picking front feet up when jumping

BroadfordQueen

BroadfordQueen

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 January 2006
Messages
11,463
Location
Worcs
Visit site
When my mare jumps, she doesnt lift her front legs up very high. this is no problem over fences up to about 3"3ft, but any bigger and she starts having them down. she just dangles them effortlessly when she jumps- luckily she is powerful enough from behind to not have to worry about her front legs over the smaller fences, but i noticed today xcountry schooling that she was knocking a few of the bigger, solider fences with her front feet.

Is there any exercises i can do with her to get her picking up more? is ok for the time being as we aren't really jumping very big yet, but found out today i am in the 3"6ft sj team at Gatcombe, and need to get her jumping cleaner if i am going to do this sort of heights.
thanks
 
I have the same problem with Sunny, she is so powerful behind she just doesnt bother to really snapp up her fronts. Lots of gridwork, steep cross poles and A(or V pole whatever you call them!) frames should help!
 
Grids?
If you're doing XC schooling and she's hitting the fences, is that not making her a bit more careful? Perhaps it has the opposite effect if they don't fall down (sorry, just thinking out loud)
PF dangles her forelegs upto about 1m, but any higher she starts to pick them up as she hates touching anything. I think grids (I know I've already said that!) are your best bet. Someone on HHO will be less vague than me!
smile.gif
 
You could try doing bounces to get ther more athletic and quicker with her front legs. Also when i've used V poles with my horse (for keeping him straight) he really picks his front legs up so dont know if either of them might work for you?
 
Build grids with steep crosses using heavy poles.

Also make a grid of 2 bounces to a short 1 stride to a low, square oxer. Gradually pull the back bar out to make it much wider. Do not make it bigger than about 85cm. Watch the shoulder action improve.
 
thanks for the ideas guys,
will try some grid work tomorrow as have a sj comp on sunday.

she is awful at grids though, always jumps really big over the first and then gets unstuck in the middle and mucks it all up! guess we need a bit of work at that! will try the steep xpoles and V poles too, thanks!
 
If she messes up when you practice the grids you might have been doing the work for her? E.g helping her to set up into a fence, and see a stride for her. So if she jumps in to big let her find her own way out of it. She will take advantage of you helping her out as its easier for her. As soon as she meses up afew times she will think for herself.

Regards to not picking up her feet, try a canter pole, small straight then another canter pole, this will make her shape over the fence more rounded, and give a neater jump.
 
yeah, my instructor today said i do too much for her, but when i let her get on with it herself she kind of said "oh my god, where are you?!" and jumped really badly, so my instructor took it back and said that her old owner had dictated her too much and done all the work for her and now she has become reliant on the jockey, too much so to change.
 
Always trot into a grid as best you can, make her figure it out for herself or she will launch as you say from a canter. Steep crosses are good, I was doing them today and take your time!
Lunging over raised trot poles, make her aware of herself.
 
hi the same thing happened to my friend whose horse wasnt very careful in front. try doing gridwork to encourage her to "snap" up her front end. often horses careless in front do not use their shoulder, so building a showjump with two poles creating an upsidedown V on the fence! this will help her lift her front end!! worked with my youngster! let me know how you get on!
laugh.gif

troughtoncarla@aol.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top