How to Improve line into a fence

EmilyK

EmilyK

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Hi,

I'm doing my A2 PE coaching and I really need to find an exercise that I can use to help a rider take better lines into fences instead of turning to wide/narrow and going in on an angle. It has to be an exercise in which I can show progression and is clearly helping the rider not the horse I have to focus on the rider.

I have a few ideas up my sleeve but would like a few more!

Thanks.
 
Pole channels -two poles parallel to each other on the approach so that the rider has to ride between them straight to the fence; can move them further apart and further away from the fence as the rider progresses.
Turning markers - a marker that the rider has to make a smooth turn around before approaching the fence - can move it closer to the fence as the rider starts to think more for themselves.
having related jumps on a curve and rider has to go over a certain spot on the first fence (e.g. the second blue painted bit from one side, go around the marker on the curve, and go over exactly the same spot on the second fence (i.e. the second blue painted bit from one side). Don't know if writing it instead of drawing it makes sense, but basically teaching rider to look for a line and also should count the strides between the two fences (if drifts out or in then will get the wrong striding). Easy to make harder by moving the fences closer and removing the marker on the curve.
just some things we used to do at pony club in the dim dark ages (around the time of stonehenge i think) but should still work.
 
I think turning markers, as said by wkiwi, are great. Some object that have to go around while aiming for the fence, which will put them on the correct line. I've seen instructors even use themselves as the marker but I wouldn't be brave enough for that unless the rider was quite experienced! Once they have the hang of it test them by taking the marker away
 
Also just using markers / points in the school for turning and also riding towards after the fence.

Something else (useful if the rider under cuts the turn) would be get them to over shoot and then slightly leg yield back to the fence. This is particularly useful if changing direction after the fence or doing some fences on a serpentine as helps with landing on the correct lead.
 
Bonkers2 said:
101 exercises for jumping a book
Click to expand...

Bonkers, is this book any good? I've considered buying it a few times but changed my mind as I wasn't sure how useful it would be. 101 exercises is a lot and I was worried they would mainly all be variations of the same thing!
 
Rivendell said:
Bonkers, is this book any good? I've considered buying it a few times but changed my mind as I wasn't sure how useful it would be. 101 exercises is a lot and I was worried they would mainly all be variations of the same thing!
Click to expand...

yes its great, almost waterproof cover.
25 of the exercises are on the flat so you start of with a few of those per session.
They are designed to educate the horse so that he can cope with situations, combinations, and all the rest of it. This is done with small fences, the size of the fences is not what matters [as we are told!]. it is learning how to deal with different "combinations" I got my pony doing bounces and lengthening and shortening etc with minimal input from the rider, the rider is the director of operations, the horse jumps the fences.
I never had a refusal with any horse or pony with these exercises as they were all straightforward from pony's point of view. They tell you how to find the exactly correct distance for canter poles etc, having the "perfect" distance you can then adjust for shortening and lengthening.
 
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Awesome, thanks so much for replying Bonkers!! That is exactly the review I was after. I will definitely be buying this book!
 
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