far too slow!

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lexibell

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Hi all

I've got a lovely lil cob who loves to jump and is very careful but unfortunately not very fast. I took him in a small local show a few weekends ago and we went double clear in 2ft and 2ft3 but when it came to speed, I was nearly 17 seconds slower than the winner and 10 seconds outside of getting placed. When I watched the video back we did trot between some jumps where we should have been cantering and we could both do with losing a bit of weight and getting a bit fit. aside from that anyone any tips or ideas on exercises or things to think about? feel really deflated.

PS if anyone can tell me how to get an mpeg on to photobucket I will upload video
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canter and hill work i would say? possibly some interval training? All work that can be done on a hack just don't let him or you loose confidence by riding him faster than you are both comfortable with. Personnaly i would work on his supplenes on the flat possibly lunge with a pessoa and ride lots of circles etc. The more supple he is as a cob the faster he will be able to go and you will be able to take shorter lines to the fences. Good luck, don't give up
 
Thank you
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Will give all those things a try, just frustrating to know we both tried soo hard but where not even in the same league, it makes it all feel soo pointless, but theres no chance of us giving up - weve come too far not to carry on
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thanks again for the advice
 
don't forget that some jump offs (depending on the route) depend on the turns not just the speed, they really suit my boy who although has an engine doesn't cover the ground great,

It is good to have something going a bit slower or not so long striding to turn, you'll need to practice a bit at home though, turning in tight and jumping on an angle etc. But if you are clever you can take the shortest route and be well within a chance if he is honest. If you can nip inside of things and jump from 1 or 2 strides you put yourself at a good advantage.

the fitter he is the better, to keep my boy jumping well I ride him 6 days a week and we are lucky to have a 1/4 mile strip of grass which I do lots of cantering along a couple of times a week ( do 3 or 4 up and downs along it)
 
Thanks Ester, good ideas, he doesnt corner amazingly well so I guess I may probably have been a bit cautiuos. he is honest, very honest, so I think we have potential just need to tidy up around the edge.

The show was at a riding club Ive been really tempted to join, they were (generally) all very nice people and very complimentary and supportive, they have another show coming up in 3 weeks, I really want to go back and do it better and show a certain few ladies that my cob can do anything that there ponsey arab can do, and all the better because he wants to do it and I dont have to drag him around
 
Right from one cob owner to another, speed is not what you need, its landing and turning on the spot you need! You have to think about cutting every corner, keeping everything tight. This means landing on the correct lead and jumping from sometimes almost a standstill. This is the way cobs win jump offs! This is what I do with Bodey!!!!
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