hing leg forward when jumping?

Hoof_Prints

Hoof_Prints

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Any tips on how to get the back feet together and springing off when jumping? I'm riding a horse that takes off with one hind leg back, and the other really forward as if he is still in the canter stride- he has a very neat front end but just looks awkward and can't spring away at the back as well as he could as the hind feet are still cantering and not jumping ! what exercises would help? thanks :)
 
It might be worth trying some slow-motion filming to see if he is loading one leg and protecting the other. This exact movement was the only symptom of what has turned out to be PSD in our young event horse. I'm not suggesting that it is the same for you but it might be worth a closer look.
 
He does this on both reins, so he is not protecting just one leg, he does it equally with both- or is that also a sign? Hopefully not! I know my horse does this over smaller jumps but pings big jumps - but I'm not about to put the height up until I know his technique has improved a little.
 
If it is both legs equally then I agree that it is less likely to be an issue. I didn't want to worry you! I would be working on shortish grids, placing poles, raised poles and lateral work to help strengthen his core.
 
Swirlymurphy said:
If it is both legs equally then I agree that it is less likely to be an issue. I didn't want to worry you! I would be working on shortish grids, placing poles, raised poles and lateral work to help strengthen his core.
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Oh it's fine, I'm a lameness hypochondriac anyway ; one off step and I'm googling every issue under the sun ;) so I will keep a close eye. He's only a baby and very weak so he needs strengthening, my other weak baby horses have been a bit more natural at it so I just wanted to give him the best start before he picked up bad habits. Will get on the pole work tomorrow and see how he is, taking it nice and slow but hopefully with improvements :)
 
Have you tried loose jumping? If nothing else it'll show you if the rider is making it worse (could be a strength/balance issue as already suggested). But you can also raise the jumps and make him go over fairly high grids this way to encourage him to properly tuck his legs without worrying that you'll be damaging his confidence or technique from having a rider interfering. Also try this with (smallish) spreads in a grid. Loose jumping is a great way for a horse to figure out his technique for himself. And lots of praise (and maybe treats...) after a good one can go a long way to show them when they've done the right thing and encourage them to do it again with a positive attitude.

I'll also second lateral work and pole work to strengthen him. Plus lots of transitions.
 
What about sticking to jumping from trot until he builds up his strength? This will also help technique overall.
 
I second both trot jumps and bounces- they don't even have to be big. It will encourage him to rock back and use his haunch and build up the strength. Walk on a lot of hills too- Denny Emerson likes to preach that muscles you work while walking are the same muscles used at the canter, so walking hills is a lower-impact "strength training" regime.
 
Thanks for the advice, used bounce jumps and lots of gridwork today, it did seem to help but he still "cantered" the jumps , at one point he actually knocked the pole with the hind leg that was forward (while still on the ground!). But some improvements were seen. He is such a trier and clears them 90% of the time- just need to improve the back end taking off. I put the jump up to 80cm and he sprung over it much better but still with legs apart and sort of bent awkwardly underneath him. He has fantastic hind limb mobility and over poles he really snapped all his legs up with great flexion. Going to try loose jumping tomorrow or the day after and see how that goes, at least I can see it from the ground then.
 
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