jumping lesson(s) report *video* please cc

[Maddie2412]

So this weekend and last one too Ive had jumping lessons with my fairly new instructor. I've had Suls for 2 months now after first month we had a complete fail when we attempted an ambitious 2'3 course. At 17 Sully came to us having done nothing other than scare his old owner witless doing some light hacking having finished a rather inglorious sprinting career at about 4... Anyway he does jup better over big fence but at the moment we are working on just jumping out of a rhythm and respecting the small ones...
Please cc but be gentle i know im not the stillest rider and am still learning!! I also think i may have fractured my foot as it is *ahem* SUPER HUGE and got 2 rather nast black lines on the top and bottom so excuse leg movement in the second part of the vid...!

thank you anyways tea and humous on pitta is all i can offer sorry!!
http://www.youtube.com/user/lydiaandsully#p/u/0/ARhJI8EGPOY

 

[Maddie2412]

Im sorry didnt realise the quality was so bad please try and bear with!!

 

[Rouletterose]

mmmmm....when he's in trot he looks lame in front.

 

[Aleka81]

Hmm. Agree with the above poster re him being lame. I don't want to be harsh but your lower leg looks just as bad in the first part of the video. Do you have an instructor?
I personally don't believe your methods of schooling him will help him in his current state.
Also I would try being lighter on his back throughout your riding but particulalry in your transitions.
He looks a nice chap and I'm sure you love him but I would get some expert advice before doing much more with him.
Good luck though.x

 

[Allover]

on what leg would you say he is lame on then ladies?

I thought that you ride him very symapathetically, i would say that you need to lighten up more in your seat and try not to sit too deep in the saddle, TBs in my experience jump much better from a light seat as opposed to a good deep seat for WB/colder types. I think his rhythm to fences is getting much better and he makes a decent shape when he jumps them well. You have to remember to keep riding them forwards, at the show it seemed like he did not have enough back up from you to get him over the fences so you need to raise your confidence in him. I would get a good therapist for him, to see if there are any issues body wise, i see you have a sheepskin headpiece protection on, has he has issues there?

 

[Maddie2412]

thank you guys I see what you mean definitely will work on sitting lighter (only reason i dont go to light as he seems to just become more tense and springy think its his racey thing but def needs work

head piece is because he really tenses up with any poll pressure and hates it, just makes him freak so it happier with a hairband!

had a chiropractor out 2 weeks ago and had a sports therapy massage too but couldnt find anything must say havent noticed the lameness myself which leg, definitely keen to investigate. Thank you!!

 

[Maddie2412]

Hmm. Agree with the above poster re him being lame. I don't want to be harsh but your lower leg looks just as bad in the first part of the video. Do you have an instructor?
I personally don't believe your methods of schooling him will help him in his current state.

thanks yeah i know its my massive floor just working on it... yes having help weekly with an instructor as i know its important to have help and hes coming with me for work experience on a top eventers yard to work on basics. Havent really been schooling him but what do you mean in terms of methods? would be useful to know so i can work on it thank you

 

[Firewell]

Maybe I watched a different vid but I think you are doing a great job with a 17yr old ex-racer that hasn't done anything that you have only had 2 months!
I don't think he's lame, I think in the early vids he looked very stiff, unbalanced and inconsistent in the contact which is hardly surprising considering!
Well done you for taking on a horse that no-one else probably would have and I hope he rewards your effort and gives you some fun times.
I don't think getting a decent osteo or somebody like that out to look at his back would be a bad thing and your stirrups look a bit long jumping so having them up a couple holes may help your leg position but I think your doing a good job! Your nice and quiet and you don't interfere with your hands when you jump him. Well done

 

[Maddie2412]

Maybe I watched a different vid but I think you are doing a great job with a 17yr old ex-racer that hasn't done anything that you have only had 2 months!
I don't think he's lame, I think in the early vids he looked very stiff, unbalanced and inconsistent in the contact which is hardly surprising considering!
Well done you for taking on a horse that no-one else probably would have and I hope he rewards your effort and gives you some fun times.
I don't think getting a decent osteo or somebody like that out to look at his back would be a bad thing and your stirrups look a bit long jumping so having them up a couple holes may help your leg position but I think your doing a good job! Your nice and quiet and you don't interfere with your hands when you jump him. Well done

thank you thats really sweet! I do need to work on it and your right i should def put my stirrups up will try that! He tends to stiffen up because he gets quite tense when we put jumps out but we are working on it not being a big thing... but thank you!!

 

[gabanna]

Maybe I watched a different vid but I think you are doing a great job with a 17yr old ex-racer that hasn't done anything that you have only had 2 months!
I don't think he's lame, I think in the early vids he looked very stiff, unbalanced and inconsistent in the contact which is hardly surprising considering!
Well done you for taking on a horse that no-one else probably would have and I hope he rewards your effort and gives you some fun times.
I don't think getting a decent osteo or somebody like that out to look at his back would be a bad thing and your stirrups look a bit long jumping so having them up a couple holes may help your leg position but I think your doing a good job! Your nice and quiet and you don't interfere with your hands when you jump him. Well done

^ ^ ^this^^^^
you could also try shortening your stirrups and cantering in a light (2 point) seat, then softly sitting up for a few strides, then light seat again, and keep alternating between the two until he stays in the same rythm. it is also a great exercise for strengthening your lower leg position. stick with it, and good luck with him.

 

[Leg_end]

I can't add anything that the previous two posters haven't said. He looks v sweet and with bait of work I'm sure you'll be going great guns

 

[Maddie2412]

thanks guys he was a bit of an accident purchase but ive really fallen in love with him will just take time! will get to work on the 2 point and shorter stirrups thank you!! xx

 

[willtowin]

What a sweetie! I don't think he looked lame at all - just a little stiff which is what you see in all older horses - perfectly normal! Try shortening your stirrups a little possibly, will make it easier to have a lighter seat by putting more weight down through your lower leg. Though with a broken foot maybe not the best of ideas!

 

[soulfull]

Nice pony! and your doing pretty good so far

I'm going to be in the middle of other posters

I can see why others thought he 'may be' lame in trot because his head is nodding as you expect in a lame horse. so to make sure trot him up on hard ground and make sure he doesn't nod his head

Too be honest you need to find an instructor that will help you with your position not just telling you when to put more leg on etc

In some of the videos your shoulders are too far back and your lower leg too far forward, this will have the effect of sending him forward but not in a good way.

Try this...I learn't his after riding years and years and no one ever saying it too me, it made a massive difference to both my seat and how well my horse goes. I can't tell you how much safer in the saddle I feel too

shorten your stirrups 2/3 holes, sit up tall, wriggle a little so you can feel your seat bones,
turn you heals out allowing leg to turn in (this will turn your thighs and knees in) and bring your leg back so that the ankle bone is under your hip bone (use a whip to make sure it is right) don't sit up so tall that you lose your contact with the seat bones

You need to try it a few times before you will know if it will work for you, it is quite hard at first but within 2/3 time of riding like this you will feel great

To keep this position in rising trot, as you rise turn your heals out/thighs in again, you will have to do it every time you rise for a while

Also 'hold the saddle' with your thigh (not knee)(imagine holding a football in between the front of your thighs all the time) he may slow down at first, that's good, keep holding send him forward and praise him

good luck and keep it up

 

[Rouletterose]

on what leg would you say he is lame on then ladies?

I thought that you ride him very symapathetically, i would say that you need to lighten up more in your seat and try not to sit too deep in the saddle, TBs in my experience jump much better from a light seat as opposed to a good deep seat for WB/colder types. I think his rhythm to fences is getting much better and he makes a decent shape when he jumps them well. You have to remember to keep riding them forwards, at the show it seemed like he did not have enough back up from you to get him over the fences so you need to raise your confidence in him. I would get a good therapist for him, to see if there are any issues body wise, i see you have a sheepskin headpiece protection on, has he has issues there?

In answer to your question, he looks lame on his off fore, but....he is also not right behind, he's bunny hopping in canter and often goes disunited. The OP asked for cc and I said what I saw regarding the horses way of going, not much point commenting on anything else until the horses soundness issues have been sorted out.
OP good luck with him.

 

[PapaFrita]

I think you look loads more relaxed and generally softer in the later vid. Agree you could try lightening your seat a bit; sharp horses generally seem to prefer this. Also you occasionally anticipate the jump and get ahead of the action and this is a recipe for a quick ejection out the front door if he stops
I don't think he's lame, I think he's tense at first as a response to your riding, but you're doing well

 

[Maddie2412]

thank you everyone I do appreciate all the cc and cant wait to try all the tips out, i know we still have a long way to go I genuinely cant find anything lameness wise trots up sound saddle fits chiro been out sport massage therapist out and our vet has checked him out and all think it is typical very slight stiffness so fingers crossed they are right. Will be back soon for you guys!!