Murphy's JAS round becomes a lesson in stirrup safety!!

[lex2501]

On Saturday afternoon, Murphy and I headed over to Merrist Wood to have a crack at the Novice JAS. Being a very spooky horse who is not great over coloured poles I was not expecting to set the world alight, but thought it would be a useful day out to get him round an up to height track before our season starts at Tweseldown in a couple of weeks.

I had jumped with my instructor the day before, and Murphy had been very stuffy, so when I walked the course I was a little horrified that the first fence was a very big square oxer! Poor Murphy is a real worry-wart and the more tense he gets, the more rigid the body and the quicker he wants to get the legs back down to planet earth when jumping. The rest of the course looked very jumpable, and I thought the XC section looked great fun.

With the large square oxer at number 1 in my mind, I went into the warm up knowing that I had to get Murphy feeling bold and brave, and perhaps even over-cook him to allow him the inevitable "shrinking back" that happens in the ring. To my horror, Murphy was absolutely horrendous. Totally incapable of standing off and stuck little strides in all over the place. If I upped the gear, it worried him more so that wasn't working. Luckily I had factored in enough time, so I took him away, hacked him around the lorry park, put him back on the lorry for 5 mins and then went out again. The second time round the lovely and fantastic Star commandeered the oxer for me in the warm up, and I only jumped that and rather "cross countried" him at it and he finally starting to stand off and be bold - phew! and massive thank you Star

So in we went and to my relief had a good shot to the first fence and he jumped it well

We came round the corner to an upright at 2, had a good stride but he was very casual behind and took it down. He bucked up his ideas at 3, and then jumped the tricky line at 4,5 and 6 well. I added a stride in each distance knowing he would be happier that way and it worked well for us. I landed after 6 and felt like I had lost a stirrup, tried and failed to get my pedal back so looked down to see that my "safety" stirrup iron had snapped at the hinge!! Whilst trying to put my foot back in I had clamped my leg on my poor horse who then went into "running" mode and chipped in a yuk stride to the next upright and we had it down. I was then heading for the first cross country fence so kept on trucking, we got deep again but he was very careful and popped us over. At that point I pulled him up, stuck my hand up and retired. There was no way I was going to continue a style class with one pedal!! Partly because I know we would be slaughtered in the style marks, but mainly because I didn't want to upset Murphy.

Here is the video (huge thanks to Michael Rogers for filming )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMJvL0SFRdM&feature=youtu.be


Pro Pics here - http://www.ultimate-images.co.uk/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=15786#image=606352

Overall I was pretty pleased with how Murphy coped with the first half of the course having been so unhappy in the warm up. I am also really gutted that we didn't get a chance to do the cross country section as that is where he would have really excelled himself. It is very interesting watching the video to see how his back end becomes so tight with tension. I would be interested to hear if anyone has ever had a similar problem, and has any warm up / management / relaxing tips to try and make him shed his woosy-pants?!?!

But for me, the most important part of the day was a serious lesson in stirrup safety! I never even imagined that my iron would snap, but thank god it happened in a safe-ish environment rather than whilst we were half way round a cross country course.

I want to be clear that they are not Sprenger irons. In fact I have no idea of the brand as I picked them up at a tradestand at an event, which with hindsight was rather stupid. Please please everyone, check your irons! So now I am on a mission to find the safest irons on the market. Kerrili has suggested Sprengers. Any other suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks for reading

 

[SpottedCat]

What a nightmare for you! But well done for staying calm. It's interesting that he goes disunited in a couple of places - which not very surprisingly then leads to him taking fences behind - does he do this in lessons as well, or only at comps?

I am supremely envious of how rhythmical you always are to a fence, and how you resist the urge to chase!

 

[lex2501]

What a nightmare for you! But well done for staying calm. It's interesting that he goes disunited in a couple of places - which not very surprisingly then leads to him taking fences behind - does he do this in lessons as well, or only at comps?

I am supremely envious of how rhythmical you always are to a fence, and how you resist the urge to chase!

I had planned to mention that in my report but totally forgot! He does it a lot when jumping - but much much more in competition environment so another sign of the tension! When I first got him I used to get tons of time penalties in the show jumping as I used to try and correct it the whole time, but he just bounces on the spot and gets upset that I am trying to apply the brakes! Annoyingly he never does it on the flat so I am a bit stuck about how to fix it. I spoke at length with his previous owner about it and she said that all his previous riders (Andrew Nicholson, Lucy Wiergersma and Daniel Sibley!) had all just ignored it and ridden forwards through it. I find that I am rather half-hearted when he does it, as I find myself torn between correcting and riding forwards - so I do neither!

Thank you so much for your lovely comment about the rhythm to the fence. I have had such a confidence crisis recently so I can't tell you how nice that is to hear!!

p.s. bloody love super-lola!! want to see her in the flesh

 

[SpottedCat]

I wonder if pole work would help that? Or maybe spending some time working on a cue which 'corrects' him without it being a big deal? It's almost like his changes aren't established enough?

It's just a thought, and far be it from me to suggest something which the pros couldn't fix, can be fixed, but in a lesson, if he lands disunited, have you tried cantering a circle until he corrects then continuing with the course? So you aren't coming back to trot to change it (thus upsetting him further), and you keep the flow because as soon as he changes you carry on with the course, but just giving him the idea that we don't proceed when disunited?

I think you may have a wait to see super-lola out at proper parties - don't even know if it will be this year!

 

[Swirlymurphy]

My daughter's non-Sprenger stirrup broke while she was going XC at Tweseldown. Having also bought them from a tradestand on impulse the previous season, I had done no research into them. I then did a quick bit of googling etc - I think it may have been on here - that there have been no recorded incidents of this happening with the Sprenger ones. So we've gone and bought some of those instead. I have to say though that we religiously check the joints at least once a week as I'm paranoid.

 

[TheMule]

If he has always landed both back feet together and then going disunited then I guess it's not so worrying, but this would normally indicate to me some pain behind.
Shame the stirrup broke, not good that there was such a weakness there

 

[Ali16]

You guys always look so calm and serene! Your rhythm was really lovely & he did jump so well, especially as you had been panicking in the warm up.

Morris is a very tense, stressy horse, especially when SJing, and while he's not particularly spooky, he does hold all his tension in his neck and back. Our warm up consists of being positively forwards to a few fences (two crosses, a couple of uprights at varying heights, a couple of big oxers & one more upright) then just do lots of lateral work to loosen his neck and back before going in. Morris' jumping technique is not very orthodox though & Murphy is 100% more stylish than him

Re the disunited-ness, I spoke to a SJer (Olympian) about being it & he said he generally just kicks on & ignores it.

I'm about to write a little email to BE about the fact that people were practicing a bounce in the warm up & the oxer was turned into a 1.30m upright for one person.

You did so well keeping calm. Bring on proper eventing xxx

 

[lex2501]

I wonder if pole work would help that? Or maybe spending some time working on a cue which 'corrects' him without it being a big deal? It's almost like his changes aren't established enough?

It's just a thought, and far be it from me to suggest something which the pros couldn't fix, can be fixed, but in a lesson, if he lands disunited, have you tried cantering a circle until he corrects then continuing with the course? So you aren't coming back to trot to change it (thus upsetting him further), and you keep the flow because as soon as he changes you carry on with the course, but just giving him the idea that we don't proceed when disunited?

I think you may have a wait to see super-lola out at proper parties - don't even know if it will be this year!

Frustratingly he is easier to correct at home and doesn't get his knickers in a twist! But I think your idea is a really good one. I will definitely try that - thank you. I think I have been a bit lazy about it as I have adopted the attitude that if the pro's couldn't fix it then I haven't a hope in hell! Definitely something to work on...

Keep the Lola pics coming

My daughter's non-Sprenger stirrup broke while she was going XC at Tweseldown. Having also bought them from a tradestand on impulse the previous season, I had done no research into them. I then did a quick bit of googling etc - I think it may have been on here - that there have been no recorded incidents of this happening with the Sprenger ones. So we've gone and bought some of those instead. I have to say though that we religiously check the joints at least once a week as I'm paranoid.

That's really interesting and how awful for your poor daughter to be mid-XC! Hope no harm done?? I think Sprenger is definitely the way to go. So important to be safe!

If he has always landed both back feet together and then going disunited then I guess it's not so worrying, but this would normally indicate to me some pain behind.
Shame the stirrup broke, not good that there was such a weakness there

I totally agree! He is seen regularly by the physio who has never mentioned anything other than being a bit tight behind the saddle - which I would guess it classic area for hind end problems?! I have actually just been in touch with a new physio as I haven't been convinced that my boys are getting much out of the previous sessions, so I'm hoping she will give him a really good MOT. She does Zara's horses so must be pretty good!? I wish I had done a bute trial over the winter months now to see if that made a difference...

 

[JFTDWS]

That's a bit scary Stirrup breaking at those heights - think I'd probably have had a panic about that!

 

[Sameru]

I am another that is envious of your rhythm and how effortless it looks. I too have check my stirrups which are the same 'non-branded' flexi ones and low and behold... rust all over the show!! time for an investment I think Well done again x

 

[lex2501]

You guys always look so calm and serene! Your rhythm was really lovely & he did jump so well, especially as you had been panicking in the warm up.

Morris is a very tense, stressy horse, especially when SJing, and while he's not particularly spooky, he does hold all his tension in his neck and back. Our warm up consists of being positively forwards to a few fences (two crosses, a couple of uprights at varying heights, a couple of big oxers & one more upright) then just do lots of lateral work to loosen his neck and back before going in. Morris' jumping technique is not very orthodox though & Murphy is 100% more stylish than him

Re the disunited-ness, I spoke to a SJer (Olympian) about being it & he said he generally just kicks on & ignores it.

I'm about to write a little email to BE about the fact that people were practicing a bounce in the warm up & the oxer was turned into a 1.30m upright for one person.

You did so well keeping calm. Bring on proper eventing xxx

Thank you Ali! Really interesting that you do lateral work as part of your jumping warm up! That was my intention in my first session, but it was so busy in the warm up that there just wasn't room to do any but hopefully having acres of room at events will allow me to do a bit more to get him looser through the rib cage - he tends to hold himself rigid there. I always watch Morris videos and think how easy you make it look! I never imagined that you had to be positive to some fences!

I had no idea people were practising bounces - that is bloody outrageous!! And totally against the rules?! The whole thing was a bit of a shambles! I wonder if ERA is a useful vehicle for collating feedback?? Kerilli?!

Really looking forward to friday Parachute pants at the ready !!! xxx

That's a bit scary Stirrup breaking at those heights - think I'd probably have had a panic about that!

I wish it had happened at home! Would have been much easier - doh! Oh well, thank god it wasn't whilst I was being carted around teh Novice at Tweseldown!!

I am another that is envious of your rhythm and how effortless it looks. I too have check my stirrups which are the same 'non-branded' flexi ones and low and behold... rust all over the show!! time for an investment I think Well done again x

Thank you - very kind! Although it never feels effortless Blimey - interesting that yours have rusted too!! Yes - new stirrups all round p.s. love your Pat x

 

[Firewell]

Its such a shame! Like you said at least it didn't happen round a XC round. Would have been awful if it had happened at twesledown. Murphy is cool bananas, I just need to meet the famous Billy now x

 

[lex2501]

Hehe thank you Firewell he is a bit of a dude, although billy knocks the socks off him in the cool stakes xx

 

[Saf]

First bit looked fab real shame about the stirrup, Star told me about it but at that stage did not know who she was talking about, bit scary you made the right decision to pull up better to fight another day as they say, good luck at Twesledown

 

[JGC]

Eeepp Glad you were fine and you looked great before the technical hitch!

 

[MegaBeast]

Eek at the stirrup but it's not the first time I've seen it happen. I always push the rubber bits up when I clean my tack and check the flexi bit as after cleaning my yard owners and accidentally moving the rubber and seeing the flexi bit had nearly rusted through. Definitely a weak point!

Well done at keeping cool and re-grouping when the warm up went wrong. Better luck next time!

 

[Fluffy bunny]

Just wow! if I can be even half as good with my youngster I will be well chuffed!

 

[lex2501]

First bit looked fab real shame about the stirrup, Star told me about it but at that stage did not know who she was talking about, bit scary you made the right decision to pull up better to fight another day as they say, good luck at Twesledown

Ahh I had no idea you were there too! Definitely should have done a roll call as there were so many HHOers there and it would have been nice to put some faces and horses to names Congrats on super results! Really impressive, you must be so proud of your Saf! Are you going to go to the Finals?

Eeepp Glad you were fine and you looked great before the technical hitch!

Thank you! Rather pleased with him considering what a plank he/I was being in the warm up

Eek at the stirrup but it's not the first time I've seen it happen. I always push the rubber bits up when I clean my tack and check the flexi bit as after cleaning my yard owners and accidentally moving the rubber and seeing the flexi bit had nearly rusted through. Definitely a weak point!

Well done at keeping cool and re-grouping when the warm up went wrong. Better luck next time!

Lesson now well and truly learnt, and no real harm done other than an irrittating "R" on his record which is so undeserved Poor chap was trying so hard for me!

Just wow! if I can be even half as good with my youngster I will be well chuffed!

That's very kind of you *blushes* !! (I am cheating really as I didn't produce him so I am merely a passenger but sssshhhhh.... don't tell anyone )

 

[Festive_Felicitations]

at the stirrup! Excuse the dumb question but what are them meant to do that your standard metal one doesn't?

I thought your round looked lovely and smooth and if I hadn't read all your comments about him being stiff etc I would have just attibuted the poles to bad luck. As others have said well done on remaning cool and working through the warm-up issues!

 

[Saratoga]

What a lovely round up until the stirrup breaking!

 

[lex2501]

at the stirrup! Excuse the dumb question but what are them meant to do that your standard metal one doesn't?

I thought your round looked lovely and smooth and if I hadn't read all your comments about him being stiff etc I would have just attibuted the poles to bad luck. As others have said well done on remaning cool and working through the warm-up issues!

Not a dumb question Two things - the hinge enables the stirrup to flex, so less chance of getting a foot caught in it, and the flex also absorbs some of the impact, which in turn takes the pressure off knees/ankles!

Thank you!

What a lovely round up until the stirrup breaking!

Ahh thank you! it has been very encouraging to hear such lovely comments from people as I have been having a serious confidence crisis over the last few weeks! I was sad to not see you as I had seen your name on entries! You were probably wise to give it a miss as judge was barking mad!! Hope you and Wally are well and hope to see you at some events soon

 

[longdog]

I am horrified at your stirrup malfunction!! Thank goodness you were able to retire & stay safe.
We sell the cheaper Flexi irons, as well as the Sprenger ones. I shall be recommending the Sprengers to people who compete & advising on checking the linkage on the cheaper ones! Have you looked at the Mountain Horse safety stirrup? My daughter uses these on a TB with a mean spin & they have always popped to release her foot, but they stay completely stable so you can continue riding in total safety.
http://www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk/...&subcatname=Stirrup+Irons+&+Treads&itemid=326
I hasten to add that you do not need to use MH boots with them! The only thing is that you don't get the flexion that helps with achy ankles & knees that you get with the Sprengers

 

[Booboos]

What bad luck with that stirrup! You did brilliantly though, your leg just stayed in the right place and your position didn't change at all...I think I would have been out the side door!

I don't SJ and you are clearly a much more experienced rider than me, but for what it's worth his canter is quite strung out, with his hocks flicking outwards rather than under him (does that make sense or am I not explaining it well?). If that was his way of going and you had no problems I would leave well enough alone, but as you find him tense perhaps it might be worth working on a much more engaged canter. It may be that the SJ goes out the window for a while and it takes him a bit of time to figure out how to deal with an engaged working canter and then an engaged extended canter before he can go back to SJ.

I might be totally wrong though so feel free to ignore these musings!

P.S. that bit at the start of the video where you look up at the camera and smile is lovely!

 

[MollyMoomin]

I had some unbranded flexi stirrups like those - mine broke while I was cantering round the arena. I replaced them with some bargain Sprengers I saw second hand on another forum but I am obsessive about checking them.

I love the bit at the start of the video where you smile at the camera - I have a face like thunder until after all competing (dressage, don't do leaving the ground!) is over and then I can smile! V impressed with your position - was touch & go whether I stayed on while I was cantering round at home, never mind adding jumping in!

 

[lex2501]

I am horrified at your stirrup malfunction!! Thank goodness you were able to retire & stay safe.
We sell the cheaper Flexi irons, as well as the Sprenger ones. I shall be recommending the Sprengers to people who compete & advising on checking the linkage on the cheaper ones! Have you looked at the Mountain Horse safety stirrup? My daughter uses these on a TB with a mean spin & they have always popped to release her foot, but they stay completely stable so you can continue riding in total safety.
http://www.dragonflysaddlery.co.uk/...&subcatname=Stirrup+Irons+&+Treads&itemid=326
I hasten to add that you do not need to use MH boots with them! The only thing is that you don't get the flexion that helps with achy ankles & knees that you get with the Sprengers

It's pretty worrying isn't it! It could have been a hell of a lot worse so I am very relieved that it just turned out to be a very valuable lesson. Those Mountain Horse stirrups look like a really brilliant idea - thank you for posting the link. I think I will be choosing between those and the Sprengers. The Sprengers come with a lifetime guarantee and add that element of comfort too so leaning towards those at the moment. Having said that, MH ones are significantly cheaper... decisions decisions! Thank you for taking the time to offer advice, much appreciated

What bad luck with that stirrup! You did brilliantly though, your leg just stayed in the right place and your position didn't change at all...I think I would have been out the side door!

I don't SJ and you are clearly a much more experienced rider than me, but for what it's worth his canter is quite strung out, with his hocks flicking outwards rather than under him (does that make sense or am I not explaining it well?). If that was his way of going and you had no problems I would leave well enough alone, but as you find him tense perhaps it might be worth working on a much more engaged canter. It may be that the SJ goes out the window for a while and it takes him a bit of time to figure out how to deal with an engaged working canter and then an engaged extended canter before he can go back to SJ.

I might be totally wrong though so feel free to ignore these musings!

P.S. that bit at the start of the video where you look up at the camera and smile is lovely!

He he luckily Murph is a bit of a sofa so didn't bounce me about too much

I totally agree with your comments about the quality of the canter He is a little tricky as he tends to shrink back behind the leg, and as a result I soften the hand to encourage him staying forwards, and we end up with a long lollopy canter. The best rounds we have jumped is when I feel I have generated enough oomph to have something to hold, and can therefore take a better contact and condense the power back through the hocks. As he had been so tentative in the warm up I was just thinking forwards really. Lots and lots to work on, and I think the key is getting him in front of the leg... and staying there! Food for thought and thank you so much for taking the time to watch the video and comment - I really appreciate it. Always open to little ideas and cc as I know there is oodles for us to work on I think lots of canter pole work might help too

I had some unbranded flexi stirrups like those - mine broke while I was cantering round the arena. I replaced them with some bargain Sprengers I saw second hand on another forum but I am obsessive about checking them.

I love the bit at the start of the video where you smile at the camera - I have a face like thunder until after all competing (dressage, don't do leaving the ground!) is over and then I can smile! V impressed with your position - was touch & go whether I stayed on while I was cantering round at home, never mind adding jumping in!

So interesting to hear that other people have had the same problems. I think I too shall be investing in Sprengers and becoming about OCD about checking them

Thank you! It definitely helps having some WONDERFUL HHOers on hand to keep you smiling!! They are such a great support and have made the sport even more enjoyable than it was before!!

Thank you very much for your comment on my position too, it is very kind of you and really appreciated as I have had some confidence wobbles recently Luckily murphy is rock solid to sit on and he makes you feel very safe and secure! I definitely need to learn to control my lower leg over a fence on him though... but that's a whole different thread

 

[diggerbez]

what a shame about the stirrup- looked a lovely round up until that point!

it is interesting about him going disunited...it is difficult isn't it- he seems quite happy and relaxed with you ignoring it but then that is probably the reason why he's had a few fences down/touched a few as he's not being able to power off cleanly enough... my old grey horse used to get a bit angry when showjumping and used to change behind (but rather more expressivley - massive bucks 4 strides out, totally throwing us off the perfect stride we had been on )...my trainer said that i either needed to deal with it by circling and correcting but that tended to make him angrier or to kick on and hope for the best- however just sitting there and doing nothing was the one thing i shouldn't do- so maybe if he's changed then you need to try and get a bit of oomph into your canter to compensate for the being on the wrong leg/ disunited... i could of course be talking complete rubbish so feel free to ignore me!
agree with the others that you look very calm and confident into the fence- no kicking and flapping like i'd be doing

 

[lex2501]

what a shame about the stirrup- looked a lovely round up until that point!

it is interesting about him going disunited...it is difficult isn't it- he seems quite happy and relaxed with you ignoring it but then that is probably the reason why he's had a few fences down/touched a few as he's not being able to power off cleanly enough... my old grey horse used to get a bit angry when showjumping and used to change behind (but rather more expressivley - massive bucks 4 strides out, totally throwing us off the perfect stride we had been on )...my trainer said that i either needed to deal with it by circling and correcting but that tended to make him angrier or to kick on and hope for the best- however just sitting there and doing nothing was the one thing i shouldn't do- so maybe if he's changed then you need to try and get a bit of oomph into your canter to compensate for the being on the wrong leg/ disunited... i could of course be talking complete rubbish so feel free to ignore me!
agree with the others that you look very calm and confident into the fence- no kicking and flapping like i'd be doing

You're not talking rubbish at all! Total sense in fact

Very interested that your trainer said that the one thing you shouldn't do is sit there... well that's exactly what I do I look back over my rounds and remember thinking "shall I correct him, too late now, oh well". As the correction doesn't seem to work then perhaps asking him to go forwards is the trick, and that may even encourage him to correct himself? I am so glad I posted the video as I have had some fantastic CC. It's funny how you become completely blind to the glaringly obvious when it's your own horse

I am also very aware that the under-powered canter may well be a symptom of discomfort. I have been chatting with another HHOer about it, and I have now spoken at length with my vet and I have decided to do a bute trial after Tweseldown to see if the canter changes at all. If he improves then we will start doing some investigation and probably look at medicating his back and hocks. I'm actually quite excited about the prospect, as Murphy has been so brilliant and he might only be running at 60% capacity at the moment!

I also watched back the video of me jumping him when I tried him and he was marginally free-er over a fence. He is a 12yo so he is bound to be feeling the effects of wear and tear to some degree. I am now totally motivated to make sure he is feeling tip top

 

[Booboos]

I totally agree with your comments about the quality of the canter He is a little tricky as he tends to shrink back behind the leg, and as a result I soften the hand to encourage him staying forwards, and we end up with a long lollopy canter. The best rounds we have jumped is when I feel I have generated enough oomph to have something to hold, and can therefore take a better contact and condense the power back through the hocks. As he had been so tentative in the warm up I was just thinking forwards really. Lots and lots to work on, and I think the key is getting him in front of the leg... and staying there! Food for thought and thank you so much for taking the time to watch the video and comment - I really appreciate it. Always open to little ideas and cc as I know there is oodles for us to work on I think lots of canter pole work might help too

I am glad I wasn't completely off the mark! R is very much like Murphy (although totally talentless when it comes to leaving the ground!), he's a rather long horse and finds it difficult to collect himself. I have exactly this issue with R: I ask for softness, he falls behind the leg, I ask for impulsion, he tenses. I haven't really found any amazing solution other than working at it and insisting on asking for more all the time. Gradually he is better than he was but it is something I have to work on all the time.

 

[ArcticFox]

WOW at the stirrup malfunction!

I use the black composite stirrups on my dressage saddle and have some awesome orange aluminium ones for SJ. hope my composite ones don't fall apart!

 

[lex2501]

I am glad I wasn't completely off the mark! R is very much like Murphy (although totally talentless when it comes to leaving the ground!), he's a rather long horse and finds it difficult to collect himself. I have exactly this issue with R: I ask for softness, he falls behind the leg, I ask for impulsion, he tenses. I haven't really found any amazing solution other than working at it and insisting on asking for more all the time. Gradually he is better than he was but it is something I have to work on all the time.

He sounds rather similar to Murphy when jumping. Bizarrely Murphy finds the collected work on the flat pretty easy which is why I think tension is definitely the root cause... food for thought! I have certainly been doing a lot of thinking since Saturday, so not such a useless outing afterall!

WOW at the stirrup malfunction!

I use the black composite stirrups on my dressage saddle and have some awesome orange aluminium ones for SJ. hope my composite ones don't fall apart!

Thanks AF - I hadn't considered aluminium! I will have a little look at the options. I have been warned off composites with some horror stories - but I would imagine perfectly fine as dressage stirrups