Jumping advice for very big moving tb youngster

[georgiegirl]

Hey all,

Twig my now 5yo ex racer has began jumping (only baby stuff) and boy does she has springs

Very excited about her future.

Just wondered if anyone had any advice? Shes jumping willingly and does seem to have such a large stride and jump she almost frightens herself with it sometimes. She approaches calmly, jumps about 6ft high (and were only doing 2'3!!!) and then lands and seems to think 'oh my god I've left the ground!!!!! wahey!!!!' cue bogging off in 'racehorse canter'

At the moment I dont want to be pulling her up after jumping as I want her to keep thinking forward and taking me in to the fence. Is it time to start introducing some grids?

 

[Flint12]

I found that by doing grids with my boy (nearly five) stoped him rushing at jumps. He had to concentrate on what he was doing next. I place a jump and ground pole and a jump. This worked for my boy as before he was bombing at jumps. But this was just what worked for my boy.

It might be worth a go.

 

[hadfos]

I would start very small and give her some poles to think about before the jump,ie so many trot poles and a tiny cross at the end,so she only has to trot it,!!You could set yourself up down both sides of the school,maybe,3 or four trot poles onto a small cross,she then has to focus on the poles before the jump,stick a pole or two so many strides after so she has to look at were she is putting her feet,this can then slowly be built up to grid work??It will come but if she is jumping that big and frightening herself,she will say no at some point!

 

[PapaFrita]

Actually, pulling up after the fence works with quite a lot of horses; both of mine are a case in point although PF (the TB) used to bomb to the fence and then away after it, and A (loony WB) just after it. Pulling up, or at least half-halting and then cantering on helps keep the horse attentive to the instructions you're giving. Grids are also good; a pole after the fence (I think the distance should be 3.5m) will keep your paying attention so she can't tank off.
Good luck!! TBs are great, especially once they're focused on the job