Why can't I canter in to jumps???

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aldato_daz

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Hey all,

Need some advice! I'm badly stressing here!

For some reason I can jump perfectly fine coming from a trot, right up to 1mtr high. However, when I go in to canter to jump the same jump, I get it totally wrong! My striding goes wrong, my position becomes awful and I am putting my extremely capable horse completely off! It just so happened today, we jumped far too close in to the jump, my horse leapt it perfectly fine, however, because of the way he jumped it, it threw me a little, I came down quite heavy in to the saddle and he bucked me off! Obviously it was uncomfortable for him!

I have a feeling that it is my confidence that is causing my bad jumping technique, possibly my fitness and some anxiety?

Can anyone give me any exercises I could do to improve my technique from a canter and also my confidence? Bearing in mind that I can jump smaller jumps fine, however, in canter he does tend to rush these smaller jumps.

Thank you all in advance!!

C
 
Can you invest in some lessons from a good instructor?? Maybe set up a grid to make him sit back and think and for you to focus on the next fence...
 
loads of pole work on the grounds in trot and canter and id put a spacer pole infront of the jump.

Also lots of work in trot and canter in jumping position too (I did this in the summer and its hard work)- it sounds like you are worried about something ie maybe cantering he will rush the jump etc
 
As has already been said it would be good for you to sort out a good instructor & have a few lessons. An instructor should be able to let you know why you are having these problems & what to do to put it right. This in turn will increase your confidence. It will be money well spent. Good Luck
 
A trot stride is only about 4 - 5ft long, so you can't be too far out in the take off point even if your horse gets it wrong, but with a canter stride (around 12ft) you can take off too far away or too close.
That's why it's easier in trot for you both at the moment.
Exercises
Practice cantering over a single pole, or a few poles dotted around the school (not together) -this will help you and your horse develop an eye for distances and strides.
Then do the same but staying in jumping position (try to ride with your stirrups quite a lot shorter so your bottom isn't tempted to sneak back into the saddle).
Then pop the jumps up to little cross poles, and approach in jumping position. It doesn't matter if you don't guess right when your horse is going to take off - if you stay in jump position you won't get catapulted out of the saddle, so won't thump his back on landing.
After (a lot of) practice, you'll start to see where he's going to take off, and will be able to just fold into jump position as he does.
Remember - practice makes perfect. :D
 
Are you getting a good canter on the approach? I found I was trying to help my horse by holding him up and getting a bouncy canter (without realising) and actually I needed to let him go a bit and get a more medium canter. Once I started letting him go we now get the right take off point 90% of the time.
 
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