Steps & jumping up them - advice pls.

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Festive_Felicitations

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Jumping up banks/steps has never been Beau's forte he prefers launching himself off them. We've done alot of work on small ones and stuff and he is now much better but I doubt he will ever show much natural flair for them.

Dammit waffling - point to the post:
I was XC schooling the other day and jumping up some steps and had a a few questions:
1) Your position, what do you do in terms of your balance? I understand that you are meant to sit up in the saddle so that your weight is not on their forehand/ behind the movement as they take off but do you shift your weight forwards after the front end has taken off to help the back end get up or do you try and remain 'neutral'? I've always opted for as neutral as I can but it never feels very smooth. Do they ever?

2) If you are coming into a bottom step and see that you can either take a bit of a long leap or hold for a really short shuffle step that will take you right to the base of the step which would you go for? Which is best/easiest for the horse? If you consider that its 1 stride to the next step.

Also do you think it is a bad sign that landing after a fence he bucked then cleared off up the field bucking and I just sat there and laughed for the 1st 1/2 of the field before deciding that breaks and stopping might be a good idea? :) :o
 
1. For steps you need to make sure you are sat up well before take off and then go forward slightly just to keep in balance. I would say I wasn't too far off below.

DSC_0359.jpg


2. I was always told never to look for a stride into a step but concentrate on getting the correct canter with sufficient energy for the question ahead. If there is a choice of long or short I would go short every time. To have a long stride means you land in a heap on the first step and would struggle to get it back for another step. IF you do shorten then keep the energy and leg on but it will allow the horse to be more athletic.

Bucking wise I wouldn't worry :)
 
1. It slightly depends on the size of the step, but keep your weight as still and central as possible to allow the horse freedom to bring his shoulders up but never get behind the movement or the hind legs drop and miss the step or don't have the power for the next step.

2. The canter needs plenty of power but the stride shouldn't be too long and flat, then there is more chance of finding a good spot. The horse needs to spring up so his body is high enough when he lands hence the need for roundness in the canter, therefore close is better than long. Flat and steps don't mix!!

The bucking shouldn't be a problem if early in the session and is through freshness but it shouldn't continue unless you have made a mistake and landed heavily on his back and he is unhappy about it or he has made a mistake and is annoyed with himself!
 
Thanks guys for the advice on jumping up steps, its what I thought but nice to have it confirmed that I was doing the right thing!

S_J thats a very nice pic, helpful too! And I'm glad that laughing at bucking is not a bad sign! ;)

OldVic- the bucking was entierly high spirits so Im not at all worried by it, I was actually pleased he was feeling that jolly!
 
I approach steps as if I'm going to showjump them. There are probably better ways to explain it (as above! :p ) but thats what I do.

Steady, but good, canter :)
 
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