Show Jumping head carriage and vision

[jenkaywilli]

I'm recently considering whether Show Jumping horses should spend more time during the round with their heads higher as opposed to the 'on the bit' style head carriage. My thoughts on this are stemming from their vision requirements for viewing and appraising the jump before take-off. I know most do raise their heads before the jump though I'm wondering whether doing this many more strides out would allow them better appraisal of jump height, width, etc. I know some successful riders, notably from specific countries, have a higher head carriage throughout their whole round.
Of course, this affects the ability to keep the impulsion etc, horse engaged and hind end under, balanced etc and off the forehand.
Any comments?

 

[Mule]

I think it's important for balance during tight turns to have them round. You also get a nice springy canter to the jump rather than a longer one.

There are different degrees of on the bit. They can be on the bit but not round. Ime it's only fair to let them raise their heads coming up to the jump. They are completely dependent on the rider otherwise.

They really can't see much when their heads are vertical. Once, when I was first learning to ride my horse on the bit, I was so busy looking down at his head we trotted straight in to a wooden post!

 

[jenkaywilli]

I think it's important for balance during tight turns to have them round. You also get a nice springy canter to the jump rather than a longer one.

There are different degrees of on the bit. They can be on the bit but not round. Ime it's only fair to let them raise their heads coming up to the jump. They are completely dependent on the rider otherwise.

They really can't see much when their heads are vertical. Once, when I was first learning to ride my horse on the bit, I was so busy looking down at his head we trotted straight in to a wooden post!

Yes totally agree with all you've said..thank you Really helpful. Yes of course the rouondness during tight turns is very important and allowing them to raise head before the jump. I wonder if some last minute refusals are because they didn't notice the jump as you say they can't see much in front when head vertical. I wonder up to what point...how many strides away the impulsion and engagement will be lost if head comes up....i.e. how many strides away they should be allowed higher head carriage. I know I'm over thinking this but i find it very interesting.
I also think as you say...excellent point and one of my key thoughts...is that they will be totally dependent on the rider if they cant assess the jump properly for take-off.....probably depends on horse and rider a lot....some riders are constantly responsble for seeing a stride where as others allow and actually train for their horse to be more responsible for finding the right stride. In cross country I am more likley to give the horse more resopnsibility.

In SJ some riders have their horses completely overbent in the neck which will make things even harder if they keep this up to the take-off last stride. Of course if the horse is going with just neck over bent and not working through body round and engaged then this would neither help much on tight turns as they aren't really working through body correctly so has no benefit...if false 'on the bit'.

Haha...yes looking down all the time at horses head/neck is something i had to overcome lol. Its all about the hind end and working through coming from engaged hind legs with back rounded creating the head carriage of 'on the bit'as rounded backcreates rounded neck. Dressage type schooling is so important imho to avoid the false rounded neck so many aim for yet has no effect on actually body and is more of a hinderence probabaly.