Jellymoon
Well-Known Member
A musing really and I will be discussing with my trainer next time I’m over there, but just wondering what people’s thoughts are about teaching/encouraging horses to change their legs during a jumping round?
Past horses have naturally done it themselves once they get established and know their job, so I’ve not overly worried about it. If they get on the wrong leg during training, I will trot to change it, but if it’s during a competition, I just crack on so as not to get out of rhythm, and then they’ve eventually sort of just worked it out themselves.
However, these were the more warm blood types I had in the past, bred for jumping, and I think I’ve just been lucky. My current fully irish chap is not really offering to do it of his own accord!
He’s still young though and big, so maybe I shouldn’t worry to much about it yet, it might come…or would you guys be trying to teach him? He’s quite sensitive and easily upset, have only just stopped him from rushing his jumps, so whatever I do, needs to be subtle so he doesn’t notice !! Perhaps some poles placed strategically…
Past horses have naturally done it themselves once they get established and know their job, so I’ve not overly worried about it. If they get on the wrong leg during training, I will trot to change it, but if it’s during a competition, I just crack on so as not to get out of rhythm, and then they’ve eventually sort of just worked it out themselves.
However, these were the more warm blood types I had in the past, bred for jumping, and I think I’ve just been lucky. My current fully irish chap is not really offering to do it of his own accord!
He’s still young though and big, so maybe I shouldn’t worry to much about it yet, it might come…or would you guys be trying to teach him? He’s quite sensitive and easily upset, have only just stopped him from rushing his jumps, so whatever I do, needs to be subtle so he doesn’t notice !! Perhaps some poles placed strategically…
