Update on jumping XC fences and need some more advice please?

P

Pidge

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 June 2005
Messages
5,088
Visit site
Ok so had a play at the XC fences at the new yard last night. Pidge ran out of the 1st fence twice as I was a bit worried as a few people watching! however 3rd time I was like "yeehaa we're jumping" and that was it he was off like a bullet
shocked.gif
Jumped quite a few of the smaller fences, including a small house (one of the fences I had a problem with last week at Somerford) which was fine
grin.gif
also had a play with a ditch ready for next weeks HT and he was ace, even did the ditch and one stride to a rail and he was fine again, cantered down and up the step several times too.
However............................................... when I am confident jumping he goes like a steam train, and we had a serious lack of brakes last night
blush.gif
It was like one fence and then 2 laps of the jump paddock
blush.gif
He is in a french link kk fulmer with a flash. Am loathe to put him in something stronger as he can back off a bit with a stronger bit. We did also spend a fair amount of time cantering sideways and then turning and jumping. So any ideas on bits or shal I stay with what he's currently got and how do I stop him cantering sideways? He does get very excited jumping when I am feeling confident!
 
im not sure about the bitting but goggles used to go sideways a lot in to fences i i found the best way was to either get straight in walk then trot and jump or give him a kick to make him get straight and do this every time you jump. he seems to be getting the idea now!!
 
Hmm, would be tempted to try him in a pelham with roundings? Its no fun not being in control coming up to fences. My previous horse would scare me silly xc, used to have to run her into hedges to stop, take stock and set off again!

My hunter trials have been cancelled tomm
frown.gif
Bloomin weather! Going to the beach instead.
 
Wouldnt be worried too much about the brakes, when you're doing a decent course, he should be thinking forward so that will eradicate the sideways thing aswell. IF you ahve a horse that may back off, it is always better to have slightly less in their mouths than you may always want, to get them feeling like they can take you forward. The sideways thing is normally due to you holding them back when they want to go forward! So keep thinking forward and you'll be away!! Eland is a lovely course, you'll enjoy it.
 
IF you're not keen on changing bits then try him in a grackle - it will stop him crossing his jaw and taking off with you.
If you do want to try a change of bits i recommend the Neule Scheule universal.
 
I did try to go in walk to some of the fences but he was pinging before we even turned to the fences
blush.gif
and he seems to have lost all ability to trot too! Do I just bite the bullet and turn him earlier and let him do it at his own pace then? Will he calm down the more he does? suppose i should look on the positive side that he does enjoy his jumping and as for steps down well he flies them
grin.gif
and it felt like we were jumping off the edge of the world
shocked.gif
 
mmm might be an idea to try that but from past experience when he was coming back into work from his leg treatment nothing gave me brakes not even the double bridle
shocked.gif
tell me about it not being fun, every time we turned a corner he just accelerated and I did try turning towards the outer fence until I realised he had locked on to it with a view to jumping it
shocked.gif

Oh that's a bummer re your HT
frown.gif
I know you were looking forward to it. Am not jealous of you going to the beach at all
smirk.gif
 
thanks Kat, yes he was very forward and we only went sideways when I was holding him back, so I take it grit my teeth and let him get on with it then! Measured the jumps today and they were all either 2' or 2'3" which was a good confidence boost for me as they were much smaller then what we had been jumping at Somerford. Am looking forward to Eland Lodge but also nervous at the same time
crazy.gif
 
i went down x-country schooling on friday and had absolutely no brakes! my mare is in a loose ring french link kk iron as well with a flash lol she just takes hold and thinks she can fly at the jumps! she hit some on friday and still didn't learn! i'm going to eland next weekend too i'm putting my beasty in a ducth gag but i know she goes ok in it as have used it with her previously! hope you get it sorted! and good luck!
 
my pony gets very excited xc but jumps everything... i find it easier to get in a good rhythm with a weaker bit rather than yank him in the mouth after each fence... which could result in time faults in eventing
 
thanks Lisa
grin.gif
hear you had an interesting time at the beach
smirk.gif
naughty May
blush.gif
We're off to Somerford sometime BH week are you working?
 
hmm yes see what you mean, but do you think he will settle down or motor the whole way round? do you get penalised in HT if you go too fast?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top