Tips for riding a horse that (sometimes) balloons over fences

[Jinx94]

For the first time, Tris and I schooled around the small XC fences at our yard. We've occasionally popped over the ditches or the smallest of small steps at the end of a schooling session, but that's it.

I was thrilled to bits with him and reasonably chuffed with myself. My jumping is rusty, but I am aware of the mistakes I often make, so didn't feel like I rode like a total muppet!

60cm steps were no bother. He didn't hesitate to go up or down, just cracked on with it. The first time we approached the small log (<60cm), he slammed on the brakes and very neatly stepped over but he popped over it happily each time after that. After one hesitation, he cracked on over the ditches, and the water is no longer any trouble.

I then thought that as he was going so nicely and really seemed to be enjoying himself, we'd have a crack at the small horseshoe. This didn't quite go according to plan. Initially he stopped (I had sort of anticipated that), so I let him have a look and brought him round again. He was very wobbly going into it and ducked left at the last second - entirely my fault, I wasn't riding positively enough. Third time lucky, got a good rhythm, made sure I maintained the contact, kept my leg on and didn't let him duck out, got a good grip on my neck strap as I didn't want to sock him in the gob if he over jumped. As it was, it still felt like I jabbed him as he ballooned it.

I took him over a couple of elements that he was confident with before having another go. He felt a little more positive both times going into it but still ballooned and again, it felt like I jabbed him.

I think that my release (or lack of) is the issue. Do you have any advice? Or any advice for riding better when a horse over jumps?

I'm not concerned about him ballooning as I'm confident that it's just because he's green and needs a bit more practice, but I don't want to do anything to discourage him. He's so willing, I really don't want him to lose that, especially after how this year started.

Lessons have been lined up, I know that I need eyes on the ground I'll also be scouting out a suitable place to put my phone so that I can film what we're doing!

 

[Vodkagirly]

Learn to slip your reins when required so they can use neck to balance and work on the quality of the canter increasing roundness and impulsion, ballooning tends to happen off flat strides.

 

[be positive]

As above slipping the reins will help, getting him more confident in his jumping by having lessons doing gridwork and a variety of different fences out of trot and canter will get you, and him, working together in a better way generally so jumping becomes easier then it is less likely to happen, most youngsters will do this early on over a few fences, often for no obvious reason, and most are going to forgive the odd less than perfect release from the rider if the timing is a bit off, try not to get too hung up about it as that can cause other issues, look at the positives rather than the negatives.

So pleased to see he has turned a corner since the move.

 

[TheMule]

It¡s hard when they're a little doubtful about going as that gets your body back and then you can’t 'go with' in the air as easily. I would slip a hand under the neck strap and practice loosening the rein in the air over the easier fences so that you can give him freedom whilst being a bit defensive. Ideally you will be able to keep coming with the body in a good balance and just follow the shape of the jump with your body and hand once you can trust him a bit more

 

[Sprat]

The quality of the canter is key, if you can get a nice bouncy showjumping canter, it generally makes life a lot easier.

I feel your pain, my mare had always ballooned over fences and it's not a pleasant feeling. Only once we cracked the canter did it stop feeling so awful.

 

[be positive]

I wanted to add a little more to my earlier post but got sidetracked so coming back with further thoughts.

I think at this very early stage in his education he needs to trot into small fences while he learns what is going on, the quality of the canter will help improve the jumping technique but until he has got the basics of where he is going he should be trotted in and allowed to see what is in front of him, bringing youngsters in to new fences in canter at this stage is too much for most to cope with and may lead to them stopping/ running out.
I rarely canter any green horses into fences until they have really got the idea of jumping whatever is in front of them, they may walk into more challenging questions until the rider feels them lock on and knows the question has been understood, skinnies would be on that list as would anything that has an unusual appearance that they may not quite understand is a jump, keeping the horse to tiny fences it can pop over out of walk or a very steady trot will pay off down the line but does mean the rider may not always look pretty and has to slip the reins at times as well as give plenty of encouragement, not forgetting to praise as a reward .

 

[Jinx94]

Thanks all, really appreciate your help! I should have said in my OP that we were jumping out of trot - our canter isn't very balanced just yet and I wanted to set him up as well as possible.

Will definitely practice slipping the reins and continue to trot into fences until he's more confident.

Be Positive, I can't believe the difference. Thankfully our relationship has improved dramatically in a short space of time. Moving yards was definitely the right thing to do!