im messing for that 'perfect' stride XC Help

_Rach_

_Rach_

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Hello

so today we have been at Oasby and got bl**dy LOADs of time faults xc :( luckily mum videoed me and i know what im doing, im saying wooaahhh far to soon. So need some tips to stop myself doing it. We are more than fast enough between the jumps and when I say go she does, its now all my fault im holding her back, but I dont know how to just let her get on with it :(

Report from Oasby will follow when iv written it ;) and maybe pictures tomorrow.

tiger bread with cheese and a lovely cuppa in front of the rugby if you can help :D
 
i think you've answered your own question there really. "we are more than fast enough between the jumps" sounds as if you are letting her get faster than you are then happy to approach the next fence at, so you make sure you have her controlled and balanced enough before approaching the next fence... which is common sense really, and good responsible riding.
difficult to say without seeing vids obv, but i reckon that if you just try to do most of the course at, say, 2/3-3/4 speed, only slowing more for perhaps coffin, uprights, drop and turn, water, turning questions, short distances etc, you should just be able to bowl into the other fences at your nice balanced pace and not alter anything at all. of course, you'll have to practise this if she's not used to it, they can find it a bit intoxicating!
this is the secret to going quickly, safely, xc imho, the very best proponents of it never look as though they are hurrying between fences.
 
I've had this problem before as well, the best way is to set out in the rhythm you will keep for the course and try to keep that rhythm, jumping the let up fences from that rhythm. Think about your lines, where you can save time on the corners and combinations, as it isn't all about how fast you go. When you're approaching the fence, think about when you would normally start to set up and wait a second longer than you normally would. Saving that 1 second at each fence adds up! Hope this helped and good luck. Looking forward to seeing videos and hearing the report.
 
Do you have any long strips/ fields where you can put out jumps along with permission? If so, could you lug out some fences (this is going to sound like a lot of effort!) and practise bowling into fences without fiddling at the correct speed?
 
I would practice setting up later. You can do this in an arena or on grass over a Sj. Use your body more to help re-balance the horse so you can then ride forwards and you will waste less time in the setting up. If you watch the best in action they barely touch the horses mouth but re-balance through their legs and shoulders and then ride forwards again about 6 strides from the fence. This is quite a nice montage explaining it.
http://www.equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/english/eventing/crosscountryspeed_061306
 
All good ideas so far. Have you ever practice riding at xc speed in your canter work ? Sounds obvious but one time my trainer was talking about this as he said people come out of winter stuffy and it's good to measure out the distance equivalant to level your ridind at I think for pernovice it's 475 mpm and try to ride ovr it in a minute then measure out three times the distance and stick some jumps in the way and try to jump them as close to the same pace/canter as you done the distance without fences. Make sense? Just gives you an idea of the speed you should be going at? Plus gets you more comfy at the faster pace. My trainer said we spend winter going slow sj and practicing dr we forget how to go fast as such!

Hope that's some use! I am terrible for slowing down too much! :)
 
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