How to not knock showjumps down

M

Morgan123

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 January 2008
Messages
1,405
Visit site
Hello,

Just musing really. I've done a fair amount of SJ (always unaffil though, but considering affil this year) and at the moment am jumping two horses, a 14hh pony and a warmblood type, both of whom are enthusiastic types who love jumping and are totally happy to plough through a jump if they get the wrong striding, and don't mind dangling a leg.

I don't mind this - I get slightly nervous when it's above 90cm and would rather they jumped and knocked it down than worry and refuse, and I'm just having a great time so it's all good. But anyway, I was just thinking (and I know it's hard to answer without seeing me jump), how can I improve our accuracy, and what would you do to encourage less jump knocking?

I think both are dangling front feet, and I know A Frames and big crosses can help with this, and in general we're better at home. I think i tense up a little in the ring as well and maybe we both just get a bit overenthusiastic and I'm not riding too carefully. Anyway - any tips appreciated!!
 
Do you do grids at home? I'm no expert but getting them thinking quickly about where their legs are should help rather than powering into a jump on the wrong stride and them expecting you to put them right. A bit of XC where a knock isn't quite so forgiving could be an idea too.
 
As you say - difficult without seeing you. What about a couple of lessons with a good instructor?

It is possible the horses have just lost respect for the poles - they do fall after all! Are your poles at home lighter weight? Once you start affiliated you will have full weight poles so it might be worth getting a few as top poles for at home. Also - do you boot to jump? An open front boot will help the horse feel the knock and hopefully seek to avoid it. If you barrel into an XC fence in the way you seem to describe you could have a rotational fall - so might be better to fix it first!

Alternatively - are you pushing them just a bit higher then they than they have the fitness / training to go? They both sound really willing but are they just over faced for their age / development / fitness? Equally you say you get a bit nervous as the fences go up - might you be a bit forward on their shoulder making it difficult for them to lift up? Nerves tend to make people hunch forward. Or are you giving enough crest release? Although I know a lack of release tends to be associated more with dropping their hind feet rather than fronts.

Or indeed a combination of all 3 plus other things I haven't thought of! A good qualified instructor is your best bet!
 
Thank you!

We do use full weight poles yes, and they're definitely not overfaced (the warmblood type has jumped up to discovery and I'm just doing 95cm, and the pony I compete up to 80cm but he jumps 90 comfortably at home and up to 1.05 on a grid). But yes lacking in respect for the poles i think! But I'm sure my riding has something to do with it.

I reckon your point about being too forward on the shoulder is a good one and might be the key; my position in general tends to be a bit overly forward (especially when i get overexcited in a competition), I'll work on this! Good call thanks :-).

Lessons lessons lessons.....
 
I agree you need an instructor to assess what your particular issue is. As you have it with both horses, I wonder if it is to do with your quality / consistency of canter into the fence. I would try grids with 2/3 placing poles before the jump and see if that makes any difference. If so it may be that you are holding/ pushing for a stride and thereby messing them up into a fence. If you are failing to get all the way down the grid neatly it may indicate a lack of impulsion in your canter which again would cause them to catch poles with the front legs.
 
Hmm thanks interesting. I am pushing for a stride too much I think, it's something I worry about so I guess maybe I'm working too hard and messing it up. Canter poles several strides out is a good idea, seeing as that sounds impossible to me I guess it's something I need to work on! I'm rubbish with canter poles but alright on grids, so you're right I'm probably not focussing on the canter only the jump. Helpful, thank you.
 
Sorry 9tails unintentional, I did think I'd mentioned grids above. Thank you for your thoughts :-). I do do grids but don't have much of a problem with them really I would say, actually think I probably ride them better than normal jumps, but will continue to do so :-)

Neither horse has a problem with XC at all, both are bold, confident and I don't remember them ever tapping anything (don't want to jinx myself as have a ODE this weekend, but touch wood - so far they never have!). So I think the problem partly is just a lack of respect for show jumps, but on the other hand I'm sure there must be things i can do riding to support them better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top