SouthWestWhippet
Well-Known Member
Currently running a 'Jumping a Course' series of lessons for the RS. Had 7riders this morning, all on reasonably good ponies, most of whom have taken part in all the previous sessions and jumped a couple of small courses. I'd built them a little course of fences - nothing bigger than 2'2, most jumps about 1'6 ish. Here are the things *I* learned this morning
NB These are all different horses here
1) MYTH: related distances are easier than island fences (theory being horse is set up to jump the second part on a good stride).
TRUTH: related distances are easier than island fences ONLY if horse is kept straight.
RESULT horse and rider jump 2 stride related distance perfectly 4 times. 5th time, horse wobbles and runs out at second part. Rider falls off into wall and hurts herself to the point where she remounts but is unable to trot or canter again.
2) MYTH: An expereinced 17yr old ex PC pony, that has jumped the palisades numerous times before will also jump them today.
TRUTH: horse will give every appearance of being happy to jump then stop suddently
RESULT: rider falls over horse's head onto jump, bravely remounts and horse then refuses a second time (rider stays on this time). In the end *I* get on and have to basically smack him over which is not something you really want to have to do infront of clients.
3) MYTH: if rider has jumped fence perfectly 3 times she can jump it a 4th time
TRUTH: sometimes riders appear to fall off for no reason
RESULT: rider jumps fence absolutely perfectly, off a nice stride, from a good turn then, with no visable cause, falls over horse's shoulder. Rider remounts but refuses to jump again.
4) MYTH: if horse has jumped happily over palisades and planks, he will also (if ridden sensibly) jump over a small hanging filler.
TRUTH: horse will jump about 6' over small hanging filler
RESULT: rider stayed on this time but OMG I have never seen anything like it. Horse basically appeared to rear up and then jump over the jump on his back legs only... and he'd not *looked* at a fence before this.
5) MYTH: if you jump everything individually and then put it together as a course bit by bit, your ponies will jump sensibly when you do the entire thing at the end.
TRUTH: your pony will jump fine all through the lesson, then run out at the second fence when he is doing the course.
RESULT: this was my 'related distance' fall where the pony just nipped out to the side, rider lost her balance and fell into the wall.
Seven people... three falls... and two of those falls were off my most experienced, reliable ponies.
. Felt like the worst instructor in the world.
Fortunately my boss came out after and gave me some advice and talked it through with me but it was just the worst morning. It is so hard to teach people and help them progress without putting them in any sort of "risky" situation. Plus none of the falls happened at what I would consider 'difficult' fences... [SWW runs and hides under the duvet for the rest of the day]
Cookies if you got this far, just needed to 'talk' it through.
1) MYTH: related distances are easier than island fences (theory being horse is set up to jump the second part on a good stride).
TRUTH: related distances are easier than island fences ONLY if horse is kept straight.
RESULT horse and rider jump 2 stride related distance perfectly 4 times. 5th time, horse wobbles and runs out at second part. Rider falls off into wall and hurts herself to the point where she remounts but is unable to trot or canter again.
2) MYTH: An expereinced 17yr old ex PC pony, that has jumped the palisades numerous times before will also jump them today.
TRUTH: horse will give every appearance of being happy to jump then stop suddently
RESULT: rider falls over horse's head onto jump, bravely remounts and horse then refuses a second time (rider stays on this time). In the end *I* get on and have to basically smack him over which is not something you really want to have to do infront of clients.
3) MYTH: if rider has jumped fence perfectly 3 times she can jump it a 4th time
TRUTH: sometimes riders appear to fall off for no reason
RESULT: rider jumps fence absolutely perfectly, off a nice stride, from a good turn then, with no visable cause, falls over horse's shoulder. Rider remounts but refuses to jump again.
4) MYTH: if horse has jumped happily over palisades and planks, he will also (if ridden sensibly) jump over a small hanging filler.
TRUTH: horse will jump about 6' over small hanging filler
RESULT: rider stayed on this time but OMG I have never seen anything like it. Horse basically appeared to rear up and then jump over the jump on his back legs only... and he'd not *looked* at a fence before this.
5) MYTH: if you jump everything individually and then put it together as a course bit by bit, your ponies will jump sensibly when you do the entire thing at the end.
TRUTH: your pony will jump fine all through the lesson, then run out at the second fence when he is doing the course.
RESULT: this was my 'related distance' fall where the pony just nipped out to the side, rider lost her balance and fell into the wall.
Seven people... three falls... and two of those falls were off my most experienced, reliable ponies.
Fortunately my boss came out after and gave me some advice and talked it through with me but it was just the worst morning. It is so hard to teach people and help them progress without putting them in any sort of "risky" situation. Plus none of the falls happened at what I would consider 'difficult' fences... [SWW runs and hides under the duvet for the rest of the day]
Cookies if you got this far, just needed to 'talk' it through.
