Jumping!

[MummyEms]

Jumping is quite a nerve wracking thing for my little girl. The pony is very experienced and very good and helps her out constantly. However today she found her brave pants and was jumping a little bit bigger than ever before (she's 8, her saintly pony is 18 and 13hh) and I noticed she's getting left behind over the fences quite often.
The pony is very experienced, he's done 1.10bs, but she (my little girl) hasn't really done bigger jumping yet. She's been riding since birth and been in pony club since age 4. However this year's been a bit of a pony club write off due to Covid of course!!

Anyone offer any help or ideas to help her? It can't be nice for her lovely pony. She totally adores him and will do whatever she can to sort this.

 

[Kizzy2004]

Canter poles could help so she learns to feel the canter stride. Set them 6 strides apart and get her to count the strides (pony may put 7 or 8 strides in a standard horse 6 strides). You could then either get her to extend or shorten the canter to get more or less strides between the poles or you could also get her to count out the last 3 strides once you’ve got a consistent number of strides between the poles.

Grid work would also help. You could start with poles coming in then a small jump at the end and either build up the jump or add jumps into the grid. I normally set up 1 stride between the first 2 fences and the final fence on 2 stride. You will probably need to shorten the distances for the pony (my 13.2 pony will normally put 2 strides in a 1 horse stride combination and 3 in a 2 stride). The rhythm of the grid will help her feel when the pony will take off and once she feels confident of the take off point you can build the jumps up.

You could also put a canter pole in front of a single jump to help her understand where the pony is going to take off from, once she gets confident with the pole and the take off point you can take the pole away.

 

[SmallSteps]

Don’t sweat it. If that’s the first time she’s jumped bigger it’s natural to be a bit left behind. Combination of not being used to the feel & timing of a bigger jump and lack of confidence (either due to waiting to see if the pony stops or worrying that she might do it wrong). Next time she‘ll be a little better, and a little better the time after that. In the mean time a hand on the martingale does wonders for keeping you with the horse

 

[MummyEms]

Thanks so much. That's so encouraging ?

 

[MummyEms]

Tried to upload pics for you but it's soon they're too large?

 

[MummyEms]

Saying

 

[QueenT]

Balance practice, e.g canter circles standing in the stirrups, allow to grab the mane or hold a strap. This will practice to follow the pony, move weight a little forward and get a good spring in knees and ankles - then on to canter poles and cavaletti as others have suggested. When she gains a little confidence, she move on superfast!

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I find grids really helpful for concentrating on position over fences as the grid does the hard work in terms of straightness, rhythm etc for you. You just point and concentrate on yourself. Can start it small or with mostly poles on the ground and gradually build it up and only add fences/height when she nails the position each time.

 

[OscarNorton]

Canter poles could help so she learns to feel the canter stride. Set them 6 strides apart and get her to count the strides (pony may put 7 or 8 strides in a standard horse 6 strides). You could then either get her to extend or shorten the canter to get more or less strides between the poles or you could also get her to count out the last 3 strides once you’ve got a consistent number of strides between the poles. Read more

Grid work would also help. You could start with poles coming in then a small jump at the end and either build up the jump or add jumps into the grid. I normally set up 1 stride between the first 2 fences and the final fence on 2 stride. You will probably need to shorten the distances for the pony (my 13.2 pony will normally put 2 strides in a 1 horse stride combination and 3 in a 2 stride). The rhythm of the grid will help her feel when the pony will take off and once she feels confident of the take off point you can build the jumps up.

You could also put a canter pole in front of a single jump to help her understand where the pony is going to take off from, once she gets confident with the pole and the take off point you can take the pole away.

Effective and interesting post for reading

 

[paddi22]

when we were kids in lessons from a tiny age we always used to jump little grids or lines of calvetti and then do it with no stirrups and reins. I'd take off any pressure to jump bigger until she has the balance and confidence down. you see too many kids with awful positions getting thrown around and unbalanced around courses they aren't at a level to do. it's more beneficial to get the stability and the confidence at the start.

if they have an urge to jump 'bigger' fences then the best way to introduce bigger jumps is as the last one at the end of a grid and they meet it at the right stride. that way you can do the 'oh look that was a big one, well done'! but they are still doing it correctly and you can work on position. that sounds great she's a good pony, she will be flying with her once they click!

 

[becca_22]

As a teenager I got left behind a lot (a bit embarrasing because I'm now an instructor!) but for me, and a fair few of the riders I've taught who had the same problem, it was a balance thing. Most have benefited a lot from various combinations of shortening the stirrups a few holes, concentrating on keeping the heels down to ensure it doesn't slip back when jumping, suppling exercises for the hips (because tight hips often = gripping with knees = legs sliding around), and pushing the hands towards the ears (this was a very big one for me because I used to keep my hands down, and they would get in my way and stop me folding properly). You might have done all of these things already, but these are just my go-to when I'm teaching jump position. Confidence definitely helps, and that comes with time, practice and "feeling safe" when jumping i.e. if you feel stable over the fence. Mixed opinions on the next bit, but if the pony is reliable and you're 99% sure they won't stop or run-out, having her start to go into her jump position 3 or 4 strides out can help. It gives the rider more time to get into their jump position, so they're ready by the time they get to the fence, and it's not so rushed and stressful. Obviously, if the pony is at all likely to do anything weird (big leaps, run out, stop, rush/back off etc.) then it would be counter productive. Also, remind her to breathe - it's easily forgotten but makes you brace/tense and freeze, and then you're unlikely to do anything but get left behind! This is all just generic stuff, but the best I can do without seeing what's happening.