Knocking down small uprights - help needed

[Supanova]

I have had my 7 year old mare for a year now and she has progressed nicely from jumping very green and babyish over Brit Novice to jumping Disc and 1.05m competently. However in the last few months I always seem to have either 4 faults in the first round or clear and 4 in JO. I have noticed that 99% of the time she has the small uprights with her front feet. I thought it might be best to put her over a bigger height which might make her respect them a bit more so this weekend we did our first Newcomers. Did the Disco first and she had a clear and 4 (upright, front feet). Then went into the Newcomers and she jumped a super round and flew the big oxers but yes had 4 faults at the smallest upright on the course with her front feet....!

Does anyone have any tips how I can ride these fences to make her respect them a bit more? Or any exercises I can do at home? She have got loads of scope and I would say she is very careful with her back end and front end (although a little bit dangly) most of the time but these smallish uprights are becoming a bit of a problem!! Thanks

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

Gadget used to do this when he first started - if he was to have a fence he would always have an upright infront !!

it was just his greenness to be honest and the more he did the better he improved !!

Practise at home with a pole 2 strides out (11 human paces) canter over the pole then you have exactly 2 strides over the fence horse should be placed perfectly and jump correctly

 

[Elle1085]

You could always try putting v poles on a jump at home. They make the horse back off the fence more and give the fence more respect with their front feet.

 

[Supanova]

Stacey you have just made my day by saying Gadget used to do it!! I have been a bit worried that despite her scope she is not going to be quite careful enough but looking at Gadget now you would never have thought he used to do it! I also don't think she is fundamentally careless as if she hits a fence she normally has a bit of a buck afterwards as she doesn't like it. If she turns into half the horse that Gadget is then I will be over the moon!

Thanks for the exercise too, I will def try that!

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

[ QUOTE ]
Stacey you have just made my day by saying Gadget used to do it!! I have been a bit worried that despite her scope she is not going to be quite careful enough but looking at Gadget now you would never have thought he used to do it! I also don't think she is fundamentally careless as if she hits a fence she normally has a bit of a buck afterwards as she doesn't like it. If she turns into half the horse that Gadget is then I will be over the moon!

Thanks for the exercise too, I will def try that!

[/ QUOTE ]

ha ha yea dont worry she will be fine !! he used to fly oxer but yes would find uprights hard and was never sure h ow exactly to jump them !

as they say practise makes perfect x

 

[Supanova]

Thanks Elle. I had heard V poles were good for improving the front end so good to hear from you that it is a useful exercise. I will try that this week too.

 

[daisycrazy]

I suggest cantering over poles on the floor keeping the quality of the canter and getting a good stride, then ride small uprights the same way.