Saddle "handle" to help child learning to jump

[trottingon]

Hi. As title, pony only very occasionally puts in big leaps over small cross poles which is unseating his new little rider. Any ideas on something she can grab hold of if necessary - we've tried grabbing his mane but it is slippery and theres not a lot of it, and we've tried holding onto the cantle but she struggles to get her hand in place in time!
Any ideas?

 

[Bertolie]

Something like this maybe?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saddle-Handle-Balance-Strap-Rolled-Leather-/121121694810

 

[millsandboon]

Neck strap?

 

[Penumbra]

Could you used a breast plate? They tend to be quite secure to grab hold of, and if fitted correctly, shouldn't impede the pony in any way. The only problem with this is making sure the rider doesn't jab the pony in the mouth, due to not giving with their hands.

 

[Nudibranch]

Monkey grip (I'm sure Rideaway sell them?) which clips to the D's - simple and effective. Or a neck strap.

 

[lamlyn2012]

Hi, I've seen this at a local riding school . I'm pretty sure they use a pelhamrounding.
Also I think I've seen something specially made for the job in one of me catalogues, like Robinsons. They are out there so you will get something. Other alternative is a stirrup leather as a neck strap but probably not as easy to grab.

 

[Honey08]

I'd go for a martingale strap (better than a neckstrap IMO) or breastplate strap. A handle on the saddle will more than likely mean that they would be behind the movement when they went over the fence, and that the jump would be even more uncomfortable.

I'd also suggest working more on trotting poles leading to small fences (straight bars not crosses as they often jump cross poles higher) and getting new rider a bit more settled in and more balanced perhaps before doing much more jumping.

 

[FubsyMog]

The RS horse I ride sometimes loses the run of himself over fences - if they are smaller than he would like, he tends to just jump the height he imagines them to be (Ex-hunter, so perhaps he is reliving some fantasy runs). He wears a breastplate but without the straps to attach to the saddle dees - so just the neckstrap and the strap to the girth. I find this easy to hook a finger under if needs be and it is positioned suitably so that I can easily give with my hands. Having the strap to the girth seems to keep it in a better position than a stirrup-leather neckstrap which I've found can ride up the neck.

 

[soulfull]

I've used a fee different things and it all depends on the pony's conformation 'where' the best place is. Some a flash strap attached to d rings is ideal. Others it is a breast plate.

 

[soulfull]

Ps if best place you can also attach a stirrup leather via string to d rings so that it doesn't slide forward up the pony's neck

 

[Snowy1]

Neck strap. Having taught step daughter to ride i put a neck strap on and got her to hold it before we approached the fence, just helped her to feel secure and stopped any jabbing in the mouth of pony if they did put in one of those larger leaps. Also encouraged her to go forward slightly.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Full or XL browband (the longer and plainer the better)
Hook this over the stirrup bars on each side & over the front of the pommel.
Please please make sure you do this 1st and THEN put the stirrup leathers back onto the bars behind.
If tight for space, then use small bit of string to attach browband D-rings on each side.
Usually you will find there is plenty of room for give for hands - ideal for when they 1st start to jump

Then swiftly follow on with a neck strap as soon as they are not flying out the back or side door

 

[nutnut]

Id put a flash noseband between both the d-rings on front of saddle...

 

[Penks]

Monkey grip? Cost about £10.



http://www.equestrianclearance.com/ekkia/norton-saddle-handle-monkey-grip/

 

[LCH611]

Monkey grip? Cost about £10.



http://www.equestrianclearance.com/ekkia/norton-saddle-handle-monkey-grip/

or a lip strap, spare flash, rounding, or even plaited bailer twine. IMO a neck strap is too far forward for a small child to reach to without then getting in front of the saddle, and developing a habit of folding too much/throwing themselves forward over a fence. Far better for them to sit up and just lean a little. They can then progress to a neck strap as they get more secure.

 

[Love]

The monkey grip just looks like a bit rounding to me.. maybe try one if you have any spare kicking about? also the browband over the stirrup bars sounds like a good idea if it was long enough!

 

[trottingon]

Wow some great ideas here guys, thanks very much, I'll have a root through my "spares" box and see what I can put together. Little rider actually has reasonable balance on the flat and they're great tigether over trotting poles. Pony only ever used to jump nicely when he was learning over small jumps but now I have another more experienced child riding him who has been teaching him more confidence jumping and to jump a lot higher, he's suddenly decided to put in the occasional huge leap irrespective of a straight or a cross, and my little rider just can't sit them, but she tries really really hard!!!!😊

 

[Lambkins]

I run a flash strap through the dee rings .. Instant handle

 

[FfionWinnie]

Neck strap. Handles are in the wrong place.

 

[zigzag]

Neck strap. Handles are in the wrong place.

This

 

[bluehoofprints]

Hey I used to teach a 10 year old on a wee 13.1hh mare, she didn't jump or anything but was quite nervous and new to riding so I ran a stirrup leather round the wee gals neck for the girl to grap onto if she lost her balance in trot etc. worked a treat!

 

[Honey08]

or a lip strap, spare flash, rounding, or even plaited bailer twine. IMO a neck strap is too far forward for a small child to reach to without then getting in front of the saddle, and developing a habit of folding too much/throwing themselves forward over a fence. Far better for them to sit up and just lean a little. They can then progress to a neck strap as they get more secure.

But the idea is to fit the neckstrap so that the child can reach it.. If they really are that tiny that they can't reach a neckstrap they are really too tiny to be jumping at all. Far better just bimbling over poles at that size.. Most riding schools I've worked at won't even allow children under 5 to ride at all.

 

[FfionWinnie]

But the idea is to fit the neckstrap so that the child can reach it.. If they really are that tiny that they can't reach a neckstrap they are really too tiny to be jumping at all. Far better just bimbling over poles at that size.. Most riding schools I've worked at won't even allow children under 5 to ride at all.

Totally agree and I have found the handle on saddles makes my daughter tip forward so I don't agree that a neck strap is worse than a handle.

I fancied a balance strap like that on my saddle as it looks neater than a neck strap and I can assure everyone who hasn't tried them they are completely useless, and in the wrong place to help you. Luckily for me mine has a mane in just the right place but we are going for a neck strap on Titchy and I'd also add that a normal thickness stirrup leather is too wide for little hands, a martingale neck strap would be ideal.

 

[LCH611]

But the idea is to fit the neckstrap so that the child can reach it.. If they really are that tiny that they can't reach a neckstrap they are really too tiny to be jumping at all. Far better just bimbling over poles at that size.. Most riding schools I've worked at won't even allow children under 5 to ride at all.

But some of us have children that even over 5 were tiny, but by that stage were happily hunting & jumping! I can't see how a child will tip forward with a strap through the D rings, but not with a neck strap, but I am only passing on what has worked for me and all the children I have taught. Also bimbling over poles & tiny fences can, in my experience result in over-enthusiastic leaping as the ones that are keen on their jumping are often not going forwards sufficiently in "bimble mode" to jump properly & cat leap.

 

[trottingon]

Hi. Rider isn't a tiny child, I suspect a neck strap might be best, her arms are easily long enough to reach one without it pulling her too far forward necessarily. I'm going to try a stirrup leather (thin child's one) with string attaching it to the saddle to keep it in place, was thinking of threading the string through the buckle holes to stop it slipping round and see if i can get it to sit in place so she can't strangle the pony!
Thanks everyone!!!

 

[LCH611]

Hi. Rider isn't a tiny child, I suspect a neck strap might be best, her arms are easily long enough to reach one without it pulling her too far forward necessarily. I'm going to try a stirrup leather (thin child's one) with string attaching it to the saddle to keep it in place, was thinking of threading the string through the buckle holes to stop it slipping round and see if i can get it to sit in place so she can't strangle the pony!
Thanks everyone!!!

That sounds like a good plan - I had assumed your rider was very little.

 

[Auslander]

Agree with FW. Anything attached to the saddle is too far back to be useful jumping, and simply encourages the vile modern habit of fixing the hands on the wither while jumping. I can't bear to see it, and would always use a neckstrap, or put a chunky plait in the mane as a grab handle.

I have a balance strap on my saddle, which I use to pull myself down into the saddle when in sitting trot - only practical use for them.

 

[Tnavas]

Neck strap is vital for any child learning to jump - it helps to place the rider in a safe position and gives them something positive to hold.

Work the child and pony over heaps of trotting poles - in three point until it becomes a natural position.

Three point position

Ensure stirrups are shorter than flat work as the thigh needs to be more infront of the body to improve the strength of the position.

Rider folds forward from the hips until the shoulders are in line with the knee and toe, pushing the bottom out behind them a little - absolutely no further forward than that. Ensure back is straight and that feet don't slide back.

Hand reach for the neck strap which helps ensure the rider stays in balance.

DO NOT ENCOURAGE THE RIDER TO LIFT THEIR BOTTOM OFF THE SADDLE! At this level folding forward from the hips is adequate. Too many young riders have their balance ruined and end up standing in the stirrups over fences.

If you can keep fences as straight ones rather than cross poles which do often result in the pony jumping bigger than needed.

 

[Tnavas]

MONKEY STRAPS are a definate no no for using to teach jumping - don't ever use them for that purpose

When you teach any subject you aim to teach the correct action right from day one - a monkey strap does not allow the rider to fold correctly nor does it teach the rider to follow the ponies head.

If they are too young to understand what to do then they should not be jumping!

I've taught countless children to ride over the past 45 years and have only ever used a neck strap - it must be secured so that the rider will be in the correct position over the jump

The Monkey strap is for assisting a rider in sitting trot only! and the odd buck or two!

 

[Tnavas]

Hi. Rider isn't a tiny child, I suspect a neck strap might be best, her arms are easily long enough to reach one without it pulling her too far forward necessarily. I'm going to try a stirrup leather (thin child's one) with string attaching it to the saddle to keep it in place, was thinking of threading the string through the buckle holes to stop it slipping round and see if i can get it to sit in place so she can't strangle the pony!
Thanks everyone!!!

No baleing string securing it to the saddle - little feet can too easily slip through if she should lose her balance - trust me after teaching beginners for 45 years I've never yet needed to secure a neck strap to the saddle - it needs to move with the pony