Well i think they were impressed----also can i have some advice?

[kandm]

As some of you know i have been asked to ride someones pony as he's abit of a nutter jumping, and he was Super!

I shall tell you what happened!

So i got to the lesson, and started to warm up. it went brilliantly! he went on the bit so nicely, and has a lush canter!

Anyway after that we started to do some trotting poles, and he was really relaxed (the riding instructor nor owner could believe it, normaly he would be cantering through it them).

So the instuctor put up a small jump (x-pole), and she told me that he might canter and bomb off. But i just half halted him and he did it in trot--now normally he would be doing a fast flat canter by now.

So she put up another jump and we did that in trot to (the owner and instructor were still amazed), and then made the jump into a double. we trotted into it, cantered through it, and came back to a nice steady trot instantly.

So the instructor put up the double, and x-pole (the cross went up to 2ft6, and double the same height).

So we trotted into the 2ft6 one and last stride cantered, and came back to trot (that is what the instuctor wanted), he did it perfectly. So we went and did the double and trotted up to it, sitting quietly and cantered through it and he came back to trot really nicely. The owner and riding instructor were very amazed and surprised that he didnt just go bombing off, and the way he came back to me straight away.

And then the riding instructor put the last half of the double up to 3ft. Now blaze (the pony), hasn't jumped 3ft since they had first got him---about 3yrs ago.
So we trotted into the double started a canter, but the canter went to flat so he knocked it down. The second time it went better but he knocked the pole---but it didnt fall down.

AND THE LAST TIME WE CLEARED IT COMPLETELY!!!!!!!
He has a LUSH jump!

The riding instructor couldn't believe it, and the owner videoed (sp) it and said i could probably get money for this---as a joke as no one thought he could jump it so nicely without bombing off!

The riding instructor thought that the owner gave him some seditive because he was so well behaved.

And both instructor and owner want me to ride him again next week----will get photos etc then.

I dont know what i did (probably nothing) but it worked lol. I probably rode like a sack of potatoes lol!

But can anyone give me any more advice to stop a pony from rushing into jumps?

Sorry v. self indulgent post! BUT HAD TO BLURT IT OUT LOL!

 

[lucemoose]

Well done! Am laughing at the word blurt, havent used it in a while..I think you have answered your own question- you did nothing!

 

[kandm]

lol BLURT is a brilliant word lol!

And thankyou!

 

[Ginn]

Kiri as I've been telling you for a very long time now that while your riding may not be "textbook" you ride brilliantly and your natural feel and quiet relaxed nature is what helps you get a tune out of just about anything. All I can say is that yesterday you proved that you have what it takes to do very well as your riding is, although a little "messy", outstanding and you do have talent to burn - a few lessons with Shirley and you'll "look" as good as you ride!

I am incredibly proud of you and am totally thrilled that finally you are showing people who have knocked your riding and abilities that they were very much wrong!! I think you will need to start giving me some lessons for a change!!

 

[RachelB]

Riding like a sack of potatoes was always what my instructor used to tell me to do with my whizzy Welsh Cob. I could never relax enough though! Carry on doing "nothing" and "riding like a sack of potatoes" and I'm sure you'll have loads of fun with him!

 

[Ravenwood]

I bet you rode him with lovely soft hands so he didn't feel he had to fight and fret and bomb off. Would you like to come and ride my mare jumping - she is a nightmare for leaping and plunging into a jump!!