More forward when jumping?

Lauren_abigail

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Hi all,

I seem to be stuck with jumping my boy.

He jumps great at home, very forward and really takes you into the jumps.

However when out and doing a course, he is either too behind my leg or 100mph and out of control! We seem to have cracked the 100mph issue and have now gone backwards!

Now he has only really been out competing in the last 6 months or so, so I'm sure it's partly a confidence issue.

Does anyone have any ideas or exercises on how I can get him to be more forward and 'taking' me into jumps?
 
It sounds like he's a bit unsure of himself if he is forward when at home. My horse is the opposite - makes you think she couldn't jump over 90cm at home, then away from home she could jump 1.20s, she just loves her job!

Is he backing off the fences or is he just behind your leg the entire time? Sometimes if my mare needs a little waking up I'll give her a tap or two on the shoulder with the stick as we go into the arena to wake her up!

In the warm up, I do lots of forward and back within canter to wake her up - so collect the short side, then get off her back and lengthen down the long side. Gets her off my leg. Any kind of transitions will help with this - I'd practice them at home too so that she doesn't get a shock at shows - walk to canter, canter to walk too - this will make her responsive to your leg. Also, ensure you're in a light seat between fences as this helps too. I also find straightening her will help with the power as when she's crooked she gets a bit flat.
 
It's a bit of both to be honest, he backs off a bit and then falls a bit behind my leg between fences.

I'm wondering if I'm riding him differently when I'm out as I'm a bit nervy of him turning into the 100mph horse?!

Interestingly, I don't particularly mind him going flat out (ish) when we go xc, and I tend to warm up doing a lot of the above that you suggested and he really takes me into the fences then.

Food for thought anyway! I shall try your suggestions next week when I go sj :)
 
Perhaps just concentrate on getting a really good forward first jump , the rest of the round should flow from there. Set the rythmn before you start and make sure that it is really positive, if it isn't do another circle you will have 45 seconds before you have to start. Make sure that your flat work is good enough to maintain impulsion throughout the course, impulsion will drop off on turns if the horse is at all unbalanced. Sometimes we put the jumps where we want them at home and find other people's courses harder. Think back and see if it is a turn a particular way or if the horse is actually trying to chip because he isn't going forward enough to hit the strides the course builder has set. Rushing and backing off are both symptoms that the horse is not confident with the striding pattern on the course, so make sure you use a tape at home and set the correct distances for practice. Work on twelve foot strides for a horse or ten for a pony. It would also help if you can find a show jumping instructor that can help you with the technicalities.
 
Just make sure too that you're not confusing speed with power - you don't need to be going flat out to jump a nice clear round. You should focus on getting the power from behind (using those transitions between and within the pace) and you won't need to go flat out to make the fences. You're more likely to knock if you're going fast.

Gridwork with placing poles can help too, or even just placing poles in front and after fences, as it forces you and the horse to make the distance, training you to keep the pace (and power) prior to and after the jump.
 
Agree with the confusing Power and Speed, that's a very common issue! The horse should be round and 'bouncy' underneath you rather than long and 'forwards' Placing poles and gridwork is the best for this x
 
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