Improving Jumping Technique...

[spotty_pony]

I have just started doing a bit of jumping on a friend's horse. He has jumped in the past, but not for some time so is a little rusty. I jumped him for the first time today and we just concentrated on doing a small cross pole and some canter poles. He is a big (17.2 Trakhener) long striding horse and can be strong at times so I was trotting him into the poles and then letting him 'roll' into canter just before them and then letting him sort his legs out himself. He really loves to jump, and really launches into the air! I am hoping he will stop doing this once he has got over the initial excitement though. But a couple of times he got in quite close and cat-jumped, raising his head in the air, we were approaching from trot, again to keep him calm and teach him to go steady - and he did listen to me, which was good.

I just wondered if anyone had any useful exercises I could try with him which will help to improve his confidence with jumping, and his technique over a fence. He needs to learn to travel in the air as well as upwards if that makes sense? I am hoping once he has got back into it, we will be able to have some good fun but at the moment any advice would be much appreciated as we have a lot to work on. Thanks

 

[pigsmight:)]

Hello there he sounds lovely and you sound like you had a good first session!

Just a few ideas that you might like to try, I am no professional but find these useful. If approaching from trot you might find a placing pole usefull, it gives him an idea of where to take off and he should give a nice round stride over the pole allowing him to then take of with both his hind legs as a pair. A pole at the other side of the fence (about 3.15m/ 3 1/2 steps) will help him to make a correct shape as he should look down at the landing pole and this should improve the bascule over the fence

There are of course lots of grids and gymnastic jumping exercises that are very usefull and will help to improve his technique. Best of luck with him.
PM x

 

[FreddiesGal]

As pigsmight said a placing pole before the jump, and if he is strong bring him back to a halt in a straight line after the jump