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| Author |
Message |
    
William D Kight (Wkight)
| | Posted on Monday, Jun 25, 2001 - 5:15 pm: |   |
I have a 13.2 hand mare who loves to jump. We attempted to show her in hunter but gave up as we realized she had not the mental approach to "calm and quiet" jumping and switched to Pony Jumper. She is very well behaved but sometimes we have a few minor difficulties. One is that she tends to charge the jumps (which she is supposed to when in competition, but not out of control) and that I often try and collect her so she doesn't have a major accident but being mouthy she will throw her head and become very fussy and toss her head-if you have any suggestions on this I would appreciate it. Also, she tends to "over-jump" as I call it meaning she jumps 3 feet over a 2'6 jump which is completely unnecessary and tends to get her excited. Is there any technique to help or refine this habit? And lastly, because the sport requires sharp turns at high speeds, we always have difficulty and get into a minor head tossing fit as I'm trying to turn her and she wants to keep galloping over the jumps, and thus we slow down. If anyone had any exercises to encourage suppleness or help with some of her habits we would both be grateful. :-) |
Holly Edwards (Hwood)
| | Posted on Monday, Jun 25, 2001 - 9:46 pm: | |
Question: If you walk or trot your mare and attempt to turn her away from where she wants to go, does she toss her head and pull on the bit, or does she only do it at the canter, over jumps?
Holly |
Christine C. Mills (Chrism)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jun 26, 2001 - 12:44 pm: | |
Bertalen de Nemethy has a wonderful book out that is very good for training a horse to jump.
Don't be fooled by the "loves to jump" attitude. The rushing is often a sign of not liking or not being secure about jumping ... rushing over is a way to do it faster and get it over with. It is sort of like the idea of a horse racing through a water obstacle or running through a bit.
Bert taught the USET some time ago and under is tutalage they were very successful. His book is called Classic Show Jumping : The De Nemethy Method
It is well worth having in your library. His method of setting grids, distances, ground poles, flatwork, etc. all help the horse develop the necessary skills to confidently ride a course and say "yes" to what his rider asks. The method is very systematic and breaks the learning and skills development into pieces a horse can digest with confidence.
Good luck with your pony - it sounds very talented. |
William D Kight (Wkight)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jun 26, 2001 - 3:46 pm: | |
Holly-
Yes she does throw her head and run through the bit if you try to pull her away from the jump at a trot. What I wonder is that her "love of jumping" is enjoyment or fear. She seems happy when we're jumping-her ears are foward and she shows no sign of resentment, and if I'm not careful she'll just jump the jumps or try to if we're hacking in the ring. |
Holly Edwards (Hwood)
| | Posted on Tuesday, Jun 26, 2001 - 7:24 pm: | |
William, It is great if your horse likes to jump, especially if that is what you also like to do. My feeling, though, is that if she is running through the bit at a trot, (or even a walk) she is "running away" from the rider and needs to learn how to respond correctly to the pressure on the bit in her mouth. I always tell my students, "Don't take your horses any faster than the speed at which you can control them." This may not fit in with your "game plan," but I would definitely just work this mare at the walk and trot until I got 100% obedience from light pressure on the reins or bit. To risk getting into an argument with her at higher speeds, especially around obstacles in a ring, seems to spell "disaster." John Lyons' "Communication Through the Reins" tapes have helped me in my understanding and control of the horses I ride or train. Find a method that works for you and your horse, but definitely get that little mare listening and obeying the rider's cues at slow gaits before you ride her at faster gaits. The improved communication and response between horse and rider will build confidence in both.
Holly |
William D Kight (Wkight)
| | Posted on Saturday, Jun 30, 2001 - 2:25 pm: | |
I will certainly try that-thank you very much |
Jodie Briggs (Jodjumpr)
| | Posted on Sunday, Jul 29, 2001 - 11:40 am: | |
William:
You need to trot, trot, trot over crossrail fences for a long time with this pony so she will not anticipate the jump so much. Rushing a fence is Not a good thing, no matter if you are in competition or at home practicing. By trotting the fence over and over, she should become bored with the "excitement" and wait for the jump. Do a lot of cavaletti work with her - trotting poles laying at different intervals on the ground. It sounds like you need to go back to some very basic ground work with the pony or you will be teaching her that rushing is the right thing to do. Keeping a light rein instead of pulling on her before the fence teaches her that you are not anticipating the fence too. Good luck! Jodie |
Renee Abrams
Member
Username: Mrenee
Post Number: 22
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, Feb 7, 2003 - 8:46 pm: | |
As Jodie said,
you need to do a lot of gound poles with her. Do grid work with her, by that I mean bounces (2-4 or more! jumps set in a row without any strides between) and do combinations with 1 and 2 strides between. My horse used to rush the fences, and I did lots of grid work with him....i really liked setting up the following: a pole on the ground (right before the jump...I don't know the distance measure for a pony) then a small jump, bounce (one landing stride) to another jump, one stride to another, and 2 strides to another, with a ground line on the backside to keep her from rushing afterwards. If she runs after the jump also, you may want a groundline AND another pole 3 strides away, and MAKE her fit it in. These grid exercises are good for a horse that rushes bc you must sit still in between all the jumps and SHE has to worry about backing herself off the jumps to avoid getting into trouble. Try to help her as little as possible so she learns herself to back off the jump.
BEST OF LUCK
~ashley~
jstagrl951@msn.com email if you have any more questions!! hope this helps
Also....she DOES need to learn respect for you and the bit....my mom is a John Lyons certified trainer, you should check into a seminar or videos! |
