What would you do with...

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bex1984

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...a pony who jumps logs like this:

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(other than shoot the rider for riding like a pillock as usual...
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Ideas for how I can persuade him to do more than scrape his legs over with minimal effort?? I have an idea about what I need to do so will be interested to hear if you guys think the same...
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charlie55 - can defo see why you say that as he's in so close. He does normally take off a bit earlier, but still gives it minimum effort.

hairymolly - I tried popping over a few logs with no boots and it made no difference. he has very thick hair and rhino skin
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Dressage?

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lol - perhaps that would be an option...if he did left canter, or anything more than a shuffle in the school..
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Perhaps I should clarify...he is jumping up to 2ft6 spreads in the school with no problems (but - unless full of beans - with not much effort).
 
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Maybeee u hv jus go a neddie hu dusnt jump!
Wts he lyk show jumping?

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Can anybody translate that for me????

My suggestion ... get a lead over it, it might encourage him to get a wriggle on.
 
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NO boots ...
lots of va va voom to it! lol

Maybeee u hv jus go a neddie hu dusnt jump!
Wts he lyk show jumping?

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Huh???
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Does he do this over bigger fences? Maybe he's just being lazy because he knows he doesnt have to put any effort in to clear them.
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On a more serious note I would say jumping just doesn't come naturally to him so I would do some ground work with him. Starting with raised trotting poles and really drive him forwards and almost 'teach' him how to jump.
 
quirky - I'm wondering if you have hit the nail on the head a bit there...although it doesn't look like it, I am holding him back coming into the jump because I'm too scared to canter into it
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do you think cantering into it might help?
 
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Maybeee u hv jus go a neddie hu dusnt jump!
Wts he lyk show jumping?

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Can anybody translate that for me????



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Maybe you just have a neddie who doesn't jump!
What is he like show jumping?

Glad to be of some help
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Does he do this over bigger fences? Maybe he's just being lazy because he knows he doesnt have to put any effort in to clear them.
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Actually, this is what I was thinking, because he is much better when the jumps go up
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bit scary jumping bigger logs though
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Stick your backside in the saddle, put your leg on and canter in to the log, rather than trot.

You've got to at least give him half a chance
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quirky - I'm wondering if you have hit the nail on the head a bit there...although it doesn't look like it, I am holding him back coming into the jump because I'm too scared to canter into it
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do you think cantering into it might help?

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Yes, cantering will help.
Remember, he takes his confidence from you. If you ride half heartedly, he will respond in that way.
Let him canter into it, if he's not tanking and you don't feel out of control, go for it.
 
Can you lunge him over the log then you will see how he moves over it naturally and you will see how much you hold him back. Do it in trot and canter and you will see the difference in the way he will jump it. You can learn a lot from the ground and how they move.
 
cyberchick - not sure I could lunge him over the log: Lungeing +Murphy+open field = Bex flat on face, pony galloping back to stable I think!!

But I did lunge him over jumps recently, in both trot and canter. If I'm really honest I know you're completely right: I know I should jump him from canter, I know he'd jump better, I know I wouldn't get unseated so often but I just cannot shake that fear about what would happen if he refused.
 
That's kind of how Jesper used to jump...
We gave up! My instructor who is an experienced advanced event rider jumped him once and refused to again because he had no talent and wasn't planning on learning!
Luckily he was a great dressage horse.
In reality a lot more impulsion is needed I'd guess.
 
Take his boots off, ensure he has total freedom of the rein on take off as well as mid-air and jump somehting a bit bigger so he has to make slightly more effort
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right OK - boots will be off next time. I have asked a confident friend to try him over some of the bigger logs. It probably really doesn't help that I hold him back if he does try to canter into jumps
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The thing is, if you canter him into a jump he goes with quite a lot of power and it scares me that if he stops I'll come straight off.
 
Yes I know, easier said than done. I've jumped round Badminton in my head.lol
I dont really know what else to suggest apart from postive thinking. We all get nervous at times but try it. Be brave and give it a go. Dont think about the negatives of 'what if' but kick on and go for it. Once your confidence gets up your riding will improve 100% into these fences.
 
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Dressage?

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Genius! Love it
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OK - granted it was a witty response, but not the most helpful. 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.
 
If you are really worried about jumping there is no need to do it! There are loads more fun things you could do with your pony.

If you do decide you want to jump I think you really need to be more forward in your attitude and let him canter because it seems more dangerous to me to be making such a half-hearted attempt over a solid obstacle.
 
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Yes I know, easier said than done. I've jumped round Badminton in my head.lol
I dont really know what else to suggest apart from postive thinking. We all get nervous at times but try it. Be brave and give it a go. Dont think about the negatives of 'what if' but kick on and go for it. Once your confidence gets up your riding will improve 100% into these fences.

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thank you, I will try my best to be braver! I might wait until the ground softens up a bit though...just in case I do have a close encounter with it
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