seeing a stride i cant...!!!!

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kombikids

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jumped my new boy today and hes lovely but i am struggling to see my stride - i sort of get there then panic and either make him stand off or get in deep, we have had a couple of pole sessions but as soon as i get a vertical i lose the plot! anyone got any useful exercises? i have only had him 2 weeks and hes a chunky 16.3hh i havent done much jumping since i was a kid riding ponies so need some help!!! thanks all
 
A good instructor is the best way to get you and your horse going the best you can. Getting used to a big horses stride is difficult at first (I went from 15hh that rode smaller, to pickle who is a 17.1hh that rides big) took me a while to be able to see a stride on him, but with good instruction I got there
 
thanks - the instructor i had wouldnt let me look at the jump at all and i found that even weirder or is that normal?
 
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thanks - the instructor i had wouldnt let me look at the jump at all and i found that even weirder or is that normal?

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get a new instructor
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Totally agree with Pickle above, you need someone on the ground to observe, explain, hop on your horse while they show you what they have explained.

A good instructor will provide you with some good pole work exercises...and a good RI will also show you an example of how to get it wrong so you understand the concept of it all.

Plus if you have only had your horse for a couple of weeks, its will be good way of getting know each other, finding out his strengths and weaknesses and also yours so you can get it right together without one of the other hindering the process.
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Good Luck
 
OK, keep the fences very little so that even if you completely misjudge the stride he can still get over. Work on getting a good canter; forward going enough that you can do a half-halt without losing your rhythm and slow enough that you can ask him to lengthen without going FAST. Remember not to lose rhythm on corners (this is very easy to do
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) I find it helps to count the strides approaching the fence and try not to interfere! Let the fence come to you. You'll soon (honest!) start to see your stride, but it's very important for you to be relaxed enough not to feel the urge to 'take a pull' or kick on out of fear (I've been there!) Good luck
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Not looking at the fence is actually very useful and something Pippa Funnel does
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You shouldnt need to "see a stride" as such. If your canter is good enough and going forward in a good rhythm, you shouldnt have a problem. Hooking/firing are the main probs for "missing" hence why looking away is useful
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really useful thanks guys... i have been jumping with someone else and they do it all in trot which i find harder..

dianchi - thought i might see you yesterday but yes pls come see what you think!
 
Totally agree! I hate jumping but got into a jumping lesson by mistake one day I couldn't see a stride for toffee but the instructor just kept telling me to look up not at the jump and not down, as the horse takes off you just sort of go with the movement! I managed to survive the lesson, not big jumps but didn't fall off either! Think it's also a lot of practice too, girl at my yard jumps regularly has her horse in a great rhythm and watching her practice in the school is such a joy as it's all so fluid! Even when the horse takes off a bit early or late she still seems to manage to stay with him.
 
you are right - i think i need to work on teh canter more and then it will come as we are all over the place at the mo!
 
lots of pole work helps regulate the stride, tim stockdale has a saying - canter, rythem line gets it right everytime - he has a set of 3 DVDs for beginner, intermediate and advanced which i found really helpful. he gives you lots of tips to practise on whilst on your own. eBay is the place to go to purchase.

Good luck!
 
I'm useless when it comes to seeing a stride but I think alot of that stems from an old riding school I was at who taught you to ride to the fence and sit and drive the last 3 strides into the fence in a kind of big 1,2,3, JUMP!! kind of way - and that got me a bit paranoid about seeing strides cos they kept going on about it! I've now learned (from a much better instructor) that really it's all about the approach and as long as you're in a rhythm over smaller fences then you just essetially keep the rhythm and let the fences come to you. I found that counting out loud 123, for each canter stride (so 123, 123, 123 as you go round) used to help me and not just towards the jump but canter round the arena saying it too so you're in a rhythm way before you think about heading towards the fence - I find it alot easier to judge from a canter too, not keen on jumping from trot, but then I am the biggest wuss around when it comes to jumping!
 
I'm a true believer in not looking at the jump - your head is the heaviest part of your body and if you're looking down, odds are your losing impulsion - it also makes the horse 'look' at the jump more.

The minute I start looking down Oscar misjudges the jumps - if I look up, straight past the jump, keep my legs on then hey presto!

I'm not saying it's just that, but when you're doing 2'9" there's not much more to it really.

Impulsion is so important and getting your horses back end under so he's not dragging his back legs.

I don't personally agree in seeing strides although I somehow don't find it that difficult - there is a nack to keeping your lower vision on the jump and looking forward at the same time....I'm just coming back into jumping aswell!
 
I'm sorry, but you have to look at the jump... horses look where you look, and if you're looking at the jump, you can check you're straight, aiming for the middle, and learn to see a distance.
practising over small fences, or a pole on the ground, is good. or, build at small x with a small upright 7 yards from it, trot to the x, 1 canter stride to the upright. repeat a few times to get the feel of the right stride and distance... add another fence 2 or 3 strides away if pos. eventually take the x away.
the quality of the canter is essential too, as said above. if the canter's right, you can feel the distance.
 
I do look at the jump, but not to the point that I'm looking down on it (if that makes sense?)

Hey, I'm not expert, I'm a novice rider and it's helping me get my confidence and think forward....not saying that it would be the same when I get to 3ft courses!
 
Sorry about the question (have some difficulties with terminology)
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Looking at the jump is the same as looking at the fence when approaching it?
If yes, then I think I always do, I have to! How should I calculate the distance and strides without looking?
Once the horse is jumping, my mind and heart are on the other side; ... there's another fence to deal with...
 
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Sorry about the question (have some difficulties with terminology)
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Looking at the jump is the same as looking at the fence when approaching it?

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Yes. Sort of. By not looking at it I think some people mean looking 'past' the fence and not 'down' on it.
I couldn't possibly find the right stride if I didn't look at the fence, but once I've reached the fence then I look for the next. Jumping it is up to the horse!!
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Sorry about the question (have some difficulties with terminology)
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Looking at the jump is the same as looking at the fence when approaching it?

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Yes. Sort of. By not looking at it I think some people mean looking 'past' the fence and not 'down' on it.
I couldn't possibly find the right stride if I didn't look at the fence, but once I've reached the fence then I look for the next. Jumping it is up to the horse!!
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Thanks PF that's what I meant.....I'm so cr@p at getting my point across
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When I look 'down' at the fence, Oscar hesitates and catleaps.
 
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