Horse that paddles in front of jump

[Old school]

Hi folks, just looking for some advice for training exercises. My horse is light over the ground. Has good paces. She tends to be uncertain of her take off in front of a jump. Sometimes she puts in a false stride to take off. She looks like she is going to take a stride, changes her mind and takes off. Have watched it on video. Initially we did not think too much of it. But recently she caught herself out resulting in a nasty fall, not full rotational, but almost. Does anyone have advice for exercise that would assist her (us) to think about having conviction with the last stride, rather than indecision. I am part of the problem too. I hate getting deep and tend to look for a long one. So working on this would help change my mindset too. Am grateful for any guidance you might like to give. The horse can jump and my level would be 1m. Thanks.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Is this the 4 year old?
I'd be getting a decent trainer on the ground to assist with this as it sounds like you are on your own, which isnt ideal at any time but definitely not with a youngster.

 

[Old school]

She is not young, but is inexperienced. The four year old would never allow herself to make a mistake. Massive confidence and ego to go with it. Thank you for your concern though.

 

[Iznurgle]

Canter poles, gridwork, and then placement poles would likely improve her confidence and rhythm with jumps, leading to her being more comfortable seeing the stride herself when you're jumping. Fuzzy Furry has a good point though, someone on the ground (even to film and move poles!) would be massively beneficial, more so if they've got experience enough to change distances and provide feedback.

 

[Michen]

Yes this happened to me once resulting in a horrid fall. I put it down as one of those things and he did it 6 months later out hunting. The second time was very much a bolshy, silly onward bound horse looking to over take the master and not concentrating. First time just seemed to be one of those things.

It did affect me but it’s only happened twice in 4 years however I’d be concerned if it was a regular thing and looking to make her more responsive to you adjusting the canter and also making sure you can ask her to add an extra stride if you need to. I always shied away from this but am learning to sit and wait and sometimes half half and check and it (touch wood) hasn’t happened since despite him being rather hot to jump at the mo!

 

[Old school]

Thank you for your replies. Yes, I need some proper assistance and consistent work on poles/adjusting canter. I appreciate the replies as sometimes it feels like you are on your own. Hopefully by end of summer I will have a positive update.

 

[IrishMilo]

Bounces and related short distances to help with her confidence.

 

[Michen]

Op you must have cursed me! Literally just happened to me today for the first time in years!

I was riding defensively as he was napping back to group so I sat holding then saw a longish one but urgh.

Is this what you meant?

 

[Old school]

Not cursing you at all Michen..I can't open the photo/video. But I am having my own bad string of it. After last week I have mild concussion, so not riding for a few days. Yest brought daughter to a competition many miles away. After hours of waiting she went out on track. She forgot her course and was eliminated. Today I had to bring a mare to be handled by vet. She stumbled up the ramp and is now home with about fifteen staples in the front of her hind fetlock ( and it transpired is not showing the right signs for covering, which is obviously on hold now ). If not concussed I would be having a large drink.

ETA Just saw your video. Yes that exactly. Except she got caught up in the top pole and the inevitable followed. Great example of it, without the nasty outcome.

 

[Michen]

Not cursing you at all Michen..I can't open the photo/video. But I am having my own bad string of it. After last week I have mild concussion, so not riding for a few days. Yest brought daughter to a competition many miles away. After hours of waiting she went out on track. She forgot her course and was eliminated. Today I had to bring a mare to be handled by vet. She stumbled up the ramp and is now home with about fifteen staples in the front of her hind fetlock ( and it transpired is not showing the right signs for covering, which is obviously on hold now ). If not concussed I would be having a large drink.

ETA Just saw your video. Yes that exactly. Except she got caught up in the top pole and the inevitable followed. Great example of it, without the nasty outcome.

Oh goodness so sorry to read that! Horses!!!

Hopefully the jump thing is a one off for her and stops as her confidence improves.

 

[LiquidMetal]

Sorry to hear about your other troubles OP. Concussions are no fun.

One suggestion I wanted to add is being very mindful of what your body is doing. Especially if you prefer to take the long stride when you can see it’s not quite right. When I’ve seen that kind of jump (or had it happen), often the horse looks like they’re going to put a short stride in but then the rider makes a move with their upper body. Horse feels the weight shift and thinks, oh s&*t I better take off now and the result is that weird leg flailing jump because they’re not coordinated.

 

[LEC]

You have a horse who doesn’t like a long one while your eye is naturally drawn to a long one. You have tried training her to your eye which isn’t working so unfortunately you need to train your eye to what the horse is comfortable doing.

I would be interested if the horse has even take off on both hind legs as well as sometimes I find a lot of power lost through uneven take off. So that’s just food for thought and something to consider.

If I was you, I would be out there with the cavaletti and randomly popping them down and practising getting comfortable with a closer distance with your eye. I do love 3 cavaletti on 16yds each to play about with canter patterns. As can come on 3 or 4 strides then mix it up to help develop your eye and the canter. 3/4, 4/4, 3/3, 4/3 for instance.

Gridwork might be useful for the horse to help athleticism - I like 3 uprights on 1 stride to oxer on 2 strides but would normally build on 7yds and 11yds. I also like pole - fence - pole on a corner usually build pole to fence on 3yds and 3yds for landing because you can go on an inside or outside line and play with the canter as poles and Jump slightly angled round corner.
Another very useful exercise is cavaletti 11yds to oxer. Again all things which help the horse and allow the rider to be positive and get their eye correct.

 

[Old school]

Thanks for your really thoughtful replies. Planning on hitting the saddle tomorrow....But might just stick to the flat for a few days. After the fall I was beating myself up ( bad rider, poor decision maker, etc). The forum has been incredibly helpful in feeling support, and keeping it in perspective. I never really appreciated it's usefulness before.