Showjumping Help/Ideas please?

[Firewell]

I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas or excercises that can help Jae and I at the moment with our showjumping.

J is feeling amazing. I don't know if it's the warmer weather here, the joint supplement he is on or the good surface in the school but he is really operating... a bit too much!

I am planning our first USEA (think that is the abbreviation) 3 day event at the end of feb (3 day less impressive then it sounds as all events here are 3 day). At the moment I'm worried about our SJ.

He warms up quiet as normal when jumping at home and starts off jumping quietly but the more we do the more excited he gets and it is ruining our rhythm round a course and he is running me out of a good stride in related distances.

He tries to take over to much and in his joy is basically being disrespectful.
He's just so darn confident nothing backs him off and I can feel the 'yeee haaa's' bubbling in him from the start.

For instance we start a course, good stride in to the first and he will do a big exuberant jump, he will see the second fence head comes up and he goes to surge I sit up and really shove my shoulders back and we just about keep the rhythm and he will do another big jump. Turn the corner to the next, it's a related distance he tries to take over I just about manage to contain him and we jump the first and then it unravels... he charges at the second fence, totally ignores me, gets far to close, he arrogantly flies his legs out the way just in time and we get over it in one piece with my heart in my mouth. Then it is all I can do to stear him to the next he again totally takes over, takes a stride out does an enormous jump where I have to hang on for dear life, squeals, runs off trying to buck and I have to turn a hundred circles to get him back.

I then canter round for aaaaaaages until he is calm and nice. Canter in front of a fence circling and then take him into it. He does a lovely jump and if I then bring him back canter round for a bit and do another jump again lovely. However if I try the course again same problem as the first time.
He is too enthusiastic! And OK while I can contain him with one jump at a time but course jumping is really hairy.

It has gradually got worse since we have been here. At first I thought it was funny that he was feeling so fantastic brushing the sky with ears over each fence and feeling so good. Now I am getting frustrated that he wont jump a course calmly and it's really starting to pee me off, especially as we are so close to it being really good. One jump at a time and we are getting fantastic strides, super canter, super jump grrrrrrrr! He always looks so flippin happy with himself afterwards as well strutting back to the yard ears pricked me feeling thankful that I managed to survive, fun for him not for me. He's worse if he has an audience as well so lord knows what he will be like at a show!

Any tips? It is after the fence where it all unravels and then we are not in a good calm rhythm for the next fence. Any ideas for what I can do on landing to get him back straight away?

He's not on much hard feed. His energy is amazing for flatwork, he feels the best he ever has, his paces are pinging! He goes into plod mode when we go out riding so thats not an issue, he is his usual chilled self to handle.

I am not sure with his beans how I am going to get him round the showjumping without it being the 2nd grand national. XC should be fine as he can cruise round with the longer gallops between the jumps it won't be an issue.

Help for a leggy 16.2hh over happy TB and his weak 8st rider appreciated

 

[showjumper1998]

Hi, just as a suggestion try jumping one jump and bring him to a complete stop. Then same again to the next fence. Once this is controlled -easier said than done, I know! I had one like this.. - then try a double and stop after it. Then very slowly begin tobstring fences together, this will encourage him to listen to you, whem you say stop, you mean STOP.
Take this very slowly and gradually increase the amoumt of jumps.
hope it helps x

 

[kez1001]

Agree with the above post. I'd bring him back to halt immediately after fence and I'd not be too polite about it however as soon as he stops masses of praise and then maybe walk for a few strides then back into canter and then jump another.

I'd also jump everyday if I though making it a bit boring would help? Courses of poles on the ground where you just concentrate on rhythm might help.

I'm not usually one for a stronger bit but in this case where you know you horse and know its high spirits not pain/diet/too fit related then I'd give it a try. Your not going to win a battle of strength with a 16.2hh TB and you don't really want it to be about that. Just a bit of show me some respect please! Depending on what he is doing with his head you could decide on what bit to use? Fluffy noseband sometimes helpful if he chucks his head.

One more tip is fences with poles after them a few strides away as sometimes we can kill the canter when they get buzzy and ride with a bit too much hand and it is hard to get a rhythm when they pull and bomb about. Or to try and asort the over jumping try grids with poles on the ground between the fences.

Hope some of that is helpful

 

[Firewell]

These are brilliant suggestions thanks!.
Also he's been on alfalfa hay which I have heard can make them hot so I have just taken him off that to see if that helps. Hay aside he is known for his exuberance jumping and even when he's quiet he does pick up when he jumps out so I feel these tips will help.
Thanks!

 

[DonkeyClub]

Try looking at the way you're sitting on the horse when approaching- sit on the saddle as though its egg shells and will break if you sit too hard. Control the canter by being strong and firm with your core muscles and pulling weight down your legs but not sitting heavy or deep in the seat or driving in the seat. A very light seat basically- and you're hardly touching the saddle. I find this is the best way to jump wizzy sensitive horses especially Tb's as they are more sensitive in the back.
Also try sitting up immediately after fences- ( again not by sitting heavy but using your core muscles, weight in legs and shoulders to bring him right back immediately) make sure you keep the energy forwards but balanced around the turn ( the temptation is to bring them back too much) and always use plenty of outside leg on the turns not the inside hand- otherwise you loose the quarters and you loose the speed.
The main thing is to stay strong in your body position and hand position all the way round the course and not allow him to pull you about