What would you do with...

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I'd like to know how to encourage him to pick his feet up and actually jump. I don't need suggestions for a new "career" for him, he is happy doing what he does.

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Ok sorry, I know it wasn't helpful.

Personally I would take the boots off and get some hedgehog skins attached/nailed to the log. He wouldn't be so keen on dragging his legs then. If you're worried about getting caught you can just stud the inside of his boots, then people can't see when he raps his legs
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Booboos - jumping doesn't really worry me, I just stay in my comfort zone in terms of the height we jump. It's cantering on approach to a jump that gives me the wibbles!! I will try to deal with this though.

I have to say I'm not worried about the safety aspect of him jumping like this, he is more than clever enough to make sure we get over it, just with no air to spare!! Obviously he didn't jump these logs like this the first few times, but he has got them sussed now.
 
Come and jump Kharna.............
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It's soo much easier to jump out of canter, in all honesty it was in the back of my head yesterday that he was going to stop but that was due to the calm and collected way he comes into a fence!

If you took that fear out of your mind I think you'd have a fantastic time jumping him and he'd really do your confidence wonders?
 
My jump instructor always said to me that if I was sat where I should be, I wouldn't fall off. ie. don't fold until he has taken off. If you're sat up and he runs out, then you should stay with him.

I still fall off mind!!! ..... so maybe don't listen to me!
 
exactly Kel, he doesn't take you into them so it's always a bit...will he? won't he? even though him actually stopping is quite rare these days. I know you're right, i need to get rid of that fear. I'll work on it.

and no, I'm not coming to jump kharna, I'd have a nervous breakdown!!!
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My jump instructor always said to me that if I was sat where I should be, I wouldn't fall off. ie. don't fold until he has taken off. If you're sat up and he runs out, then you should stay with him.

I still fall off mind!!! ..... so maybe don't listen to me!

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see this is one of my biggest problems with jumping, i sort of fling myself forward slightly too early (sort of like a frog jumping off a lily pad!!), but I am working on sitting up more on approach. I'm also working on remembering to grab a chunk of mane just in case!!!
 
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I'd like to know how to encourage him to pick his feet up and actually jump. I don't need suggestions for a new "career" for him, he is happy doing what he does.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ok sorry, I know it wasn't helpful.

Personally I would take the boots off and get some hedgehog skins attached/nailed to the log. He wouldn't be so keen on dragging his legs then. If you're worried about getting caught you can just stud the inside of his boots, then people can't see when he raps his legs
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*bex heads off to look for roadkill hedgehogs to skin*
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Haha, yeah you probably would, I keep getting close....
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but you'd never worry about jumping Murphy again............cool, calm, collected and safe
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!!

I think it's because he's so chilled and laid back about life he's just like jump? what jump? Oh that one, ok I suppose I'll jump it if I must! And because you have got that fear of jumping at speed (as such) he's just like well if I don't have to I won't, I'll just amble in!

I'll come down and chase you around with a lunge whip if you're not careful.............
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Try bigger jumps, Pickle would do exactly that if trotted in and if cantered in at that height. He won't try harder unless he has too!! If you arn't sure about height yet you could try putting jump stands either side and putting a wooden showjump on top. Then he would be likely to try harder but he would still be able to knock it over if a mistake was made.
 
Would it help you if he had a breast plate or similar on? That way you have something to hang on too but still with a looser contact on the reins.

Easier said than done, but would riding with an XC type seat (ie lower legs braced) up to the jump in canter help you relax about falling off as your seat would be more secure?
 
Does he do this over poles as well? If so, I would suggest placing poles before and after, also try an A frame over the fence to get him jumping up a little more. I would also suggest putting him to bigger fences, he looks like he just can't be bothered with it being so low.
 
Oh bless him - I think maybe he is looking after you. Slow pace in -no energy = slow climb over - no energy.

Give him a big pat and an apple (would have been easier for him to go around the log)

Get yourself a neckstrap ( for your confidence) and kick on.

You can do it
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odd...looks just like the log in my friends field (although all horses jumping it tend to fly over)

Personally, at least he is jumping it. My antie's one alternated between dragging her legs and catleaping over (the reason it was left to me to jump her, not my auntie). Don't give up and I found at canter she was a lot happier jumping it, it scared me for the first few goes but once I found she jumped far better I gained confidence and, altough she will never jump much larger logs as she isnt athletic enough she jumps far better and doesnt catleap which is an added bonus.
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My coblet is exactly the same when jumping!!
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Only picks her feet up when its a reasonable height and preferably from canter - but and it is a big BUT she has a very forward canter which feels to me like she is charging into it BUT she always jumps it and usually with lots of room to spare!!
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I don't really like jumping - the speed and height scares me sh*tless since I got old & you have to keep your eyes open!!
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- so I get my neice to jump her instead! Happy pony,happy neice and happy and intact me!!!
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Sorry no real help to you at all other than you are not alone!! - can I lend you my neice??!!
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Sorry, skipped most of the thread,but got as far as you are holding him back. It would seem (and my ex show jumper hubby agrees) that the answer is to let him go, stop holding him back.

Lovely cob by the way
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aww Araminta, what a lovely way to think about it - gave him an extra big cuddle last night after reading your post
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slinkyunicorn - I think the rather speedy bombing up to jumps is a bit of a cob thing!! If Murphy does canter into a jump it is always at speed, and my friend's coblet is the same! I do have brave friends I can borrow to jump him if my confidence has a wobble, because I don't want to jump him if I'm feeling wimpy in case it passes on to him.

Thanks for all the responses - I will work on my confidence cantering into jumps and keep you all posted on how I get on!!
 

Bless him, i think he is looking after you too
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Do you canter into showjumps? if not, I think you would be best to work on that first, at least then you take away the "OMG a solid fence" issue.

You do need to push yourself out of your comfort zone I think. Place that butt firmly in the saddle, kick on, wrap your legs around and let him go (easier said than done I know
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