Try And Improve Technique Or If It Aint Broke Dont Fix It?

[doodle]

Looking at pics of Minto jumping he can sometimes be quite dangly in front. Last pics -

http://www.peak-photo.co.uk/index.php?pa...mp;search_mode= and

http://www.peak-photo.co.uk/index.php?li...t&start=270

He never touches a jump XC (that Im aware of) and he very rarely knocks a pole SJ. He is 15. Is it worth trying to imprive his technique? If so how? Or since it isnt causing a problem should i not worry about it? As you can see we are only jumping small jumps. Some more pics from this season

http://www.peak-photo.co.uk/index.php?li...rev&start=0

http://www.peak-photo.co.uk/index.php?pa...mp;search_mode= (although he is giving it so much extra room....)

http://www.peak-photo.co.uk/index.php?pa...mp;search_mode= (not tooo bad)

http://www.peak-photo.co.uk/index.php?li...rev&start=0 (first part of a double) )

 

[natalia]

You can make him snap up a bit more in front by jumping some V poles, he looks like a typical dangly TB type, also do some grids and raised trot poles, anything to make him lift in front.

 

[kerilli]

The 4th pic is fine, the 3rd, 5th and 6th look babyish... how old is he? the first pic in particular would worry me, although he looks as if he's looking at something ahead of him and not thinking about his legs!
I would definitely work on it. High cross poles (ends of poles at top of wings, pull wings apart a bit if it's too big in the middle at the start) is a good one to get them neat and tidy. you can make a parallel out of equal high X poles.
a big X in front with a normal back rail just a hole or so higher is a good one too.
bounces help teach them to snap their knees up better.
a grid of X poles really hammers the point home and is great for straightness too.
I would definitely work on it. If he's a youngster it might well improve anyway as he gets stronger and more experienced etc, but if you get him deep to something and he's used to dangling, it could give him a big surprise. His style might improve over bigger fences too, some horses don't bother much when jumping small fences!

 

[seabiscuit]

I would try and improve the canter - rounded canter = a more rounded jump as he will take off for the jump using his hocks- you can see that in the second last photo, he was sitting on his hocks prior to take off hence a rounder and tidier jump. Get the canter more balanced and consistant, and do lots of gridwork, then I am sure that he will jump much neater.

 

[Cruiseonamiro]

My horse tends to leave his knees behind, although this improves with height - it has to be pretty significant height. Kerilli gave me some tips to avoid this, and it's really helped, exactly what she said to you above, we do, and it works! Id give it a go!

 

[doodle]

He is 15 and jumped all his life, so not new to jumping. And yeah he feels the jumps are too small but they are fine for me! So jumps all well within his confort zone. he has always jumped like that looking back at pics but I have never particularly noticed and in that we dont have trouble with him hitting them Im wondering if in this late stage (relatively late I mean) it is worth trying to change him, hence the if its not broke comment

. i really cant think of him ever hitting a xc jump and mostly if he has a SJ down its behind. But I think there is always room for improvement in everything.

His canter is his worst pace for sure but it is finally and slowly improving. It seems he dangles more if he is totally unworried by the jump, he is pretty bold and jumps most things, but if he is looking at the jump a little more he is neater.

 

[pendam]

Over the more bigger solid looking/fences he is picking up cause something to look at. He could just not be bothering due to the height , i had a showjumper who never jumped properly below 3ft cause he did not see the point but was always quite tidy though, not much help sorry. Would certainly try grids etc like everyone mentions not going to do any harm can only improve and horses are never to old to learn.

 

[doodle]

Thanks all

Pendam your right. He sees that size as nothing and very easy. However im the wimp of the partnership and that size is fine for me!

I have a proper SJ lesson on thurs so will see what instructor syas and see what he is liek over bigger fences.