so disappointing

[jUmPingIsLifE]

i rode a new horse last week (nikki was sold by the way) he is so great, spooky (he flipped out when another horse in the areana snorted:rolleyes: ) he jumps like butter though!!! his jump is so amazing, so smooth. only problem is nikki was 14.2hh or something like that, this horse is over 16hh and I COULD NOT GET MY DISTANCES. i probably got two distances the whole lesson, they wern't terrible horrible distances, but allways long or short, a couple WAY longs and a couple WAY shorts. im riding him tomorrow, i just hope i can get my distances. and the worce thing was, i was making the bad distances, i will pulling at him (unconciously) trying to get a stride like nikkis that im used to so much. my instructer told me what i was doing and i let him alone and was MUCH better. but i felt so uncomfy over fences.

[kedwards]

I do know that feeling. A couple of years ago, I had really gotten used to jumping a large pony. When I started going back to riding other horses, it took quite a bit of adjusting to reset my sense of striding. I'm sure you'll get used to feeling the larger stride after awhile. I did find it helped to do some jumping with eyes closed. Also, counting strides aloud just to get used to the new rhythm.

[virtuallyhorses]

*sigh* Ahhhh, one day I'll be competent enough a rider to commiserate - in the meantime my goal is simply to stay on over jumps (any size no matter how miserable) and the horse is on his own - fortunately they've worked out how long their legs ;)

[FreedomStar]

hmm, try counting strides, starting at trot. Count one two one two one two, and so on, it helped me loads. And in canter, count one two three one two three, etc.

[Cochise]

I would be a joke to see me jumping another horse again until I got used to them! I am so used to Cheeky's wee strides that I know them so well!! If I got on a longer striding horse I would stuff everything up at first. Maybe I should ride another horse every once in a while.....It would be really good for me.
It is a very big jump up from a large pony to a very large hack! I am sure that you coped fine :)

There is a (kindof) old saying: "If in doubt, leave it up to the horse" dont know how true this is, but it has saved me on cross country a few times.

[rocketman]

Try and establish a smooth rythmn so you can feel the horse's strides. Seeing your distances is done almost sub-consciously - if you think too much, it doesn't happen.

If you get a natural flow going, it should get easier. Try not to over-control the horse and let him do his part.

[HoRsE ChIcK]

I had the same problem when I went from my extremely choppy 14.2 hand morgan to a 16 hand appy who has a HUGE stride. I found that by using properly set up placing poles at the trot and the canter, it helped me get my distances. You see, if I already knew the ditances around the course, than I could count them well jumping the course, and then eventually we would elliminate a pole one by one, until I knew exactly how to measure distances to his stride.we then changed the course, and I knew his strides so well by then that I could jump the course no problem. I can now measure distances on almost any
horse!!!
Best of luck!!!
~Holly~

[Dragoon]

It'll come! Ponies and horses are like two different worlds, and you simply have to become accostomed to this horse's style, stride, etc. He probably has a much larger stride than the pony, making you feel a little rushed at the jump or around the course. Stay patient and allow yourself to make mistakes - you'll learn from them and be come a better rider in the end. :)