Extremely nervous about posting this, but...hints and tips?

Shantara

Shantara

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I've had my videos and riding really slated on this site in the past and I'm extremely nervous about posting something like this. It knocked my confidence horribly and made me even more nervous about jumping. But I thought someone here might be able to give me some sort of help.

I'm going in for the championships at my local show next year, on Ned. I don't expect to do well, but I'd love some useful tips to maybe help me bump up my score a bit.

I've got a few tricks up my sleeve, which I'll use, but my main concern is pole knocking. I know how to work on the napping, I've successfully got him in the school alone and with work, I can do the same with the showing field, but I don't know how to stop him from going through jumps, rather than over!
I don't know if he's confused, unbalanced or just not bothered (Or all 3! Probably..)

There's a good few things I have to work on myself too, such as much hands, but that's a different story.

I'll be going in for either a 2ft 3 or 2ft 6 class, hence why I ask about pole knocking. That horse can jump VERY well, but sometimes can knock even the smallest fence.



Please be gentle! I don't want to get my confidence knocked even more, I couldn't take it.
 
''I don't know if he's confused, unbalanced or just not bothered (Or all 3! Probably..) ''

do you not have an instructor who can help you work out what is going wrong. I would think that would be more valuable to you. good luck x
 
No advise as your ned sounds so like my knobber pony and we're still working on it and need guiding ourselves!
Good luck though, its horrible when you're down and people stick the boot in on here when you're looking for a bit of support :(
 
chestnuttymare said:
''I don't know if he's confused, unbalanced or just not bothered (Or all 3! Probably..) ''

do you not have an instructor who can help you work out what is going wrong. I would think that would be more valuable to you. good luck x
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I do, but I figured since there's no many people on here, it's worth a shot :) The more minds, the better!
She does work with me some days, but others she can't, so I have to go it alone. If there's anything I can practice on those alone days, it'd be helpful :)

Thank you!


EDIT: Welshie Squisher (Love the name, lol!) - Thank you :) he can be a terror, but he can also be very good! We've managed to win 2nd, twice (I did 3 shows this year) and considering what he's like and how much more confidence I need to get, I thought that was pretty good!
Thanks again! I lose confidence extremely easily with harsh words :( not just with riding, but with anything! I try and put on a brave face, but sometimes I just can't!
Good luck to you too :D
 
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EmmaJaneWilliams said:
Loads of gridwork, it will help your hands and help teach him to pick up over a fence but be sure to set them at the correct distances....Good Luck x
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Ooh, I didn't think of that! He's actually very good at grid work and really enjoys it so I think it will help :) We did some today and he flew over them! He was also one of the best at 6 bar, so when he's better (Slightly lame) I'll get him out there and give that a go :) thanks!
 
Annielisian: At almost 40 I've developed the hide of a rhino and really don't give two hoots what others think of me, it comes with age, maybe you're much younger??
Try not to let what others think get to you, and remember that only the opinions of those that you care about really matter.
Having a horse is meant to be enjoyable and fun, so just get out there, do your best, smile and enjoy it and imagine everyone that's watching naked if you're nervous ;)
 
Hehe! The funny thing is, I get nervous around naked people XD I usually imagine them as animals!
I'm 21 and until the wonders of the Internet were introduced to me at the age of 15, I was blissfully unaware of that kind of thing :P I can take a real verbal beating from my instructor, since I know her and I know she knows the horses! Being slated so hard on the internet just seems weird to me, I guess!
 
Having dealt with forums for a long while I hope it helps you to know there are plenty of sad people who forget they are actually sitting their bums on a chair tapping on a keyboard trying to dominate others. Please pay no attention, they simply need to get out more.

No person should feel so intimidated that they are unwilling to ask a simple question on any forum. I think the the alternative severe control/lack of moderation really needs to be addressed here.
 
you need a nice bouncy canter :)

if our canter goes flat then we usually have a pole down.
I've had to change my bit to give me a bit more control as I'm saying 'ok, slow down a bit please' and he's ignoring me :rolleyes:
good luck :)
 
I found with my cob height was a problem anything under 3 feet wasnt worth his while and went though them give him height cleared everything. Maybe try raised trot poles and keep him active and of the forehand.
 
My oldie never saw small jumps as a challange so he just went straight through them. I was so frustrated with him I put the jumps up to quite a decent height and mumbling and grumbling to myself about teaching this b*****y horse a lesson got on and kicked him up. Needless to say that horsie thought I needed a lesson and proceeded to fly around the course jumping like he never had and cutting corners I never knew were there and bringing himself to a stop once he had finished the course. I was simply clinging to the saddle hoping I made it through still on board!!
 
This horse that you ride is...umm...in the nicest possible way...a bit of a special case isn't he?

In which case you're best off asking your instructor to to spend the last ten mins of a lesson going through exercises to try when you're riding alone, as the standard '101 jumping excercises' type stuff might not be quite suitable for a horse who just finds being alone a trauma!

I would however, suggest that you remove jumps completely and get the groundwork 100% sorted first. You can't build a house without foundations, in the same way you can't really expect Ned to sort his legs out whilst flying through the air if he can't quite control them all when he's just doing flat work :)
 
I agree, once your groundwork is up to scratch everything seems to fall into place! Dont run before you can walk! Dont push yourself to go away to shows if you dont feel you have the confidence, theres always the next year, or even the next year! Just slow it down. Dont worry what other people have to say, they have to much time on their hands!
 
From what I've seen, a decent canter and RHYTHM woud be key to this horse. He paces doesn't he with his head in the air? You posted one video, although I don't think it was you riding, where he was being really held till the last minute, legs everywhere, and then being let to fly at the fence. You need to develop a proper 3 beat canter that does not change around the corner and on the approach to the jump. He needs to be allowed to go forwards, not held, but he also needs to lear to wait and not rush.

Flatwork and poles on the floor progressing up to jumps will help you.

At least you have plenty of time.
 
I agree that instructor is a good move but how about taking him xc or hunting ? with solid obstacles he will learn to pick up his feet (hopefully he wont learn this the hard way) my chap jumps everything with much more respect if he has tapped something out xc practice (we dont do much though) .

I know that xc schooling maybe hard to find in this weather hence suggestion of hunting or even a fun ride with jumps!

I know some people also suggest leaving boots off (for sj practice) so they can feel it if they touch the pole. Also, could he be a bit stale - maybe lay off the jumping for a while or take him partying (hunting)

Good luck x
 
Can't advise on the riding as I'm only a happy hacker :) but it doesn't matter what other people think, riding is meant to be fun so go out there have a go and enjoy yourself - so what if you knock a pole over !!
 
To be honest, at those heights, you can jump from a trot as well as canter - it can be easier to drop in to a trot as its easier to get more balanced/ more powerful on the approach to a jump (used to ride a horse who was lazy about picking up feet and as well as grid work, this is what we did)
 
Thanks for all the responses guys!

Re him being stale: We usually just hack, I very very rarely jump him. I think it's rather him being over excited, than stale.

His approach: We actually made a tiny bit of progress last time I took him in the school! I'd walk him over a jump on the first lap (It was small, very walkable), then trotted, then attempted canter, then went back to trot, then walk. He gets far too strong and fast into jumps, but this seemed to work...a bit. That was untill his friends started fighting in the fields! He lost concentration, so we popped it once more in trot and called it a day. Hopefully when I can get him out in the jumping field, I can try the same.

Trotting: He's quite capable of doing 2ft 6 in trot, I think he's actually better! When the naughty thing jumps the fence into the field, he takes one or two strides, then leaps and clears it like a pro every time. When I can get him out into the field, I'll do lots of grid work and trotting :)

Special horse: Oooh yes, he's very 'special' :P I've never seen anything quite like him! I honestly don't know why I like him as much as I do. Perhaps it's because he's a bit like me :P I also run a bit funny, get stroppy, upset and nervous from the slightest thing and I can't stand people standing close behind me!

XC and hunting: We do a bit of XC and the sneeky so and so has learnt the difference between XC and showjumping. He clears XC jumps with ease, but will sometimes smash through SJ jumps! We did both yesterday and he did just that...cleared XC and knocked 2 of the SJ jumps! As for hunting...I don't take him. I don't like hunting, but I would love to go to a drag hunt! I did mean to ask when the next one was...if there was one! I'll leave a reminder for myself when I next go to the yard :)

Being alone: This is one of the key things I need to do. He's scared of going in the show ring alone and I think that doesn't help at all with his concentration. I honestly used to have to take him in there backwards, or he'd just rear and spin.
Since he's latched on to my mother so much, we're going to take him into the field in-hand and show him everything that scares him. The caravan, the jumps which aren't being used, the gap in the hedge and the cows. Once he's walking like a dope on a rope, I'll get on, with my mum walking next to his head. This worked wonders in the school and hopefully will work out there!

Approach 2: I forgot to say about that video that was mentioned. Yes, that wasn't me, that was the boy who broke him and taught him to jump. He's brave and I don't think he's ever fallen off, but his style is...not so great. He allows them to gallop into jumps and seems to think so long as he's still on, that was a success. It's annoying that I didn't take any interest in Ned when he was being broken. I was bored one week and was asked to come and help for 3 days. I did and I liked him, but we didn't 'click', so I didn't ride him again for a few months, until I was thrown on him almost against my will :P We clicked then and I haven't wanted to get off him since!

Height: It might be a good idea to put the jumps up, when I've got the flatwork down :) We'll see what happens :D


Thank you again for the lovely replies :) comments like these mean so much to me! They're honest, but not mean ^^
I hope we can both improve enough to do well, my instructor thinks I can, so long as I put the work in, which I certainly will try to do!
 
You need to take things back to basics a little bit

If I had a horse that was scared of the ring and ran through all the jumps I would say champs is ok as a long term goal but you need to seriously focus on the bits in between and not just start practicing with that one show in mind.

If he were mine he'd be in tack and turn out or even bonny pony until he learnt to chill out - you need to go to other places for workshops and lessons, not just this one show ground, get him used to working in new places until it just doesn't matter anymore ! It doesn't matter what you say you will ride differently in the show ring as you are nervous of his reaction and apply pressure to yourself to do well - he'll pick up on this too!

agree with grid work pole work and lots of flat work lengthening and shortening your canter stride getting the feel for different canters.

Pt your poles in an x at x and work over them in different sequance this will work on your balance - don't forget to ride with your legs and not just hold with your hands
 
Best advice I'd give you, is a few strides before he's meant to take off, ie so he's not too close so he has the chance to knock them. Give him a good squeeze to say " Hey I'm here you know. Might wake him up since from your description he seems like a horse that has no respect for little jumps haha. Treat the jumps as though they are a 1m 15 course and then with your more positive and stronger riding he might actually jump it properly.
Or I could tell you the way my poor mare was taught to jump 20 years ago, but I think it's illegal now in the jumping world.
 
Taking him other places: I wish I could :( But sadly, his trailer work is even worse than his jumping. I don't blame him for that though! Hopefully we'll start on the training again soon.
When he was being taken to the auction, he was fine in the trailer, but still had the fear of being alone. However, whoever brought him to the auction obviously either didn't know, or didn't care (most likely the latter, as he was going for meat, if he wasn't sold)
They took all the other horses out and left him alone. He made a bid for freedom and jumped over or squeezed under (not sure) the bar at the front. He came out with such force, that it took all the skin off his back. His current owner felt so sorry for him, she just couldn't leave him and I think he was so traumatised by the ordeal, he went back in the trailer, alone, not problem. It's when he got to the yard and had time to think about it that the fear set in.
I did do very well with him, but because of an incident that I won't go in to (looong story), I'm back to square one! (It wasn't my fault). I was furious, to say the least.

Just thought I'd note: I'm making some rhythm beads! Whether this will work or not...I'll let you know :P beads and bells are in the post! Will let you know.

Squeezing: I do know to squeeze, but I always forget XD hehe! Thanks :D I'll try and remind myself to squeeze next time :)
 
having seen the few vids of him, a quality canter with rhythm and bounce is what is going to help him so he doesn't panic and start pacing. I'd be doing a lot of flatwork with him before jumping practice commenced
 
Did you know you can send a video to HorseVideoAnalysis.com and get a"video lesson" from a really good trainer for not very much £. They give you written homework and are very encouraging. It does sound like your/horses technique is a little bit off somewhere, hence the poles, so an experienced eye could make all the difference.

EMC
 
Oooh thank you eatmorecake! I had no idea such things exsisted :O Will have to give that a go when I get paid :D

Yes, both our techniques are...not great. We're both willing to learn, so I'm sure we'll get there :D
 
No problem Annielusian, recommend Tina Sederholm on that site, she is really good at analysing your jumping style to see what is going wrong and how to correct it.

EMC
 
Annielusian said:
Ooh, I didn't think of that! He's actually very good at grid work and really enjoys it so I think it will help :) We did some today and he flew over them! He was also one of the best at 6 bar, so when he's better (Slightly lame) I'll get him out there and give that a go :) thanks!
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Did I read that right? You were jumping him today despite him being slightly lame?
 
Even though I'm feeling very nervous just linking to my video, I think it'd be best if I post this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRwnjsDBl7M

It was a fun jumping session, those clips were timed round, so we were trying to go quickly :P

As you can see...he's got funny legs.
Please don't be too mean! This was taken before I decided, I should perhaps work on both of our techniques, as until I watched his video back, I wasn't quite aware of how awful we both looked!

On the approach to the red and white ladder, on the 2nd clip, you can really see how confused he gets with his cantering and trotting, it's a mix of the two!
My hands and general position are something else I NEED to work on. I know I hold my hands too tight and I lean forwards and I don't quite get the jumping position (That's because of a bad back, jumping position huuurts!)

However, he can do an alright canter! In the 1st clip towards the red/white ladder, he paced, but then broke into canter.

Kinda annoying though (As far as wanting help on pole knocking goes) :P He doesn't knock any in those clips!

So anyway...

Please be kind, but honest :)

I'm off to work now! I just know I'll be thinking about the replies I'll get all the time!
 
KristmasKatt said:
Did I read that right? You were jumping him today despite him being slightly lame?
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Ooh no! Sorry, that was worded badly. He was jumping very very well, but we think he landed funny on the last jump, as he did nod a bit. I jumped off and walked him to get untacked, I noticed he had a slight limp, so his owner is giving him a week holiday to rest and she's checking him thoroughly this morning :)
 
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