Jumping Help?!

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L00bey

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Hello me and Roo have just got back onto the circuit after a terrible summer. We went sj a few weeks ago and I need some help!
Firstly, how do you remember courses haha I am awful at remembering courses. Mainly because I am concentrating so hard on trying to ride well that I forget where I am going!
Secondly, how can I get Roo to stop locking onto the wrong fence? In an indoor arena I find it so hard to stop him jumping anything that comes in his way, he is so big and strong and I'm either trying to remember where I am going or concentrating on trying to ride well. At home he will canter past jumps fine it is on course when he expects to jump everything in sight I struggle to keep him focussed. Any ideas?

Here is a vid of our extreeeeemely slow jump off round. We're starting off small hoping to work our way up to doing some workers or maybe scary BSJA. Any critique greatly welcomed :) please don't be too harsh it has been three years since I last competed and I wasn't much good at it then!


http://youtu.be/TBRNOYOa-0g
 
Lovely horse:) I think you are trying a little too hard to keep him round, he gets rather deep most of the time then lifts his head, sees the fence and rushes, even if it is the wrong one:rolleyes:.

I could not tell what you are riding him in but would be trying to get him up in front a bit more, increasing the tempo slightly so he is less inclined to charge those last few strides, while the fences are small you get away with it, bigger tracks may help him concentrate or cause him to start having fences down.

Make sure you are really looking at the next fence, exaggerate turning your head so he can feel where you are going, you are stylish dont worry about how you look, focus on the jumping, it is not a style competition, although he looks like a great prospect for workers when it will matter.
 
Thank you for your reply :) yes I knew that was what was going to be said, my dilemma is that he either pulls downwards and tucks his head in and pisses off which is when I literally have no idea what to do? Do I push on or release a bit with my reins? I don't know how to stop this happening, he does it on the flat, xc and on hacks as well just tucks in and tows me OR throws his head up and charges.

The bit I have is http://www.horsebitbank.com/tranz-16mm-diameter-universal-cheeks-86.phtml whatever that is which I use for jumping as I have found its the only thing i can control him in and I ride in a snaffle for everything else. I also jump with a martingale.

I think in regards to the style haha it feels a lot worse than it looks which is why I'm trying to concerntrate so hard.
 
It will feel worse than it looks as to some extent you are out of control for a few strides into each fence, that will make you tense and a little tight through your body, its hard to relax when you are being towed into fences.
What would he do if you dropped the contact and let him run? without being with you it is hard to really advise, sometimes one thing will work really well but with a different horse it would be a disaster. Have you tried a waterford, that can help stop the grabbing, I like doubles myself so I can use the snaffle but have the curb for the times I need it.
An exercise that may help would be 4 x poles on a 20 metre circle, it really makes both horse and rider focus, he will need to raise his front end and listen to get round properly.
Lots of grid work with different distances, 4 or 5 strides between fences so you can keep him on an even stride, related distances on a turn can do the same job, canter poles so you ride him up to the fence letting the poles do the work for you.
A session with a really good trainer may be a real help, fine tuning from an experienced pair of eyes on the ground is always worthwhile when you are having confidence issues.
 
That is exactly it! I sort of just brace for the last few strides because he just grabs its so hard to relax and it doesn't matter what size fence I put up he'll do the same thing at a raised pole to a 1.30m spread.

If I let him go he will gallop flat out I tried that and it is absolutely terrifying hahaha. I think part of the problem is he has been on loan for 2 years and the girl loaning him was excellent with him but never really did grids, which is what I did every time I jumped to keep him steady and it really worked. He really picked up a habit of charging then as I think she was a bit nervous on him, which I do not blame her at all!
I've been doing absolutely loads of grid work since then though and it does really help, the circle is a great idea I'll try that. I always start out doing canter poles but we end up tripping up so I bottle it haha.

I think we have tried a waterford at some point I think I find it so difficult as seems to pull down from his forehead if you know what I mean, not the mouth, he just sort of curls up and goes its more of a battle against his neck. Have jumped him in a double but he becomes immune to it after a while and does the same thing. This fancy bit seems to be the best thing for us atm.

I am absolutely desperate for a good lesson but he's just had 3 weeks off with mystery lameness so will wait for the new year. Thanks :)
 
I definitely wouldn't recommend a stronger bit. He's very overbent (has he been cranked in with some form of gadget by someone?) so is evading it. I prefer a leaner to an overbender with horses who are evading the bit. He feels very strong because he's flat and on his forehand.

He needs to go back to basics and be encouraged to stretch his neck, a harsh bit is not going to help him do that, I don't think.
 
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