and confidence giving oxers. Jumping big uprights is the last thing he needs I would think

 

[milo'n'molly]

He is not regularly jumped over big fences, I only mentioned it to point out its not the size of the fence thats the issue. He normally jumps british nov / disc although he does not seem to be actually putting any effort in.
That is exactly what I was hoping for, some ideas for exercises to do to help him reach and stretch over the fence. ( will keep an eye open for rider sit down too soon, thanks )

 

[rlhnlk]

I used to do a row of 3 bounces then one slightly shortish stride to an ascending oxer, gradually moving the oxer out. I found it made mine think about stretching forwards a lot, she always puts effort in but this day I felt like I was going to get jumped over her head. That might be worth a try?

 

[stacey_lou]

With my girlie I started getting get over bounce fences with 1 stride inbetween each fence, generally 3 fences in a row and over time I started making the middle fence a lot smaller than the other 2 where my end and beginning fence would be 1meter I would make my middle fence a 60cm oxer and gradually build it up, I felt this was good for her, another thing I did with her to stop the oxer being so daunting and more inviting was to use 3 wings and use 3 poles to make the oxer look more like a round top rather than a sharp edge like you would see in competition and again gradually build this to a competition flat top oxer.

Hope this helps

 

[shark1]

my good horse can struggle with oxers (she is a 1.30-1.40 horse), she doesnt have massive amounts of scope and is a bit too careful at times.

we always practise low and wide (eg 1m) then gradually pulling it out and out and out, to encourage her to stretch her back and think 'oxer'. Make sure your hands are super soft to reduce any rigidity or tension.
If you dont have a consistant eye, use placing poles to be sure not to get wider, as you really dont want to miss at a really wide fence, not productive!
Also make sure you have enough 'motor' , some hroses will jump an oxer completley differently if they have a little more pace and energy.