jumping excercise`s

[serena2005]

i need some ideas... i did a bounce jump last night which helped loads with his speed issue but he felt very heavy on the bit (although i wasnt fighting with him) felt like i needed to lift his front end up!

and my friend said his back end was all over the place!

his balance is improving no end and we are alot more controled in general but i feel a bit lost with what to try next.

thanks!

 

[BigBird146]

Haven't seen your previous post with details of age, level etc (I assume there is one), but my horse benefitted no end from loose jumping him in a menage. Let's them correct their own balance and sort themselves out without interference which can just confuse/ ditract them. We used a 'jumping lane' set up with lots of bounces and doubles. Get them up to a decent height as well as it really makes them 'snap-up' in front and think about what they're doing.

 

[serena2005]

Abit of info on Tom!
hes a connie x 10years 14.3hh hes a super little horse, knows his stuff but has just not done very much, apart from the odd ride a few times a week for the last few years.

iv been riding him since april, i know he was schooled well as a youngster but he just needs reminding.

loose schooling is a very good idea, but unfortuantly the new menage being built doesnt yet have a fence! im not sure id trust him too much not to jump a fence either, would it be as benifical if i did it with lunge line? running round with him as if he were loose schooling!

 

[Cruiseonamiro]

Sounds just like his balance isn't completely established. A bounce is designed to make the horse use himself and if he's struggling with his balance he'll be leaning in your hand, so you feel like you have to hold him up. Tbh in this instance I would say that loose schooling isn't the best way forward, when you're riding and he does start to lean try a little bit of counter flexion to soften the contact in his mouth. Also, do lots of exercises to establish his balance and bring that back end underneath you, so that he's pushing through from behind. Jumping wise a lot of gridwork will help and even though he leans now it wil get better with time. On the flat try leg yielding in and out on circles and things like 5m loops down the long side. My instructor also makes me do direct transitions to get him of my leg a stretching over his back.