Jumping

Roasted Chestnuts

Roasted Chestnuts

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Hi folks. I am pretty new on this forum and a I know a few people on this forum. From what I have seen it doesnt seem as bitchy as some forums I have been on.

Now I will give a little bit of backround if I may, I have a 15.2hh Welsh D X called Kiarone. We enjoy most things such as rideouts, showing havking and now jumping (hopefully) Kia has done BSJA and can happily manage up to 4ft.

I have done a bit of eventing and SJ and showing but over the past few years Kia and I have had problems with jumping. My last horse you had to stop from barreling into the fences but she would jump anything you put in front of her. Kia on the other hand needs not ridden into a fence but you cant have a second thought or stop thinking about it or he oputs in a dirty stop. Now by dirty I mean last minute stop and spin or lifting the front legs then stopping.
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This gave me a few sore ones might I add and my confidence went down the pan with him. I will happily jump other horses (have done for friends and people who asked me if I wnted a shot) and not had a problem.

Anyway that enough backround. We have recently started to pick up again by starting back at little jumps and working for consistency and now we are starting to go higher as I have stopped his rushing issues and got a bit of confidence up again as he has stopped banging on the brakes through me actually riding him the way he needs ridden if that makes sense.

Well here are a few pics and vids I know my toes point out and that I am standing in my stirrups rather than folding some friends have already given me critique that I am going to work on and thr longer stirrups are a safety factor that will be getting hiked up shortly as well lol.
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We do trot into the smaller ones as it is easier to get him into a rythm as he can rush right into the bottom of a fence as well.

Back in may
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7ffYRWNtXo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XODhASKrCQ4

July (i was doing more rideouts than jumping in june
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)
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I got left behind as well
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More int he next post
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Nikki xxx
 
umm, i wont critique you too much other than in a couple of pics you looked like you were hanging onto his mouth a little bit? perhaps due to nerves?

I think grids for you!!

grids are great because once your inside them the striding is all worked out for you and you can concentrate on your position without having to worry. They will help your horse concentrate too, he will have the correct place to take off laid out for him and it will help him to stop rushing.

Grids are so great for building up confidence and will really work on your technique. I would start out with 3 poles on the ground 7 human big walk strides apart, canter over them and check that your horse is putting a 1 comfortable stride between each, if hes not adjust them so he is.

Once you can canter over them perfectly put the last one as a tiny cross pole, do that untill its perfect and then add the others one at a time until there is 3.

When hes jumping through the grid, concentrate on sitting up in the middle and folding over the fences, giving with your hands but not losing the contact, make sure your elbows are bending when you jump and that you keep your heels down, put your stirrups up
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your pony will be less likely to stop in the middle of a grid as well as he has the flow of impulsion keeping him going, just keep your leg on him.

Practice doing one stride grids like above, then you can experiment.. you can add a bounce (3 human strides) or add two strides in between (11 human strides). keep them as poles first though to make sure your distances are correct. when you get more confident you can put the last element up higher.
Ive jumped 1m20 at the end of a grid but would b v scared doing that as a single jump!
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Thanks for that.

I have a terrible habit of throwing the reins at him as I dont want to gob him. He opens his mouth all the time and sticks his tongue out as well (no real reason as to why he does it) so a few of the pics actually look like I am gobbing him
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I do have light hands but I am trying not to throw the reins at him and I have my hands higher as if I keep them low it does tend to make me drop him in front of the fence to which I get the immediate response of chucked off
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The grid work sounds good. I am trying to get canter rhythm as well by cantering round in a circle over two crosspoles and I was thinking of building it up to four.

My school/grasspatch is really only big enough for a 1 stride btween three jumps or a two stride between a double but I have a flattish fields that I can use if need be.

So canter poles then jump at the end then two jumps the three jumps? Would that be all in the same session or would I be better building that up over two/three??? I try to only jump him once/twice per week.

Nikki xxxx
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You dont say how long you've had him for, or how old he is. He may have jumped 4', but if this was 6yrs ago, it'll be irrelevant now. Also have you had his saddle checked, the napping you're describing could be due to a saddle which doesn't fit as you're riding/jumping him. Get a proper instructor to help you out & then get a saddler to come over & see him jumping.
 
I'd say you are doing really well with your confidence! It is great to see you tackling some bigger jumps. I bet some grid work would improve you both even further - it has given me a lot more confidence and settled my horse down when jumping as he realises there is no point in rushing!
It also helps me to concentrate on my position.
Good luck and carry on building on things you have achieved slowly so you don't take many backward steps.
Oh and welcome to the forum!
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Had him 4 years. Saddle is fine was checked 2months ago. No RIS really round my way that I can afford and not many come to you as I dont have a proper school only a grassy bit with a fence round it.

Was doing 4ft about 3 years ago before we lost confidence. saddle was fitted when we got it and can be adapted to change his shape with the different season which my saddler friend does for me.

Also saving up for a smarter saddle which will be fitted as well. The back riser which you can see is becasue he is slightly swaybacked which has been checked out by osteos masseurs and back men. He does stretches and line work to keep his back supple and pain free
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Thanks for the advice nicki68 much appreciated. I believe we will get there eventually. he is 16yrs old and knows all the tricks. we did a bit of grid work tonight but he was rushing through it to begin with but we got a nice rhythm in the end jumps were only bout 1.5ft tho but hey little to start with lol

Nikki xxx
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