Jumping exercises

[Megibo]

I am getting my horse back into jumping starting off on the lunge as she's not done it properly in a while. In the past has placed 2ft 9 SJ and 2ft 6 XC So I know she can do it!

However, she can jump a cross pole easy but when putting it up to a 2ft straight she gets in really deep, then scrabbles and takes off tucking her feet in quite high but takes out the top pole. Any ideas for how to help her? I use a groundline but obviously that hasn't done anything for her.

 

[Orls]

Grid work is brilliant for teaching them to set themselves up properly and for teaching rhythm and balance. Try setting up a grid with three fences one or two strides in between, keep them all nice and low to begin with as you want to help your horse gain confidence too and over facing her with high fences at this point would be a disaster. Ride positively, she wil take her cue from you. If you are confident she will feel confident and aim to ride through the grid at a steady, even pace. Practice will of course make perfect. The more you jump her (without over doing it) the easier she will find it as she figures it out. Pole work is another great thing. Scatter poles around the school and canter over them in any order, keeping a steady rhythm and you'll find this will help so much with her figuring out where to take off from without worrying about scaring her if she gets it wrong.

I wouldn't lunge over fences at this stage as it's hard work on a circle and more difficult for them to set themselves up. If you aren't ready to ride her over fences then set up a free jumping chute as she'll find it much easier on a straight line.

Hope this is helpful!

 

[JFTDWS]

Gridwork took my lad from jumping like this

to this

in a few sessions. (photos are about a year apart, but he was jumping very babyishly still before the grids started).

Dafthoss was putting up bounce-bounce-one stride - two strides or variations on that sort of theme for us and gradually increasing their spacing to encourage F to take a better stride into take off.

He will now take a long one if he sees it, or a short one if he can't / I mess him up, but routinely takes a normalish spot, even when he's out of practice after a couple of months off.

Taking a long one the other day, first time jumping this year:

 

[Megibo]

thanks both, will try grids with her and ask my instructor for some help with strides etc!

 

[Littlelegs]

Placing poles help too, both as individuals & on grids.