Gah! Laaaary jumping last night!

Lill

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What do i do with Holly?

I thought i'd do a bit of jumping with her last night as haven't done much since beginning of December and when i say not much i mean not much - like twice since then - and i want to start doing shows again from Thursday evening.

So put the jumps at 2ft6-2ft9 not very big really (although she does have little legs) and cue at being turned to jump flying Holly with head in my face - would all be fine and dandy except when she gets about a stride away she realises she needs my help but is not paying enough attention and by then its too late and she has to sort herself out - which she does but not in a very pleasant fashion usually resulting in her getting too close and throwing herself over it!!

We have come a long way from crazy mare who would jump a pole on the ground as if it was a 4ft jump and who used to be very very unenthusiastic. Now she is the opposite (which is better i suppose) but i jump her in a french link snaffle and i'm wondering what i should change it too as she just ignores me in that? She is fine on the flat and i guess she was worse last night as i've been doing so much flatwork with her jumping is now SO exciting!!
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[Blue on the other hand will not jump cross poles properly - he no longer sees the point apparently but will jump anything bigger than 3ft perfectly - strange horse! He was much better last night as i've now got him in a dutch gag with roundings on the big ring and the bottom ring. Seems to work but will put it to the test fully on Sunday!
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]
 
I dont think you should change the bit i think you should try pacing poles and a few grids!! It will make her think and hopefully she wont rush as much.

Also what i have just learnt with my mare (as believe me i tried everything else inc change of bit and poles etc) is throw your reins at them and just sit there!! My mare rushed into the first few and then thought 'hang on a minute, i have nothing to fight against and i am getting myself in a muddle'. She soon started to back off the jumps and jump them properly.
 
Hey, strangely i did remember you saying that last night but wasn't brave enough to try it lol! Will keep it in mind though!

Am taking her to clear rounds Thursday evening think (or should that be hope?!) she might be better round a course.
 
It never even occured to me to throw my reins at her at first but because she was fighting against me it was making matters worse.

I hired out Eaglesfield indoor school on Sat as they had their jumps up for the show the next day and decided i would just let her get on with it and if she crashed through a few then maybe it would make her think.

I think i only went over about 3 before she started to think 'hang on a minute' and she jumped like a little super star after that.

If i do need to interfer (which i try not ot so she learns to get herself out of trouble) then i do it before i even turn into the jump.
 
Holly is a bit like this: 'let me go, let me go, i can do it, look, watch, oh sh!t no i can't help' lol! She just flings her head in the air and off she flys! Sometimes to the extent i can see the white blaze down the front of her face - how can she see where she is going?! Hmm may try this just letting her go business in the practice area Thurs if she's still being a bit crazy then! (Not gonna have a chance to practice tonight as don't have time!)
 
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