Lazy legs!!

[Hayz]

What can I do to encourage my horse not to knock fences?

At times she flys and other times she just lets them hang. She is green jumping and we have a little minimus and novice comp at the w/e. :D dont get me wrong im not going to win im going for experiance as i dont think she has been before but it would be nice just to go clear.

Is there any exercises to teach her? Also I have been using the light poles not the wooden and i think she may be taking the p as i dont think they hurt her when she knocks them.

I have gone on a bit havent i!! :eek: :rolleyes:

[Joyscarer]

Anyone?

[Painting Horses]

Something my RI taught me when I was on this super lazy horse. As you are coming to the jump bump with your legs and ask for a little more energy sort of like a "hey! look lets... jump!" and it worked with the lazy horse I was on. Another thing you can maybe try is makeing a small spread so she has to jump farther and she'll HAVE to "wake up". You can also try some wooden jumps to show her "hey, these ones aren't light". I would say try some small x-country jumps that wont move but if she's abig tripper you two might get hurt. Just try things that will help maybe keep her thinking and trying, Hope this helps :D.

[Bay Mare]

How about doing some grid work with her, it's really good for getting them working, gymnasticising (?is that a word) and basically improving their jumping. It's brilliant for the rider too!

Also maybe some loose jumping.

[Iron Maiden]

Raised trotting poles, grid work (especially bounces), cross poles so they tuck their legs away, and building funny looking jumps can all help in my experience. I like to build funny looking jumps, just a pile of crates, a couple of small pallets, traffic cones, odds & sods in a (safe!) pile - frequently regarded with astonishment by horses, but then they get quite into jumping bizarre random objects I plonk in the school & seem to really enjoy it. I suspect that just going over the same old coloured poles time & again must be a bit tedious after a while!

[Hayz]

Hiya thanks for the replys.

Its not the approach she is lazy on its snapping them up instead of letting them hang and knock the fence.

I will do some grid work and different jumps this weekend.
(Show is next w/e not this!:rolleyes:)

[angelfben]

Grid work and also an exercise that helps massively (you'll need a helper on the ground though). Set up a straight whatever size you are comfortable with then take 2 more poles and rest them on the fence in a 'V' shape:

Once you are jumping happily over the fence move the poles gradually into a more pointed V until you are jumping the narrowest possible - this really encourages them to snap their legs up :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/angelfben/untitled.jpg

[Hayz]

Ok so Grids, v shape excercise and find different things to jump. Got it will try all starting tomorrow night and through next week.

[entreat]

Thanks for asking the question Hayz! I too am need of a more leg-savvy horse!

angelfben - thanks for the pic, I'm going to try this! :)

[helenc]

High ended X poles are good as are grids set up as bounce, bounce, 1 stride to a low but wide oxer.

[angelfben]

No problem, I had the same issue with Alps

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/angelfben/Horses/Dun/Summer%202007/Image026.jpg


And high ended x-poles definitely work!!!!...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v649/angelfben/HPIM0055.jpg

[Hayz]

Brilliant !! Tried the v last night and it really worked!! Not one pole down!! Will try the others on Sunday and post on Monday. Only 1 week to go before show!! :D

[angelfben]

Wahay :D Well done :D