'Pushing' Towards A Fence?-Help Needed

[ElliePippa]

My 16.2 mare has been classed as a very genuine jumper, and with a very competent rider has cleared metre +. I would love o do the same, and have been told by this rider to push her towards the jump. I am able to do this as long as the fence is below 2ft6, as if the fence is higher than this, i tend to sit there just kicking slightly, which usually means a refuasal. When she does refuse, i become even less confident, and it all becomes a visous circle. *sigh*
Any Advice?

 

[Stoxx]

To me it sounds as though you aren't really confident enough over the bigger fences. Why rush yourself? Why not build your confidence up gradually, you'll know when you feel ready.
As for pushing a horse into a fence, I don't believe horses should be pushed out of their rhythm into fences as then they can flatten and knock them down rather than making a nice shape. Instead make sure you have a slightly more forwards canter around the arena before you jump - this should be the canter you want to jump out of. Once this is established and the horse is off the leg then approach the fence in a good rhythm.

 

[canteron]

Hey, riding is all about enjoying it for you, not impressing others. I would say just enjoy the 2'6" (a lots of us thinks thats pretty cool) - and one day you will find you have jumped higher without even realising it.

If you really want to jump higher, make the jump very inviting to the horse, ie good ground lines and construct the fence so that there is a back bar and lower front bar and perhaps put in small course so that you have jumped a few smaller ones to get a good rhythum before you get to it.

Also, practice getting you horse to change speed within a pace (ie go off your leg) when doing ground work. This will also help .... and you could try a stiff drink before as well???

 

[ladyt25]

I think they possibly mean more keep your legs on and hold with your hands a bit more. Is she a spooky horse or does she tend to run at fences or alternatively back off?

My horse is a good jumper BUT he is a bit of a comedian (as far as I'm concerned) and likes to prat about and spook at anything with fillers in and hence will mess up his stride and have to pop in little ones and jump from nothing. However, he does get strong and that can give you a false impression that he is very confident but, unless I keep a hold of him and keep my legs on he can end up coming to a stop as, because he pulls he can get on his forehand and get me sat too far forward so we get to the fence with nothing left!

I lost my confidence with him at one point as we went through a phase of stopping but some more lessons with a local showjumper helped loads and i know he can jump anything buti need to be on the ball, if I let my reins drop/drop him at a fence he is likely to stop anmd I wonder if your is doing the same - ie you are dropping her as you get to the fence.

My advice would be sit up, keep hold and keep your legs on BUT make sure you have got your canter established first and that she's listening. Whereabouts are you in the country? If anywhere Yorkshire way, I know a SJ instructor who could help you get confident.

I wouldn't try doing bigger fences as yet, stick with what you're happy with at the moment. If you want to build them up maybe do it with some gridwork so you start the first fence small and gradually build the next ones up a bit.

 

[trundle]

From where I'm sitting (usually on the floor after being dumped!) 2' 6 is a BIG fence ! I would stay with fences at that height until you can jump them with your eyes shut, and are starting to get bored.

Then get a friend or RI to GRADUALLY put the fences up a hole at a time, without telling you how big they are. it may just be that you have a mental block about riding bigger fences because you KNOW they are big fences. If you don't know the exact height until aftre you've jumped htem, perhaps you'll find them easier to get over.

 

[glamourpuss]

LadyT do you have my horse? It sounds like we have the same beastie!!

I agree with keeping the fences small and within your comfort zone. If you are confident and happy then you can make things interesting by introducing fillers, corners etc.

If you do want to start introducing bigger fences then I find the best way to do it is in a grid. You could do a cross pole, bounce, crosspole,one stride upright, one stride to slightly bigger spread.
The fences before help to boost the horses confidence, if you go through it a few times with all of the fences smaller you will also both be confident that it is safe. For the rider it means that you will get to the bigger fence on a perfect stride and all you have to do is sit up and keep the leg there to support her/him

 

[ladyt25]

KW33 - maybe we do! I find mine's actually better when the fences are bigger - it's like he realises he has to tale it seriously then. However, I have lost my confidence in his ability to jump a bigger course because of him being an idiot. He jumps as big as you like over plain fences at home - if they would only do SJ courses without fillers......!

I agree with KW33 though with regards to grids, gets you confident as it sorts your striding out for you basically once you're in and gets the horse flowing.

 

[Brummyrat]

Im a big fan of grids, you dont have to worry about striding you just sit and push, I can jump anything in a grid me! I also agree with whoever said take it steady and only increase the size of the fence when you're totally confident at 2'6", the more you think about the size of the fence the more the shakes start. Years ago I took my 14.2 section d to a ODE and after walking the SJ course I said to my friend it was hoooge, she neglected to tell me that as we were walking away they were putting it up to 3'3", OMG! Because I didnt know this we flew round clear but had I known....

Fast forward 10 years and Im back in the no confidence camp, Im so hung up on seeing a stride but grids are the way to go, Im determined to get my confidence back so may take on board some of these ideas myself. Good luck!