[CrunchieTown]

Hey guys, Ok I was relaying all of my problems with my jumping to Alex (Trump_Card) on the phone last night, and she said, write everything down and put it on HGS, And I had that in the back of my mind as well, so here are my problems and can someone please help me...

1# - Because Crunchie was properly never trained to jump, he's got no rythm, like every jump is different, I never know what to expect, I try to give him a steady 1m (3'6) back then half a metre (1'8) give him a kick to get him over, thats my basic method. But sometimes he does one of the following things
A - Rejects my steady and rushes at the jump
B - Takes Off Way To Early
C - Jumps It Extravigantly (sp) higher than what it is
D - Takes Off To Late, again ignoring cues and aids
So when we are going up to a jump at the canter or even at the trot I don't know what to expect (HELP!!!)

2# - Because of the above problem, I have a bad tendancy to fold forward, just so I dont get left behind if he takes off to early or to late, as you may have seen in some of the photos I have a bad habit of jumping the fence before him or for him because I never know what to expect

3# - In A Showjumping course I have found myself subconsiously cantering over jumps, without even thinking about it, but as soon as I get back to practicing that over higher jumps, and I'm thinking about it, things start to go wrong.

4# - I feel fine cantering over small jumps, up to 60cm (2ft) even though he rushes over them, and has a bad tendancy to knock them because they are that small. It's hard for me, I know once I up the height he will pick his feet up more, and hopefully not rush so badly, but it's just getting the confidence to put them up, because once their up if he's still having those problems, u know I don't want him to start tripping over 90cm (3ft) jumps because that would get dangerous.

5# When I free lunge him over huge jumps, he takes off perfectly, jumps them evenly, does everything gracefully, and strides himself perfectly which I know suggests that it's all my fault. BUT I'm not denying it's all my fault that he rushes and does all that, Im hoping its not all my fault, because I can ride other more trained horses over any size jump and feel quite comfortable cantering.

Please, feel free to tell me its all my fault, just so long as u can accompany it with what I should do to fix the problem!!
THANKS
Luv Julz and Crunchie XOXOX

[i_luv_moth]

Some people may not agree with me on this,but i've been having lessons with a really good jumping instructor.I mean really good. Olympic level!!

People think that if you get agressive with the horse just before the jump,they are going to jump it. He taught me that you have to rark it up when it is going straight,can see the jump,but is quite abit away from it. So it gets the idea that "WE ARE GOING". Yes,it does sound like a rider problem. You are thinking exactly what i was thinking "Ohhhhh no.....are we,or aren't we.....hmmmm....let the horse decide"

If you get him moving forward BOLDLY in between the jumps,you could quite happily trot into the jumps. of course,it doesn't exactly look 'graceful' as such,but you have to get the horse motivated at least a good 10-15 strides before the jump. Otherwise,you're just going to get into it and he is going to be like "Huh,a jump is there? SAY WHHHAAAT!??" lol!!

I'm not explaining this well at all. Sorry lol. I will try and videotape one of my lessons. Should make it easier. You basically,need to get the horse MOTIVATED to jump. I'm repeating myself......but lol,10 or 15 strides befreo the jump,tap him with the whip.If he is not awake,smack him with the whip. You want him to be PULLING you towards the jump. Not TANKING,PULLING. You want to feel his mouth. You want control,but you want that impulsion.

I'm hesitant to post the rest,so PM me and i will give you alot more tips from my lesson. I just don't think a few people with agree with it.

Hope that rambling helpslol

[CrunchieTown]

Thanks Lou, u have no idea how much that helps. I guess, i mean if I know I can canter into jumps on other horses, it's not like im completely unable, I just don't feel very secure doing it on Crunchie, but Im happy to jump up to 90cm from a trot and still canter around the course. I set up a big grade 3 (85cm) jump, and even before I'd turned him at the jump I got him going in a big extended trot, then like I pointed him at it, but made sure I didnt give him to much of a rev up right before it, coz with him that really promotes rushing.
But when I read what you wrote, I think you know exactly how I feel, like 'eh! I'll just let u decide' and i seem to stop giving him direction at a canter as well. A PM would be great as well Thanks very much
Luv Julz

[EventingBandit4]

ok..for the rushing, push poles out from the jumps and work on them at trot, like gymnastics. this will create a steady rhythm for him and also boost both your confidence. It worked great for me. Then,s et up cantering poles in front of your jumps, causing him to take the CORRECTs tride amount before and get a perfect take off point. talk to your instructor and they should know. Roll a pole about 2 ft. out from the jump as well and this will cause him to think and jump...I was reading it in a magazine. lol. But really, don't just hold his head up and such. Do half halts and circle, take deep breathes. Don't circle RIGHT inf ront of the jump, you feel him rushing then do it farther back until he relaxes...good luck...

[nd deb]

You said that he hasnt had any proper training on jumping, did you ever go back and do the proper training? Just was wondering because that could be too that is why he is having problems.

If he wasnt started with the cavellettis and then a small jump I would go back to that for I think that would solve alot of his problems. I have seen what you are describing with people that trained their horse by just running them up to and over a jump. The cavelliettis and gymnastics will help with the striding and judgement of take off ect...

[nd deb]

see what he does or if it helps to have 4 cavellettis 4 ft apart and just trot over them till he goes over well. Then 12 ft from that put a cross rail jump 18 inches and have him over at a trot over that until going well then put another cross rail 18 inches 24 ft from the first cross rail and go over till going well. Then eventually just eleminate the cavelltis and just have him jump over the 18 inch jumps. Once he is comfortable then you can increase the ht a little bit each time he is going well, confident and comfortable. Do at a trot and canter. Make sure when you do the courtesy circle to establish pace that is is nice consient speed and not speeding up if he speeds up then keep circling till he is staying at the same speed. Also gymnastic work will work at lower hts. There is a website on the net some where that has some good ones. I cant remeber the address thou.

[Shotgun93]

If he is jumping fine on the ground, then I do think that the problem is at least in part, you.

I think that people make the mistake in believing that horses have to be ridden into the jump, taught and cued when to actually go. Really, if the horse as the proper background training, he can do it himself. He should be able to figure out his timing, figure out his take off and landing, and figure out how to get through. I ride up the jump until I am two strides away, then I let my horse take over. Now, I don't just drop my reins and hope that he doesn't duck out, I keep steady contact and my leg on him, but I don't "tell" him when to take off. He knows where is feet are, he has judged the jump, he knows how to get over it.
When you start to ride the bigger cross country courses that have a lot of questions in them, it is important for your horse to just figure out. Sometimes you get in a situation where you have to let your horse do it, and I would rather be confident that my horse can, then have to cue him for every jump.

If I had you in lessons, I would put you on a horse that new how to jump. I would have you work on your position over lots and lots of grids until you got it right. If you let your horse put you in the proper position over the jump, then you won't have to worry about over jumping, or getting left behind. If I didn't have a horse for you to use, then I would still put you over tons of grids until you had the position down.

When you jump, you should be in a light three point position. You ride up to the jump in two point, and about two strides out, you should move into a light three point (which is a little bit further down in the saddle, with your bumb just barely touching the seat, your heels down, your weight in your heels, your thigh and your calf touching the horse and your hands on the neck). Put an old stirrup leather around your horses neck and grab onto that when you move into the three point. Now, you are in the right position. With your hands on the neck, the horse will pull you into the right position. If he tries to duck out, take one hand off the neck and direct him back to the jump. If you are already for the proper jumping position, it won't matter where he takes off, you will be balanced correctly.

I think that part of his problem is that you are unbalanced fighting with him over the jump, so he is unbalanced and struggles to get over. Then, he speeds up when he lands to keep balanced. If you remain still and let him get over the jump on his own, he will be able to figure it out with you on him. Then, after he is jumping better - balanced, straight and strong - you can move to bigger jumps and single jumps. And, if you still feel the need to cue him over the jump, you can wait until he knows where he needs to be, then adjust your aid to him.

If he is balanced and even, he will stop over jumping, speeding up, ignoring you and stop crashing through the little stuff.
If you have a hard time keeping from jumping out, put up grids along the rail and put poles out from the jump to keep him straight on.

[Just_me]

A - Rejects my steady and rushes at the jump
don`t let him do that!Circle in front of the jump,hold in a straight line afterwards.And use half halts.immediatly turn around and do the same thing again and stop if he gets tired
B - Takes Off Way To Early
put poles infront of the jump,I would suggest a professional instructor if you don`t know the correct spacing
C - Jumps It Extravigantly (sp) higher than what it is
put the jump low,and walk him over it a few times,then trot it and then canter it.
D - Takes Off To Late, again ignoring cues and aids
put a pole in front of the jump

I would work a lot with cavalettis!Make him canter them,trot or walk them before you jump.
I had a horse that use to jump way to high,jumped of to early or to late and rushed it.And my instructor made him do cavalettis and low jumps over and over again,till he was so relaxed that he could canter every jump!
Exercise jumping could also help because then the horse has to find it`s own way,speed,take off point etc.you just sit on top of him,give a big release,get into a two point and don`t interfere with.Let him figure it out himself!!!But again,if your not experience enough to know the correct spacing of each jump get an instructor.It`s so worth it though,these are benificial for almost every horse!

As for you,when you jump ride in a 3 point contact.Don`t go into 2 point to early,let the horse through you into it.Keep your heels down and look up!Don`t do anything just go with the horses movements.My trainer always said,the hardest thing is to do nothing.You can also crab mane to get a better hold.

I would also check if his tack fits correctly and that he doesn`t have any pain!

[Friesiangirl]

start with trot polls, do everything over. this is how my mare was. 4' apart for troting and 6' for cantering, do a LOT of them. Then, slowly intruduce a small jump at the end of a lond trot then canter course, slowly take away the polls, and he will still have rythem. then higher the jumps to where you were jumoping before

[Moonshine Zeus]

If i was you i would work on alot of grids and stuff and get him working! Mystal is a pain up the bum to ride at home she fluffs about collecting her self and then bolting at the jump 1000 miles an hour, but i just sit there and let her do it and she calms down eventually but out at competition she is perfect. The main thing to remember is the a horse cant see the jump from about 3 strides out so by 3 strides out he has thought 'Right 3 Strides to go and i have to jump approx this high!' if in those three strides you change what you do like kick him and try and make him 2 strides do to this is when he gets all confused and refusals often happen

My advice for you is as i said before to alot of grids one of my favourite grids is one stride bounce one stride out when you first set it up make them all low say 50 cm and gradually build them up untill say the 1st one is 70 grid is 80 and the last on is 90 and it will give you heaps of confidence because you no when he is going to jump and so does he!