Introducing a course of jumps

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charterline

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I have an 8 yo tb x. I dont know much about his history, but i dont think that he has done an awful lot of work in his past, probably just hunting. I set up a course of jumps today (only tiddly ones), oh dear I couldnt get him round.

I am very much suspecting that he never has been round a course of jumps. When I first got him, his jumping was very green, but has improved no end in the past five months I've had him.

I dont think he will ever make a show jumper, as he is a 17hh, and very long, and he does find it hard cornering, due to his size. But it would be nice so he can do a small course.

Has anyone got any tips on how i can slowly build up so he will jump a course?
 
What was the problem?
Gridwork is fab for making them think and listen, then just slowly string together a couple of fences and add in more when you're both happy and confident with it.
 
I would say that it is your canter that needs improving - set up a course as poles on the ground and canter round them - that should be in any horse's capabilities - if he cannot manage that then your canter is prob not round and compact and rhythmatic enough

As Boss says, grid work will also really help

Good lick!
 
Can't offer much advice but can re-assure you that him being 17hh and long-backed doesn't rule him out as a SJ.

The horse I loan is a long-backed 17hh and yes he isn't best at tight turns but he can make up a lot through the amount of ground his long strides cover! My instructor had us jumping a course at 1.15m in my last lesson so bigger/longer horses can do it.

Take it slowly with him and good luck
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Your canter and stuff is important at bigger fences, but if they were weeny, then any horse should manage to get round. I think he's probably just being spooky, I'd get some spurs on and give him a lot of boot! That normally works for me, simple but effective!
 
He wasnt neceassarily being spooky, he managed to jump the ones on the outside of the school fine - it is more of the ones where you have to turn at an angle to get at them, which we cant do.

Will try doing poles on the floorin canter, and see what happens. I dont think that he cant do it, just that hes never done anything like that before, and doesnt know what hes supposed to be doing!
 
It all depends on what the problem is. Is he stopping at fences?
If they were teeny then any horse particularly at 17hh should get round at a trot and infact could probably step over them.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Your canter and stuff is important at bigger fences, but if they were weeny, then any horse should manage to get round. I think he's probably just being spooky, I'd get some spurs on and give him a lot of boot! That normally works for me, simple but effective!

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You are joking arent you??? Clearly the prob is that they cannot make the turns, therefore the horse is possibly not balanced enough in canter or together enough in a nice punchy canter - suggesting the horse is spoooking and to put spurs on and kick is really rather ridiculous and danergous - you dont even know how experienced the rider is!
 
agree with you there weezy, spurs will make no difference. It sounds as if lots of flatwork is needed for him to be able to balance around corners, so lots of serpentines, changes of rein, circle work and lunging particularly canter work on the lunge
 
I would stick to trot until his canter has improved from flatwork

At 17hh he is perfectly capable of jumping 3ft course no matter what his confirmation (essentially you are just asking him to tuck his legs at that height!).

He should also be able to jump 3ft from trot- I make all mine do this especially on grid work as they have to put in more effort rather than a rounded canter stride.
 
I also have a huge horse and it sounds to me like you need to work on balance and confidence, they will probably come together. From what you describe he is not confident jumping the fences off corners, this will be because his balance is poor which in turn will make him less confident, as weezy says try cantering round poles on the ground he should be able to do this in a true rhythm (not fiddling steps) and then raise the fences. Also a word about trotting to the fences, you are probably best only trotting to uprights as he will struggle over spreads ( mentally more than physically) and you must make it easy for him.
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She said her horse didn't get round??

how small r u talking?

Do you not where spurs then? I whip my horses all the time - just for fun! don't you?
 
I smell a troll

Hope you get it sorted Charterline, I would work on your canter and grid work, building them up slowly. Then possibly a grid of 3 then round to just one fence, then round to two on a related distance. You may find if he hasnt jumped that much at all - you'll just have to take it steady and let him figure it out. Keep them small too so that you can trot over them if need be
 
[ QUOTE ]
Your canter and stuff is important at bigger fences, but if they were weeny, then any horse should manage to get round. I think he's probably just being spooky, I'd get some spurs on and give him a lot of boot! That normally works for me, simple but effective!

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Dont you ever go anywhere near my horse!

Sarah xXx
 
Why do we get these prats on here? I reckon this is a refugee from the hunting forum attempting to make trouble elsewhere, do us a favour, go back there please? (or we could offer to test our whips and spurs on you if you like, I can split a plum at 10 feet away from me with a lunge whip.....)
 
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[ QUOTE ]
Your canter and stuff is important at bigger fences, but if they were weeny, then any horse should manage to get round. I think he's probably just being spooky, I'd get some spurs on and give him a lot of boot! That normally works for me, simple but effective!

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Good god I can't believe anyone would be stupid enough to advise this. You know nothing about the horse or the rider or what the problem actually is.

If you had a brain you would have been able to work out as most others have that the horse probably isn't being naughty, but is not balanced enough to make the turn. Thus how exactly would booting it with spurs help?
 
The size of your horse has little to do with its ability to turn corners, If you have problems turning corners it is a balance problem you have & you need to consentrate on ground work. Loads of leg yielding, it will teach him to bring his hocks under himself, he will support himself better & his balance will improve. Support him with your outside rein & use your inside leg. Any difficulties have some lessons from a competant instructor.
Reference the idiot who advocates jabbing with spurs, forget it. If brains were dynamite he wouldn't have enough to part his hair!
 
you need training go get your self someone that knows what they talking about to teach you to jump-- for those that wished to use spurs as a simple quick method wont have a horse jumping for to much longer---

if you want to be serious and kind then learn from those that compete or have competed thats why they do clinics easy to find someone of be accredited coaches / trianers and bsja one in your area--
and learn the arrt of jumpiung correctly---and even and balanced

ps those that wear spurs as a quick method-- an easy boot over the jump with educating the horse ----One day your horse will do a dirty stop and i hope you dont get hurt.
 
I wouldn't use spurs anyway.

Re horse going round corners, what I meant was he obviously wont be as good at sharp turns as a shorter coupled horse!
 
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