Teaching an ex-hurdler to jump show jumps?!

[Dizzle]

Any ideas?

He's got a good jump on him, (most of the time) he seems to enjoy it and I think he has bags of potential, but thus far we have only jumped cross poles and probably not more than 18 inches high.

Going towards the jump you have to keep the leg on, you can feel him think about going left or right and then all of a sudden in the last three or so strides he gets the idea, pricks his ears up and pops it.

I want to move him up to the next stage in his jumping but I don't want to overface him. He likes to have a look at the jumps so he sometimes refuses but it's never a dirty stop, more a case of him pondering if the red poles are different to the blue ones and do the yellow ones clash with his numnah.

 

[Nailed]

With Hudlers /Pointers, I have always found they jump best at around 3ft 9. They focus more, and make more of a shape.

The big thing to remember is that they are used to jumping very long and flat at high speeds and usually through the top foot of the fence not over, Bearing this in mind it is an idea to suit and boot all round, and basically let him get on with it, he'll get the idead soon enouhg. (Hurdlers/pointers are usually jumped over 'normal' fences too in training, fromt he training I saw.

Another Idea is jumpin gon the lunge or loose. Ted used to love this, and helped him greatly. Id show you a pick but he was jumping a Xcountry mobile fence, not a showjump, so defeats the object lol!!!

Lou x

 

[BeckyD]

With Ron it took months (maybe 6-9months!!) of weekly gridwork, and I mean tiny grids - 18 inches to 2 feet high, especially bounces, then introducing spreads, planks, fillers etc. He'd often have a baby stop when the pole changed colour, angle or thickness (!) but it taught him to be more careful with his feet, and taught him to use himself properly. He's still careless at less than 2 foot 6 and will tip the odd pole, so I always school with very heavy poles so that he knows about it, plus open fronted boots all round so that he can feel the poles. Keep sessions short and fun

Put guidepoles against the wings to draw him in if he's a bit wobbly. And try an "A" frame to get him higher - be warned, took Ron a few goes to get over this with a few dirty stops first. Just keep everything small, and introduce more height and width in a grid he's comfortable with so as to maintain and grow confidence.

Such fun! Oh I do envy you

ETS: Having read the above post I'd add that Ron is careless up to about 3' but really operates above that height - so that is in agreement!

 

[R2R]

Firstly, Ron is a really good name.

Secondly, I would do lots and lots and lots of pole work, grids, and getting him thinking about the jump.

 

[Nailed]

Ron and Ted.. we could start a mafia!

Lou x

 

[bushbaby28]

my ex hurdler does exactly the same.. glad its not just him. he will just hang back and ponder the fence, feels like hes going to run out, wiggles a bit but then just goes for it.

 

[skewby]

[ QUOTE ]
He likes to have a look at the jumps so he sometimes refuses but it's never a dirty stop, more a case of him pondering if the red poles are different to the blue ones and do the yellow ones clash with his numnah.

[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry haven't got any constructive advice, but, lol!!!

 

[toomanyhorses26]

mine too - hopeless at anything under about 2'9''

found grids helped but built them at slightly longer distances so he actual took a stride rather than trying to bounce them (always a good game

) ,v poles and working on his basic canter made the most difference