Jumping from trot- quick question re: placing pole

I've done this to help a really 'dangly' TB - trot to an upright with V-poles and with or without a groundline and a placing pole at a short 9 feet, or even closer if you're being really mean. Scares this sh!t out of me but boy does it get them to use their shoulders and pull their knees up!
 
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As far as I'm concerned, it's fine to kill the impulsion for the purposes of this exercise so be disciplined about making him stay in trot - think towards walk if you like. It's all about removing the forward impetus so they have to jump effectively from nothing, that makes them sit on their backsides to make the jump (rather than using their momentum) and, once the fence gets bigger, if you can get them really deep they really have to snap up their forelegs and shoulders too. It works them really really hard, and I wouldn't do it with a real baby. That's the exercise I have in mind and it sounds like that was what the original poster was doing too - obviously there are many other trot jumping exercises to work on other things so others may disagree with me. But as far as I'm concerned, kill away
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Wot she said!
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Talavera I thought you said you were trotting over the pole and then fitting in one canter stride before the fence.
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PF is talking about a placing pole being one non-jumping stride before the fence in that the horse goes over the pole in trot and takes off between the pole and the fence. Clear as mud?

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Last time I did it he made me do it all in trot ... so it was kinda progressional, if that makes sense? we were doing one canter stride, and then he just made me trot the whole lot, once i'd done it right, [3rd time lucky] he finally let me stop! Please don't make me do that again!
 
On the subject of trotting jumps on horses that stop, couple of points.

One, some horses stop because they're feeling rushed or confused about how to adjust in front of the fence, especially if the rider is feeling likewise. For those horses trotting slowly into increasingly imposing and varied jumps can actually be a great exercise because it keeps things under control and gives the horse confidence, too.

Two, the horse needs to understand that speed doesn't equal impulsion and that it has to go because you say so. So trotting slowly with the leg on can, again, make your point without risking a bad distance or a battle at speed which would just make the problem worse.

Jumping new things quietly from a trot can actually a better plan with a horse that tends to spook/lack confidence because it keeps it all calm and under control. Also, riders that tend to pitch forwards or "shove" the horse at the fence are often less likely to do so in trot so it can help them become more aware of it when they do.

It's also great for convincing riders that the horse can do it, will do it, and that panicking is not the answer. The horse has two options facing a jump, over it or through it. Most pick over.
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The same is true of walk work, of course. But that's even harder on the nerves.
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I went to a clinic years ago with Tim Grubb and he had us trotting what I would consider biggish oxers - 3' square or so. We were all having hysterics but did it because we were told and it did, indeed, produce some great jumps. At the end of the exercise he said, "Good for you guys. I don't have the guts to trot big oxers when I school. I'm always afraid the horse won't make the back rail."
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Um, yeah, thanks for that piece of news, dude.
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TS - completely agree with everything you said there - I have no probs trotting per se even on a horse which stops - but this one doesn't normally, there is a long and incredibly dull story behind why he is doing this, and suffice to say there is a good reason to canter, rather faster than normal, into the fence (and I am getting good training from a 4* rider to go with my gut instinct on this one). I have happily trotted this horse into Novice XC fences in the past (small skinnies when his steering wasn't always what it could be LOL), and he copes fine, but his head is not in that place right now. I do agree though, normally I'd take them right back to trot to sort things like this out. In fact today I tested how well he was coming on by trotting into the fences.

Appreciate that probably wasn't aimed at me personally, but since I agree with you, I thought I'd clarify a bit.
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No, not personal at all, SC, just a random comment regarding a few people mentioning concern about trotting into fences with horses that might stop. GENERALLY I've found it to be a) quite the opposite and b) very useful for such horses, as you said. Some trainer never trot fences, on the argument there's no class for it; some use the exercise often and with great results. Courses for horses.
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I know some savvy schoolmaster types that will even stick in a few steps of trot on the approach if they're feeling pressured - perhaps not great obedience but clearly they think it's safer!

But every situation is different and it's impossible to really give any truly useful advice over the internet. Some horses always seem to struggle in trot and if they're doing the job in canter and the problems aren't indicative of a more basic issue then it's really up to the rider whether or not to pursue it. I'm sure in some cases - as in many situations to do with horses - it's detrimental to push a point that doesn't need pushing! I'd go with the actual trainer standing in the ring (given that I trust him/her, and if not, why would I be taking instruction) with advice from the internet most days.
 
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But then I go for being mildly scared to properly fearful
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I am not sure I am brave enough!

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I know the feeling! I was coming in on a nice springy trot and Instructor was saying "Slower! Slower, MUCH slower" I had NO idea when the Ginger One was going to take off (I kept asking him FAR too soon- apparently
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) We did get some lovely jumps though.
 
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