horse adding extra little stride before SJ fence

MandyMoo

MandyMoo

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my horse is doing british novice bsja at the moment cus i am just getting him back into jumping as he hasnt done any competing for a few years...

at home he jumps nice and confidently, takes off at the right place etc isnt phased by fillers/cones/barrela or anything...but when i take him to a comp, when i am riding to the fences i see the perfect stride, ride him positivley, and when there is the point for take off he doesnt take off, but adds in a little stride...i now try and really ''kick'' when he needs to take off, and it seems to work a bit...but it seems a bit unnecessary...he can get away with adding extra strides now cus the fences are only 90cms...but once he gets bigger he wont be so lucky! plus he makes the jump a little uncomfortable!! lol

is it just a lack of confidence?? or are there any tips you guys have? thanks xxx

(oh and im not like...a beginner rider who doesnt really know how to showjump and is just letting him get away with [****]...lol :P)
 
It does sound a lack of confidence or have you made sure he is not uncomfortable in some way? Teeth, saddle back etc.

If he is going ok at home and you doing grids and other exercises to build his confidence then it just sounds like he needs miles on the clock.
 
hes had his teeth/back etc checked, all in good health...he really enjoysd jumping at home etc, but just goes a bit wrong in comps...

i might try a lot more grids xx
 
my mare lacked confidence last season, i just kept competing her at the same level for a while, jumped bigger at home where she was most confident, hunted her a couple of times, let her have a month off and now she seems alot better!
Actually she's gone to the other end of the scale and keeps taking flyers at the things!
She's still being carefull though and it's nice to feel her really taking me into a fence.
If you just keep going with what you're doing and don't overface him then hopefully he'll suddenly realise he doesn't need to keep putting little ones in and making mummy look silly! ( I've been there too!)
Good luck!
 
Its just confidence. Does he keep the same canter at competitions as at home? May be worth working on a shorter but bouncier "punchier" canter for competitions so he can get to a deeper spot without having to shorten himself at the last minute, and so gain confidence?
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Our spotty horse used to do this (and still does on occasion). We used placing poles to put him at exactly the right place to take off so there was no opportunity to put in the little stride. We also found that the jockey was 'dropping' him in the last couple of strides ie. lowering her hands and losing the contact- which made him 'worry' about going for the longer take off stride. Hope this helps!
 
My boy did this aswell, he got a lot braver by sticking at a level where he was happy (I'm now jumping a lot bigger and he feels fab) - even if yours goes well at home, try putting a pole 3 horse strides away from a jump (16 of your strides), so when he pops that, keep you leg on and you are safe in the knowledge you will meet the fence correctly. Think about almost accelerating over the fence and don't look too hard for a stride. Just keep the leg on and try to keep a rhythm. I find this more helpful than a normal placing pole, as the horse can learn to rely on those a bit too much!
 
QR Are you sure you aren't looking down at the fence too? I had a lesson last weekend with a new instructor and she said straight away this was the reason my boy quite often chipped in a short one. Once I looked up and didn't look at the jump take off was usually spot on.
 
thanks guys! i'll deffos keep him at the same level...try to keep him at a really good canter and i dont THINK i look at the fence or drop my hands...but u never know i might!! going to get some lessons with him anyhoo
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thankas for all the advice
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xx
 
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