Exercises to improve rhythm when jumping.

[JustKickOn]

Bear with me, this may be a bit of a ramble. Will put the advice bit in bold if you want to skip the rest

Jumped the horse today for the first time in 3 months since our disatrous ODE (jumped her a couple days after, just to make sure she didn't stop at any). She knows her job and really enjoys her jumping. Popped one jump yesterday and it was a bit excitable, so put in her stronger bit today, just in case. Definitely needed it though as she was a bit of a tank after the first few jumps.

Set up 3 jumps in this sort of shape...

But with a straight (2ft9 ish) in the middle and two big cross poles (2 ft 3ish). Also had two poles out which were 3 strides distance, 4 when she did a bouncy boingy canter.

We've been working hard at flat work over the past 3 months, and it's improved to a certain degree. Her canter has improved, and she will open out and come back to a shorter stride without too much objection, although she still breaks occasionally and can occasionally go a bit "four time".
Have been trying the "nellie the elephant" when cantering though and it has helped.

I found today though, once the jumps are up , the canter is a little bit hit and miss rhythm wise. I've had a bit of a confidence rethink, and told myself to ride today rather then just being the passenger. She may be able to jump, but needs to be told what to do rather than carrying me over. I had a read through the thread I made a while ago about CC and kept everything in mind today. She is still quick into the fences, but I found when I kicked on a bit, sat up and on my backside more (for those who remember the "SIT UP LIZZIE!!" video ) and relaxed my shoulders, she actually steadied up and jumped nicer. Shortened my reins up part way through the session which helped hugely.

Anyway, the advice needed bit!!

What exercises can I do, both on the flat and when jumping, to help get a more consistent rhythm??

Tools I have available...
Arena mirrors
Four sets of wings
Twelve 12ft poles
Two/three shorter poles (think skinny/style fence size)
Arena size is 25m x 40m
Numerous cones
And 8 pole pods

Suggestions??

Thanks in advance
Lizzie

 

[grumblebee]

Hi

Can I ask, what is "nelli the elephant" when cantering?

Thanks

 

[MegaBeast]

Something that's really helped me is counting one, two, three, four, one, two, three, four, one etc. Better than singing nellie the elephant. If you sing your rhythm can speed up or slow down without you realising where as simply counting makes you aware of any changes in rhythm. Very simple but also very effective as maintains the quality of the canter.

 

[JustKickOn]

Hi

Can I ask, what is "nelli the elephant" when cantering?

Thanks

Next time you ride, as you are cantering along, sing the tune to nellie the elephant, and it was will sense. When somebody first said it to me I was a bit , but now I understand what they meant

Something that's really helped me is counting one, two, three, four, one, two, three, four, one etc. Better than singing nellie the elephant. If you sing your rhythm can speed up or slow down without you realising where as simply counting makes you aware of any changes in rhythm. Very simple but also very effective as maintains the quality of the canter.

I don't just sing that, but it was the revelation of actually counting along with the pace which helped. Saying "Canter, canter, canter, canter" also helps, which I suppose is similar to the 1, 2, 3, 4. The majority of time on the flat she is good, but noticed today when jumping it was lacking a little.

Other than setting out poles and riding the same between then, and then asking for a shorten/lengthen and riding for the same number of strides, I'm stuck.

 

[MegaBeast]

Ride a virtual course - set it out as though to jump but leave the poles on the floor and canter as though round a course. Helps with rhythm hugely as don't have to think about setting up for a jump.

Also, put poles/jumps out at the circle points as though a clock face and canter a circle over them. Sounds easy but is actually far harder than you'd think to keep an even number of strides in each quarter.

 

[Escada2004]

canter poles in to a fence are very helpful for rhythm

 

[Marydoll]

Poles on the floor of a 20m circle set at 12-3-6-9 then try to maintain your canter rhythm and striding between them, when comfy and happy with that, lift the poles slightly one at a time until all 4 are off the floor, it doesnt need to be a big lift to make the exercise effective