Weekly jumping session

ktj1891

ktj1891

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He hasn't been jumped for a couple weeks due to dressage taking priority. My friend came up and jumped him yesterday, he was a bit wobbly throughout the session, being a bit spooky. Although we finished on a good note!

Photos
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Videos
[video]https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4_5sAYZicFCSFFiUURzZWE3c00[/video]
[video]https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4_5sAYZicFCOUVxdm1fUGc4Rkk[/video]

Hoping we can get him out to Rectory this weekend for some classes :)
 
Noticed you hadn't had any replies to this thread. Might be a case of 'if you cant find anything nice to say....'
What I will say is consider what you want to do with this horse going forwards because frankly he is going to stop jumping at some point.
A horse will only put up with having having it's mouth hung on to on approach and over a fence for so long before it throws in the towel.
If you really want to do the right thing by this horse then a) stop your friend from jumping him as she really doesn't know what she is doing and b) get a GOOD instructor to help you sort out your jumping.
I dont mean to be nasty, juts dont want to see a very willing horse spoilt.
 
Sorry but I agree with PM :( why is your friend jumping him?
From saying your going to Rectory I'm guessing you're not too far from me - we are really lucky around her to have some fantastic instructors I'd be going and getting some lessons.
 
Nice sweet horse, bit confused by the above comments as I only saw him once being caught in the mouth when he took off early, so expected much worse.
Nice to have an indoor arena to use but fairly small for too much jumping.
 
I'd also say she doesn't have a good enough lower leg to be wearing spurs. I know she's your friend and these comments are going to sound harsh but we're just concerned for your (lovely) boy.
 
dixie said:
Nice sweet horse, bit confused by the above comments as I only saw him once being caught in the mouth when he took off early, so expected much worse.
Nice to have an indoor arena to use but fairly small for too much jumping.
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Rider is not giving with her hands over the fences, therefore horse is getting caught in the mouth when he goes to extend his head over the fence.
 
Wow... Bar one jump where he gets a bit caught (and seriously- have none of you lot done that over a fence from time to time?) all being very harsh on that rider. I've seen videos posted on here that are far worse where not only is the horse being socked in the gob but it's being socked with a Dutch gag!

Surprised my riding didn't get absolutely slaughtered in the video I last posted!
 
There is a difference between being left behind occasionally and using your hands to balance your self on the horses neck every fence. Horses need the freedom to lower their head at the apex of the jump or else they are forced to jump hollow. It is this constant fixing of the hand on the neck that is the main issue, not being left behind over a single fence.
 
PaddyMonty said:
There is a difference between being left behind occasionally and using your hands to balance your self on the horses neck every fence. Horses need the freedom to lower their head at the apex of the jump or else they are forced to jump hollow. It is this constant fixing of the hand on the neck that is the main issue, not being left behind over a single fence.
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this - there is absolutely no release shown in the hand :(
 
Lanky Loll said:
this - there is absolutely no release shown in the hand :(
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It's worse than this. As long as a rider keeps their hands free the horse can generally take rein when needed, not ideal but better than nothing. When a rider sets their hands on the horse neck with some weight then the horse meets an iron wall when they try to stretch.
I made no comment on this in previous threads hoping the OP would see what was happening. Just felt it time this was pointed out as if things continue as they are then the horse will stop jumping. OP is obviously trying to improve the horse which is great but this isn't the way to do it.
 
I'm not convinced I release much more than that looking at my Calmsden video so now I am rather mortified! Instructor has never picked up on it though.. :(


PaddyMonty said:
It's worse than this. As long as a rider keeps their hands free the horse can generally take rein when needed, not ideal but better than nothing. When a rider sets their hands on the horse neck with some weight then the horse meets an iron wall when they try to stretch.
I made no comment on this in previous threads hoping the OP would see what was happening. Just felt it time this was pointed out as if things continue as they are then the horse will stop jumping. OP is obviously trying to improve the horse which is great but this isn't the way to do it.
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Haven't watched your Calmsden vid M but when I've watched your earlier one's you haven't had all of your weight on your hands. If your horse was to take a tug you'd be able to give more, this rider is using their hands as a balance aid
 
Michen said:
I'm not convinced I release much more than that looking at my Calmsden video so now I am rather mortified! Instructor has never picked up on it though.. :(
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You are clearly following with your hands in this photo so you have nothing to worry about :)
 
Thanks, I know I do sometimes get him in the mouth when he gets in deep and jumps huge over the odd fence which is one of the reasons he's still in a snaffle XC even though I could do with something stronger. I was looking at my SJ videos and thinking I definitely fold over my hands if that makes sense, oh well something to work on :)

Sorry to detract OP, I've defo learnt something today!!!! Either way you've got a lovely horse there.




Mince Pie said:


You are clearly following with your hands in this photo so you have nothing to worry about :)
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Wow I have only just seen this. Hmm she had a sticky situation to the first part but everyone does that especially me! I can see what you mean with hands but I can't actually see how that is affecting him, he looks comfortable to me and not being caught by any means?
 
Ps he had a couple weeks off jumping as focused on dressage past couple weeks so he was quite wobbly and spooky in this session. I think she rode him very well and I'm just surprised she is being critiqued so much when we all have flaws as I can't see her doing anything drastically wrong?
 
If you look at Michen's photo you can see how far toward her hands are as her horse is landing over the jump, your friends hands aren't moving at all which means that when your horse tries to stretch forward he is met with a total block because her hands are so fixed.


Eta: just watched videos again, at times he is pulling her hands forward but essentially he is getting resistance from the reins every time he jumps. OP try and experiment, let her jump him but knot the reins and jump down a grid a few times without them. The grid will help keep him steady. I suspect that she may lose her balance the first few times as in those photos you can see her gripping with her knee and the videos show her balancing on the reins.
 
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OP I really don't think it's that terrible. Sometimes on this forum for some reason someone gets jumped on. Then another thread exactly the same can pop up and the response is the complete opposite. I've been victim to this myself. I don't think it's that terrible and I think the horse could stretch more if he wanted to. Possibly some exercises to help the horse round over the jumps would be good but it's seriously not terrible. The horse just looks like he's not really having to try over that height.
 
ktj1891 said:
I think she rode him very well and I'm just surprised she is being critiqued so much when we all have flaws as I can't see her doing anything drastically wrong?
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and that is the saddest part of all. OP - on this forum you have a choice to either learn from some very experienced riders or just look for how wonderful it's all going type responses. I guess you prefer the latter. Good luck with your super horse. I mean that honestly.
 
PaddyMonty said:
and that is the saddest part of all. OP - on this forum you have a choice to either learn from some very experienced riders or just look for how wonderful it's all going type responses. I guess you prefer the latter. Good luck with your super horse. I mean that honestly.
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It's not that I won't take it on at all I just don't know why she is being critiqued so harshly. She has jumped a lot more than me and evented and I've never had anyone or heard anyone comment on anything like that. She gives a lot more than me aha hence she is riding him and she's a lot stronger than me and more confident. I don't think it's as bad as made out to be is all and I know she isn't perfect I'm not perfect and the horse isn't perfect. I do listen and I will see how things go but I feel she has done him the world of good with his jumping. As I said that session was not their best as he was quite wobbly. In the second clip you can see him verve to the right and she held him straight very well.
 
I haven't posted on here in years, but from watching the vids I actually think that the rider is hanging on to the breastplate hence not giving with her hands. You might be better off with a martingale instead as the neck strap will be further forward than on the breastplate, that's what I find anyway!
 
ktj1891 said:
Is she not giving here with her hands?
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Yes, and that is great, but can you honestly say she is doing that in the videos you have posted? From this new photo it would appear that the videos werent showing her at her best and she does actually know what she's doing and I now understand why you are confused with our comments.

We aren't trying to be nasty but I can accept that sometimes we (me!) are quite blunt.
 
Mince Pie said:
Yes, and that is great, but can you honestly say she is doing that in the videos you have posted? From this new photo it would appear that the videos werent showing her at her best and she does actually know what she's doing and I now understand why you are confused with our comments.

We aren't trying to be nasty but I can accept that sometimes we (me!) are quite blunt.
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No I'm not disagreeing at all I can see she is resting her hands but I can't see it affecting or catching him either. We aren't all our best all the time and I do trust and
Think she does a good job with him. If she was catching him in the mouth and upsetting him I would obviously be concerned - I don't feel she is. Anyways onwards and upwards it's my turn to jump next time!
 
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