Quick jumping question - how to get mare to work properly into fences?

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lisa_lou

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My mare sees a fence and rushes in, not listening to me and therefor not making a good shape over a fence. Want to really work on this now and get her to go in at the pace i ask for ( asking her to trot in is virtually impossible as she is just so strong) What exercises could i do to slow her up and get her thinking, ive tried grids with lots of canter poles in front but she just falls all over them to get to the jumps faster. Help much needed!!
 
when you feel her pull into the fence pull her in a circle and ask her to try again and do it again and repeat if necessary until she jumps nicely and with out taking off at the jump - jumping is the reward for good behaviour but when she does it well dont keep doing it as you may end up at square one again better to end on a good note with a big pat - doing this wont teach her to refuse as you are asking her to do it not her doing it of her own accord :) hope this helps!
 
This is a typical example out xc schooling, rushing in not listening to me and completley muffing the striding up. Although she cleared it with room to spare!
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...have you tried jumping indoors? Sometimes the walls can help back them off a bit, and if there are lots and lots of jumps in a smaller area she may learn to wait to see where you want him to go next. Keep the jumps really small though so if she does make a mistake it doesnt matter. Good luck
 
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I would go back to basics and establish her over poles on the ground at walk,trot and canter,when she is listening and you can shorten and lengthen the canter when required,introduce some small fences on a circle so that she is turning into them not able to set off in a straight line.
Cantering poles on a circle is also a useful exercise to enable you to gain control and rhythm within the pace.
 
Have you tried doing gridwork?

It should back her off when she realises there's another 2 or 3 fences in front of her. Make sure you sit up before the fence don't tip as she rushes & try & push her the final stride into the fences.

Also have you tried putting the fences up when your SJ? I know my mare doesn't respect anything under 2'6"... to be honest doesn't really think much of 2'6" either! Put the fences up to 3' & we get some respect :rolleyes:
 
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