[imjustjoking22]

Feel free to critique and also to let me know how well you think he is progressing!

Some of the jumps are a little awkward because we were trying to work out the correct distances between poles and jumps ... that is why all of the jumps are so tiny. (Although also for confidence-building.)

Here's the video!

YouTube - Jump training

[JBandRio]

Overall, not bad

2 things I'd like to see different. The canter poles by themselves, with the bounces and the single stride, were obviously too short for the stride he was giving. He either needed to be packaged together more (which would be a great exercise for him, given his long stride), or the poles needed to be spaced farther apart. He was in danger of stepping a toe on a pole and hurting himself. Particularly if this was (among) his first encounter with poles set like that, he needs to go through them comfortable without having to chip/skip/break stride to avoid stepping on them.

The other thing I'd like to see a bit different with the little jumps and the canter pole is to either have the pole further out, or the vertical changed to a little oxer. As it's currently set up, most of the jumps he did were "over his shoulder" - as in, encouraging poor form. So, as above, he needs to either be packaged together a bit more so the distance between the pole and the jump effectively increases, or the jump itself needs to encourage better form.

He's still very much at the stage where things need to be set up for him, rather than hoping he'll figure some of this out, IMHO. He's obviously quite willing, so use that to your advantage

[ARMwins]

i agree, packaging might help him and give him something to think about, although he does look nice already!

looks like he loves his job!

[ridetolive]

They sorta covered him, but you're doing something little that may make his training not as succesful. Its sort of nit picking but I notice that your back in the saddle before his feet have even hit the ground. At this height it doesnt really matter, but you hitting the saddle every time he comes down isnt great encouragment to him to jump. It could very well just be the video though and the timing haha.

[imjustjoking22]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

Overall, not bad

2 things I'd like to see different. The canter poles by themselves, with the bounces and the single stride, were obviously too short for the stride he was giving. He either needed to be packaged together more (which would be a great exercise for him, given his long stride), or the poles needed to be spaced farther apart. He was in danger of stepping a toe on a pole and hurting himself. Particularly if this was (among) his first encounter with poles set like that, he needs to go through them comfortable without having to chip/skip/break stride to avoid stepping on them.

The other thing I'd like to see a bit different with the little jumps and the canter pole is to either have the pole further out, or the vertical changed to a little oxer. As it's currently set up, most of the jumps he did were "over his shoulder" - as in, encouraging poor form. So, as above, he needs to either be packaged together a bit more so the distance between the pole and the jump effectively increases, or the jump itself needs to encourage better form.

He's still very much at the stage where things need to be set up for him, rather than hoping he'll figure some of this out, IMHO. He's obviously quite willing, so use that to your advantage

Yea the stridings were off for most of the video because my boyfriend and I were trying to figure out the right stride for him - the next time I get out to ride (probably tomorrow) I am going to actually put up jumps with the striding and jump him- I was just running him through those poles to get a bit of an idea.

I will try making that jump an oxer, and increasing some of the pole distances.

I *did* think that I should let him go through my little "grid"- I have been told that over and over here so I try to just stay out of his way and let him figure it out (and adjust poles afterwards, of course).

Should I have interfered and collected him through those or let him go? He tends to be quite careful with his feet.

Originally Posted by ARMwins

i agree, packaging might help him and give him something to think about, although he does look nice already!

looks like he loves his job!

Thanks! Jumping really perks him up- by the end of our ride I am always dead tired, and he is RACING around!! Always makes me look really sloppy .

Originally Posted by ridetolive

They sorta covered him, but you're doing something little that may make his training not as succesful. Its sort of nit picking but I notice that your back in the saddle before his feet have even hit the ground. At this height it doesnt really matter, but you hitting the saddle every time he comes down isnt great encouragment to him to jump. It could very well just be the video though and the timing haha.

I am pretty careful to come down with the weight in my feet instead of in my butt- the only times I have really hit him on the way down are when he reaaaaally left me behind.

I *think* this may be a style thing, because I have heard that from some people and then heard from others that it is right. For me, it feels like if I stay "down" on the landing it unbalances him and he doesn't recover as well from the jump.

But I will definitely keep that in mind- I certainly don't want to ever be coming down hard on his back.

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by imjustjoking22

Yea the stridings were off for most of the video because my boyfriend and I were trying to figure out the right stride for him - the next time I get out to ride (probably tomorrow) I am going to actually put up jumps with the striding and jump him- I was just running him through those poles to get a bit of an idea.

I will try making that jump an oxer, and increasing some of the pole distances.

I *did* think that I should let him go through my little "grid"- I have been told that over and over here so I try to just stay out of his way and let him figure it out (and adjust poles afterwards, of course).

When it comes to poles on the ground, they either need to be set for the correct distance, or the rider needs to tell the horse how to go. There's just not enough of a visual back-off for the horse to figure things out on his own, until he's learned how to figure these things out.

The purpose of allll this early gridwork is to set things at comfortable distances for him so that he learns the best distances and doesn't get scared. After he's comfy with that, then you start setting jump distances shorter or longer, whatever the main issue to work on is, and let the physical-ness of the jumps remind the horse that there is a best takeoff spot. His previous learning of "these are the good spots" will be his basis for learning whether to lengthen or shorten his stride.

The poles would be where you actively take part in lengthening or shortening his stride so he learns to listen do you despite the poles.

I *think* this may be a style thing, because I have heard that from some people and then heard from others that it is right. For me, it feels like if I stay "down" on the landing it unbalances him and he doesn't recover as well from the jump.

But I will definitely keep that in mind- I certainly don't want to ever be coming down hard on his back.

You really should be off his back for at least one, preferable 2 (at least for what you're doing) strides. He has to learn that he is allowed, and encouraged, to canter away from the jump. You don't want to be on his neck, putting him on his forehand, but you don't want to be hitting the saddle early either. That tends to set them up for that expectation, and that's when they start dropping rails with their hind feet.

[imjustjoking22]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

When it comes to poles on the ground, they either need to be set for the correct distance, or the rider needs to tell the horse how to go. There's just not enough of a visual back-off for the horse to figure things out on his own, until he's learned how to figure these things out.

The purpose of allll this early gridwork is to set things at comfortable distances for him so that he learns the best distances and doesn't get scared. After he's comfy with that, then you start setting jump distances shorter or longer, whatever the main issue to work on is, and let the physical-ness of the jumps remind the horse that there is a best takeoff spot. His previous learning of "these are the good spots" will be his basis for learning whether to lengthen or shorten his stride.

The poles would be where you actively take part in lengthening or shortening his stride so he learns to listen do you despite the poles.

Haha I *wish* I could do that right away- but I just had no idea what the right distances would be so we had to play around a little. (The grid already in the arena was set up for ponies).

I will try riding it more though next time- hopefully we have the distances pretty much figured out by now so I can throw some jumps up next time.

Originally Posted by JBandRio

You really should be off his back for at least one, preferable 2 (at least for what you're doing) strides. He has to learn that he is allowed, and encouraged, to canter away from the jump. You don't want to be on his neck, putting him on his forehand, but you don't want to be hitting the saddle early either. That tends to set them up for that expectation, and that's when they start dropping rails with their hind feet.

Ok, I will work on that- I am assuming you mean landing and standing in my stirrups instead of sitting down, right?

[Xiphias]

I can't add much more than has already been said, but you two sure look great to me!

Cathy

[imjustjoking22]

Originally Posted by Xiphias

I can't add much more than has already been said, but you two sure look great to me!

Cathy

Thank you . I have been *really* working on my position, but I still have so many problems! Ack! But he was a good boy, like usual. (except he did NOT want to pick up the canter- argh!!)

[Brina]

I think you and him look great (as usual!) but do have to agree about staying off his back more, try just staying in two point a few strides after the jump, with the weight in your heels. Kinda like how eventers ride the gallop through the course- not as extreme but you can at least visualize (or at least this is how I have been taught to do it, feel free to others to correct or expand!)





ETA: Check out this thread - what she is doing in the first picture is what I believe is being recommended - Videos and Pictures with update on my new boy (Acta)