finding distances to jumps?!

[oliver twist]

so, i understand the concept. but that doesn't mean i can do it. which my coach doesn't seem to get :rolleyes: We've been working on canter poles and sometimes i get the distance and other times i just can't seem to get it even when i think i see that i won't come in right I just don't know if i should shorten stride or lengthen etc. so, i need suggestions for how to practice seeing distances into canter poles and jumps. any suggestions are welcome please please please :o

[Davidmush]

practice seeing distances

And what about using marker or flags?

[oliver twist]

do you mean instead of using poles, just canter between two cones or flags or something and practice getting distances between the two markers?

[wonkeywoody]

Yes, anything like that will help you get your 'eye' in.
Also put two poles a set number of strides apart, canter over the first and count how many strides to get to the 2nd. Then see if you can lengthen and shorten for less strides/more strides.
If you RI is not sympathetic about not being able to see a stride, either change RI or ignore it! We are not all John Whitakers'!!!!
Another thing is to stop worrying about it - that doesnt help. Look over your fence and just concentrate on the rhythum......

[Anro]

and maybe count the strides into the fence? (sorry Im no help atal am I)

[x-horsemad-x]

I had this problem, i was fine if it was a double of triple etc but finding my striding into single jumps was really hard.
My RI put out a marker and we worked out how to get three of the horse i was riding strides into it.
Now every time i jump i imagine the distance that we marked out and count backwards 3,2,1 takeoff.
Of course it doesn't work every time, but its really helped me know what sort of distance I'm looking for.
I think it was one of the most important lessons i have learned so far.

If your RI isn't sympathetic i would consider changing.
Hope this made sense and helped a bit!

[Flony_Pony]

My old RI told me to count in beat with the canter....one and two and three and up.

Luckily jess is fab at getting her striding perfect herself!! Flo on the other hand doesnt listen to me even if i am trying to shorten/lengthen but always clears....

The distance between poles idea was a good one....

[LongShot]

Well this is where sence development comes into play! :p

RIs over the years try sooo hard to teach the sences but it's one of that hardest things to teach feel/sence.

Getting an eye for spots natually comes with trial and error! You have to understand a good distance to a fence first, which you probably know in your head! whatever the height of the fence, that's roughly the distance you need FROM the fence to make a nice round apex!

Soo you have to start seeing spots with your eye and try to place your horse at it by either shorteninn, lengthening, or steadying your pace. This IS goign to take time, beleive me! Over time your eye will come and be second nature. BUT you have to remember NOT to stare intently at the ground doing so, staring at the base of the jump will not develope your eye.

A good way to help your eye is to ride a trained lesson horse that gets its spots by itself. Yeah some feel funny going on a lesson horse BUT the horse will teach you the feeling of a correct move up/hold and show your eye a nice spot. Once this horse has tought you, you can go back to your normal horse and tell that horse what the other horse taught you. It's a great cycle =D !!

[oliver twist]

thanks everyone for the responses. i've been practicing and i think slowly improving. it might take a while, but i'm not planning on showing or anything, so i've got tonnes of time anyways :)