Jumping transitions help please

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Quartz

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OK everyone, I would be sooo grateful of some tips to cure this fault of mine please. I have been working so hard with my horse to get him to listein to me in transitions etc mainly for jumping. He is very strong and gets over excited and charges all over the place when jumping. My dressage has come alongleaps and bounds, so chuffed with that. Have done loads and loads of canter and trotting poles, with transitions, because even then in canter he would charge off. It was all going perfectly so had high hopes for jumping yesterday.

The lesson consisted of two jumps in a row. Before the first jump a cone where I had to halt, then trot over the jump, a second cone between the two jumps where I had to stop then trot second jump and stop at 3rd cone. Simple. No he did not want to stop, so instructor acutally stood in front of second jump. Then he got the idea and stopped each time, great. But always after the second jump he would canter off head down bum up. I would then just head straight tillhe stopped at the barrier.

Once we got this ok, we did canter, trot at cone, jump trot at cone, jump stop. First transition always fine, first jump ok, second he always takes off.

I know it must be something I'm doing with my transitions as he is very sensitive. So please could you give me some tips on transitions, my bum muscles tense up for example, my hands are they too tight on the reins, I have my shoulders back and heels down, but how soon before I ask for the halt should this be. And why do you think always the next jump sends him nuts, am I maybe still pulling too much, are there tips on things to repeat to myself that anyone uses, like little tricks etc.

I don't think it helped he was on his toes as the mare in the lesson was in season. But I really really want to nail this, so any suggestion please. Thanks
 
Bump

Uhh come on please someone must have something to say!! I have been doing the flatwork, pole work, ground work. Back, teeth, saddle etc fine.
 
i had a similar issue with my first horse - i changed from a snaffle to a gag and it made very little difference.
i used to circle in front of the jump and i decided when we would jump it - eventually he got bored of circling and calmed down.
now i have the opposite problem - my canter isn't powerful enough :p
 
The fact that your schooling is doing well, is a good start, as without good schooling you'll have a lot less chance as getting your jumping sorted.
How is he when you do a course of jumps? The reason I ask this is maybe doing grid work, is just blowing his mind. He turns to the line of jumps and thinks "lets go for it". If you had a course (even just 3 or 4 jumps) means between each jump you can calm him down, and "pretend" your just schooling, and also set your self up for each jump.
 
blood_magik said:
i had a similar issue with my first horse - i changed from a snaffle to a gag and it made very little difference.
i used to circle in front of the jump and i decided when we would jump it - eventually he got bored of circling and calmed down.
now i have the opposite problem - my canter isn't powerful enough :p
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Thanks, have tried circles after the jump but not before. Will give it a go.
 
Lippyx said:
The fact that your schooling is doing well, is a good start, as without good schooling you'll have a lot less chance as getting your jumping sorted.
How is he when you do a course of jumps? The reason I ask this is maybe doing grid work, is just blowing his mind. He turns to the line of jumps and thinks "lets go for it". If you had a course (even just 3 or 4 jumps) means between each jump you can calm him down, and "pretend" your just schooling, and also set your self up for each jump.
Click to expand...

Hes just as bad, first jump is always ok but after that he just takes off. Mind you we tend to either do straight lines or very tight corners. Never something I can get the work in beforehand i.e. circling. What do you think of setting myself up a course of 3 or 4 set out in a way with enough space to circle as many times as needed before the jump.
 
i have a similar prob when jumping mine. Im trying to ge the canter more engaged so have been coming back to walk from canter after a fence then picking up canter from walk. Anyway the prob ive had is i cant get him back quick or direct enough, after looking at some vids ive worked out that im not sitting on by butt enough.
You will prob find that your being pulled forward over the fence, then on landing not getting yourself on your seat bones enough to get the the downward trans. You dont want to tense your butt but relax through the knee and into the saddle, get your shoulders open and think 'whoa'.
So much easier said than done! I'm still trying to crack it and some days are better than others, i have more trouble jumping than on the flat as you come out of the saddle over the fence so your already forward. grids will help get you in the saddle and dont think i have to halt by this point rather think i want halt but in the right way or he will learn to stop at points rather than listen to you asking for it.
Hope that helps :)
 
vam said:
i have a similar prob when jumping mine. Im trying to ge the canter more engaged so have been coming back to walk from canter after a fence then picking up canter from walk. Anyway the prob ive had is i cant get him back quick or direct enough, after looking at some vids ive worked out that im not sitting on by butt enough.
You will prob find that your being pulled forward over the fence, then on landing not getting yourself on your seat bones enough to get the the downward trans. You dont want to tense your butt but relax through the knee and into the saddle, get your shoulders open and think 'whoa'.
So much easier said than done! I'm still trying to crack it and some days are better than others, i have more trouble jumping than on the flat as you come out of the saddle over the fence so your already forward. grids will help get you in the saddle and dont think i have to halt by this point rather think i want halt but in the right way or he will learn to stop at points rather than listen to you asking for it.
Hope that helps :)
Click to expand...

Yeah good thanks will give it a go.
 
Quartz said:
Hes just as bad, first jump is always ok but after that he just takes off. Mind you we tend to either do straight lines or very tight corners. Never something I can get the work in beforehand i.e. circling. What do you think of setting myself up a course of 3 or 4 set out in a way with enough space to circle as many times as needed before the jump.
Click to expand...

If you have the space I would set up 4 jumps really far apart, and aftre each jump, school with circles and transitions and then when he is calm again head towards the next jump, but don't stop schooling as you approach. Almost like you reward him when he calms down. what tack is he ridden in... bit, martingale etc?
 
Lippyx said:
If you have the space I would set up 4 jumps really far apart, and aftre each jump, school with circles and transitions and then when he is calm again head towards the next jump, but don't stop schooling as you approach. Almost like you reward him when he calms down. what tack is he ridden in... bit, martingale etc?
Click to expand...

I've just changed bits to a kimblewick, but have not tried a martingale yet. I have just bought one so am going to try it out in the next couple of days. I wanted to try one new piece of tack at a time! The kimblewick has made a difference as before I had no control!!! Now I feel like with more work we will get there, its just so frustrating at times. Am going to try out the jumps and circles. Thanks
 
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