Steady SJers

Weezy

Weezy

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Does anyone else have one? Seriously, I am at a loss
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I know I shouldn't complain about having a sane horse, but I find it really hard to put my trust in a horse that does not, for want of a description, take me into a fence. She will happily pop 1.40m, she takes on everything I ask of her, but there is a serious lack of feel of oooomph on my part.

Any ideas what I can do? Or do I just learn to accept she is never going to be a pinging ball?
 
Sorry I'm following you!!!
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Come and ride Corroy and you will know why I know EXACTLY where you are coming from.
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I have put her on Spiller comp mix and I hate to say it spent a month galloping her into fences
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I *team chase* her into fences a lot to try and gee her up
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On Monday she was on her toes when we got to the venue, warmed up like a bouncing ball, and then as soon as it was her turn to perform she puts her German head on and everything is restrained - I really shouldn't complain should I!
 
Yeah......I have one.........but he'll never make it unfortunately
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Seriously..........i'd far rather have a horse that takes you to a fence.....that has a spring in it's step...that feels like sitting on a rubber ball
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I'm not sure i'd ever get on with something different.......BUT........they do exist ! Look at Mclain Ward's horse....Sapphire....looks like a complete plod...but jumps around WEG courses......and Mondriaan is not dissimilar
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Horses for courses and all that
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depends on whether you feel there is any struggle there!! Santa never really took me to a fence so as part of his dressage schooling started teaching him piaffe which woke him up! Always got funny looks when warming up for a SJ class I would take him into a corner and start Piaffing (badly!)
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Helped us no end though
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[ QUOTE ]
Do you think loose jumping might make her a bit more forward-thinking?

[/ QUOTE ] Tried that, she jumped 1.70m and still out of an ambling canter
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Seriously never known such a steady horse!
 
Nope, no struggle, but I like fiestiness and I don't feel it with her. Piaffe, now that isn't a bad idea...saying that if I ask for collection she dies - think I might have to couple the spurs with a whip and see what I can do!
 
I have the same problem with one of mine. He doesn't take me to the fence and occassionally we loose all impulsion completely on the turn into a fence and I end up having to do a circle to get the engine going again! I find it helps to really get him going off my leg. My trainer has also told me to come in on a more forward stride which is a bit faster than usual. But he says it doesnt matter just now as the main thing is just to get him thinking forwards into fences. It does work in practice, unfortunately we just haven't nailed it totally in actual competitions!
 
Could it be a maturity thing? No expert on showjumpers but WB do mature late, don't they? Feel free to ignore me (!)
 
Yep....Trike is the same..........i have to treat every class like a speed class to get moving forward
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If i start riding 'backwards' then the engine just cuts out
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It's really hard as Bo is the complete opposite and you have to contain him coming into a fence
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Could it be a maturity thing? No expert on showjumpers but WB do mature late, don't they? Feel free to ignore me if this is rubbish (!)
 
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Horses for courses and all that
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Hmmm think you may be right there. I am SO used to sitting and holding rather than urging. Think I might try and find someone to do pairs XC with as on farm rides she is on fire
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The thought of trying to get her round a full NC course makes me draw a blank - YES she can jump it with her eyes closed, but ATM I just feel she would grind to a halt because of lack of impulsion (tho she has never given me reason to think she would).
 
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Could it be a maturity thing? No expert on showjumpers but WB do mature late, don't they? Feel free to ignore me if this is rubbish (!)

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Well she is 9 this year, so hopefully she is fully matured! Saying that she has spent most of her life as a happy hacker!
 
That's what my instructor suggested, hoicking my stirrups up and following her xc. What she doesn't understand is that I would die, she's totally different in those situations.
 
Ahh see we are better off a corner, she has learnt to let me sit her up and usually will accelarate out. Think I am going to have to just take her out and do some big courses and hope that makes her want to attack.
 
From what you have said though she is still quite backward in her thinking, and that pingy feeling aint happening yet because she is so strung out and long and lollopy! She will prob never haul you into a fence, but work on containing the canter into a smaller frame, so you are almost riding the canter to a standstill but really really creating energy! Very hard work, but once you get a more together canter, it will feel better, but you will still feel odd actually having to ride to a fence as opposed to waiting for the fence to fly at you!
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she does sound rather like Santa really except he was big fat hairy cobby/araby (only a tiny weeny bit araby!) pony!
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As well as the piaffe would use medium trot and canter strides and a lot of transistions and really try and ride him forward into the bridle!

worst bit is that would almost always have amber in the same class now he most certainly didn't need riding into a fence
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never had time to take off spurs from Santa as often only 5 or 6 in class so had to learn to keep lower leg and foot pointing forward unless I wanted to exit the arena and possibly showground at high speed
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Kat if you would like to come and convince her that cantering in a small bundle of energy is a grand idea, you are MORE than welcome
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I have NEVER known such a short coupled horse grow in length so much when ridden - even my dressage trained comments on it. I think I just have to keep banging on with the dressage training and hope that translates over!
 
I'm soooo jealous; freezing my butt off here and NO hunting, NO XC or hunting (would love to have a go on A; not PF as she doesn't need revving up any more!!
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Ah sod that! I'd have a go on PF as well
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When are you bl**dy coming to visit then???
 
PMSL!! Goddy is very similar in his canter though, but that is cos he has a HUGE shoulder, and finds it much easier to tow his 5yr old frame along on that instead of his bottom! Lol!! Blooming horses, lots of lunging in canter may teach her to balance herself and use her back end....?!
 
She has a huge shoulder too, and short front legs
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Oh dear, not onto a winner am I
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Can only lunge in the fields, which is nigh on impossible. I think the muppet rider needs to stop hacking on a long rein and start riding EVERY step, rather than thinking that madam can have an easy time - after all, she does bugger all else for 23 hours of her day
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I'm soooo jealous; freezing my butt off here and NO hunting, NO XC or hunting (would love to have a go on A; not PF as she doesn't need revving up any more!!
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Ah sod that! I'd have a go on PF as well
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When are you bl**dy coming to visit then???

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Like you would trade your life back here
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Yes I will come visit, so long as I can ride something fiesty! ATM I am thinking how much I miss Boss!
 
Lol! Least lunging makes them do the work.... they make you work as hard as we try and make them..... funnily enough G's "towing" problem doesnt occur so much XC....only when in an "arena"
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Hey, you can ride PF AND A; both as feisty as they come. Can also get you a bucker if you like
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Yay! Tho I may break PF as she is titchy! Buckers are fine, I want a challenge!
 
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