On the fore hand.. help please!

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showjump

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Ok so this prob wont make sense but i will try and explain as best i can.
I half own my mare with my friend (shes a novice rider). Mare is 9years and was owned by novice before us. I ride her twice (ish) times a week. I had my jumping lesson last night on her as i use her as my diesel horse bsja.

Now i struggle/ lenthen her as she is on the fore hand, and all strung out (if you know what i mean?) She also has no concept of half halts (well some days she does/ others doesnt.) So when in canter i feel i have to have a really strong contact to maintain the speed. She dosnt 'do' going on the bit, which i feel is making things harder as she leans down on the bit. I have to sit upright and hold her together which i am not used to as otherwise she increases speed, and it all goes t*ts up from there!
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So what could i do to improve all of this? At the mo i seem to be checking her loads and therefore loosing rhythem. Or i am allowing he to drop on the forehand, and then shes flat over fences.

Hmm fed up as my lesson last night was bad due to these probs, and im getting frustrated with it!
Help me you lovely people! Sorry its long!
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I would use 2 ground poles some distance apart and teach her to do 7 strides once or twice down them and then 9 strides once or twice, this will go 't*ts up' I'm sure at first, but you really need to get the half halt working for you, with loads and loads of half halt transitions so she starts to take more weight behind, yes she will want to break when you half halt her at first but you must use your core body strength to maintain the half half but keep the leg breathing around her so she knows not to break then forward again, you will need to spend hours doing it then it will all fall into place, you'll be coming into a fence, you will think half halt and she will be with you.

Hope that ramble helps!
 
I tried a great excercise for half halts which I got from the book "100 Excercises for Hores & Rider". Ride a 20m circle about the centre of the school in walk and every 180° ask for a halt making sure to use your back and halt in the same place each time. After repeating this for about 10 min your horse will anticipate this and stop anyway but you must still use the correct aids. Then when he is at this stage instead of a halt perform a half halt and keep him moving forwards. After a few of these he will go "thats what that means then? I was wondering about that!" Worked extreemly well on my young horse. When he "gets it" on the 180° use it in other parts of the circle and then go large and use it elsewhere. Patience is the key. Good luck, once he gets the hang of this you should be able to balanace him more.
 
I will try both your suggestions! Thanks. I think the prob is because she doesnt know much diff as shes been rode by novices so has been left to her own devices. All ok till you want to jump a decent size course!
I do think sometimes a stronger bit may help, as she would listen more?
 
Good luck. Hope you succeed. I woiould refreain though from using a stronger bit untill you've given all the flatwork a chance to work. I'm personally not really a fan of strong bits unless required, which they are on some horses/situations but all too often you see a severe bit used too soon. I've even tried a milder bit before a stronger bit before now! Good luck I'm sure that with patience and perseverence you'll get there!!!
 
Well shes in a fench link snaffle at mo, but i add a grackle when i compete. Will defo give all the suggestions a whirl and hopefully get an improvement.
 
loads fo transitions!try to ask for a certain number of steps of trot and then walk or halt.make her listen and tune in to you.
also try to ask for a few shortened or lengthened strides.
grid work will help her pay attention too as will pole work.
 
Take her back to basics on the flat. Get her carrying herself properly and her jumping technique will improve.
I would try the transitions but only to get her listening to your leg. Ride her forwards - bring her back to a slower pace if she runs forwards and ask again & again until you get what you've asked for.
You will also need to open her frame and make sure her shoulders are open so she can work properly - to do this do lots of lateral work. Try lifting the bit slightly but don't pull back - then ask her to move over. Keep her straight and don't let her fall out through her shoulder.
Once she is working over her back and is more self carried then you can begin to lift her up and sit her back on her hocks.
I think perhaps speak to your instructor about having some flatwork lessons for a while then continuing with the jumping lessons.
I know how you feel as I've had similar problems with my boy - it's very frustrating but once everything clicks you'll notice the difference.
Good luck, let us know how you get on xxx
 
Here's a few ideas
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To get off forehand do a foreq yield on ground:

http://irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/in...read=1191916506

Then foreq yield in saddle:

http://irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/in...read=1191916567

To come on bit, heres a few ideas:

http://irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/in...read=1189155540

To improve a horse who leans:

http://irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/in...read=1193912631

To improve the brakes:

http://irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/in...read=1191926143

Nosebands, etc:

http://irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/in...read=1193913643

Hope they help a little!
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Cheerio from Ireland.
 
hi elaine, that's brilliant, i really like the "come on the bit" exercises, which are pretty similar to my trainer's way of teaching. it's all about asking a little bit and then waiting patiently for the result, isn't it? rather than expecting an instant reaction, and repeating things more strongly or changing them, if they don't get the instant result you want. bravo!
 
*goes red* shucks thanks, great minds think alike!!
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Yep, horses aren't meant to be rocket science, and there are definitely nice straight forward logical ways to get things done without too much hassle
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I reckon horses like that way too.
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