Lossing impulsion on line of approach - tips please?

sandi_84

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So my neice was struggling jumping my lad today so I got on and tried, basically you get him going with a nice pace and impulsion and then a stride or two out it's like he just looses the impulsion, slows right down and then goes over the jump with as little effort as it takes to get himself over.

She started out with trasitions, circles, changes of rein etc so he was warmed up nicely.
Then she did some trotting poles and single canter poles (on the outside track) before the jump.

She started with a crosspole in trot and I had to put it up a couple of times because they were so little he was just treating them like trotting poles. When I gave her a slightly bigger crosspole and he did jump it but he didn't really make much effort at it :o

When she tried the crosspole in canter and then an upright about a foot high he did jump it but in the way described in the first paragraph.
I'm not over facing him as although he's not as fit as he was he is fit enough for the little jumping today and has previously jumped up to 3'9" so I know he can do it :o

Do you think canter poles on the line of approach might help keep him in a steady impulsive rhythm?
Lots of leg on and a smack with the whip didn't really have a massive effect and I just felt like I was working way harder than he was :o
He's sound and in good health generally, he's now in a bareback saddlepad which he goes in well so it's not a saddle problem ;)

Also (as an indication that he can and will do it ;)) whenever we pop our favourite log on hacks he goes over it with lots of impulsion and really works at it so it's not like he can't do it he just seems to go a bit blah in the school.
I don't think it's boredom as we haven't schooled or jumped a lot in the past few weeks tbh, it's been mostly hacking and popping the occasional log out.

Thoughts and advice on getting him more off the leg and cantering with impulsion gratefully received :) Sorry for the essay ^ :o
 
half halt 3 stride out to collect him up as he may be getting strung out as hes coming up to the jump. really drive him forward with your seat pushing him into the bridle getting his hocks right underneath him and keep him together until the last stride when you allow him to take a bigger stride so he can pull his hind legs under him and pop over the jump. put 1 ground pole out on the second stride out from the jump and make sure your pushing him to the pole like you are the jump :)

hope that's a bit helpful at least :) im sure other people will have different ideas :)
 
Sit deeper in the saddle and keep your leg on,

I was trying this but it wasn't making any odds :cool:

half halt 3 stride out to collect him up as he may be getting strung out as hes coming up to the jump. really drive him forward with your seat pushing him into the bridle getting his hocks right underneath him and keep him together until the last stride when you allow him to take a bigger stride so he can pull his hind legs under him and pop over the jump. put 1 ground pole out on the second stride out from the jump and make sure your pushing him to the pole like you are the jump :)

hope that's a bit helpful at least :) im sure other people will have different ideas :)

Cool thank you, I'll give it a try. I never thought to half halt before pushing him on :)
 
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