Jumping advice for non-jumper please!

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cpendle

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My baby warmblood dressage horse also has a super jump - he really bascules over the fences. My love is dressage but I'd like to jump him maybe once a week to keep him fresh and cos he enjoys it and maybe do some combined training (?) if I'm feeling very brave.

The thing is jumping's not my thing at all. The last time I had a jumping lesson was about 15 years ago and the only time I've jumped in recent history is point and kick out hunting!? I can't see a stride at all and am not very brave! Not the ideal trainer material I know.

Can you suggest some easy exercises I can do with him? Also my biggest problem is he's very wobbly into a fence and because he's very short-coupled, I can lose him through his shoulder in a flash and have had some run outs.

Thanks in advance for you help.
 
You could stick poles at the side of the jump to try and prevent running out, or even put them in a v shape with both ends in the middle of the jump, as this helps to aim for the center and also keep them straight.

That's all I can think of, my horse can sometimes run out so thats what I do with him. Alsotry not to give with your hands too much or too early before the jump, as this allows them to run out more easily.
 
Perhaps get yourself a trainer.

Then you know you are in good hands and they'll set you up properly and you'll get good advice whilst building your confidence.

ENJOY!
 
If u stick a placin pole in as well that'll help sort the stride out (but do some canter poles first so he gets the idea!!!).
Also take him cantering around fields/through woods depending on what u have, he might really enjoy that too!!!
 
I would say you really need to get help from a trainer. I can see that if jumping isn't really your thing you don't want to waste too much money on loads of lessons, but I'm sure if you find someone in your area you could organize to have 2 or 3 lessons close together to start you both off, and then ask for specific exercises for you to practice and then have lessons less frequently. Good luck sounds like you will have lots of fun!
 
I would get an instructor out to help you as you don't want to ruin him if your nervous/not used to jumping
smile.gif
 
i bought my 16.3 chestnut oldenburg mare about 4 years ago.

her jumping was trerrible it was all adrenaline and panic jumping, she used to try to go flat out and either clear the jump by miles, crash through it or stop, and you had no idea what she would do.

to be honest here flatwork was pretty bad too, as soon as you cantered on one rein you could not do anything else with her, as she got so uptight.

i just carryed on with her tried lots of bits and never told her off and tried to just do nothing when i riding her, as in just sit there and praise her, after about 6 months of doing that she started improving, now i can do whatever i want with the horse, i have real fun with her.
 
easy grids would be best, nice wide fences (e.g. put wings 15' apart and do cross-poles with the ends of the poles on high cups, to decrease chance of run-outs, and keep him straight) with perfect distances, approaching 1st fence from trot. that way you can't mess up striding, all you have to do is a little steering and keep light leg on. i'd do x stride x , then add stride stride x
then maybe make the third one into xx or xI (straight back bar on it.)
from a trot, i'd make the first stride distance about 7 yards, the second one about 7 1/2 yards for 1 stride, or 11 1/2 for 2 strides, depending on size of fences and length of stride of horse. if he's huge striding, make them 1/2 a yard longer perhaps.
i'd always have someone on the ground there too if you possibly can.
 
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