Easier to canter or trot?

[TBEventer2002]

I have been trotting (some cantering, when I feel bold LOL) jumps for the past two or three years, up to 2' or 2'3". I can canter an 18" crossrail pretty ok, but I am finding it VERY hard to pace myself and my horse, as well as find a take-off spot. It seems like we always end up taking a really long spot or he chips in.

I really want to start cantering over the jumps more and was curious -- is it easier to canter the jumps or trot them? Like, actually over the jump, does it help the horse to canter or trot? Does the jump in the air & on takeoff itself feel different between these two gaits?

Thanks!!! :)

[dospic]

i am sure that jumping with canter is much easier

[shaka]

Personally I have alwasy found it easier from canter. It's easier to egt more impulsion with a steadier rhythm adn is jsut a whole lto smoother. The hosre finds it easier as well as it can bring it's hind legs right under a lot easier.
When jumping in canter it's like an extra canter stride, so a lot smoother, when from trot it can feel a bit more 'de-tached' is the only word I can think of I'm afriad! Sorry I'm not very good at describing things!

[TBEventer2002]

Thanks for the replies, I figured cantering would be easier, but I just have so much trouble pacing myself and finding my spot (guess it's because the jump just comes up a bit quicker LOL).

[Equisgurl]

Definitely canter is much smoother and I easier for the horse and for me. I noticed especially with horses who are slow trotters they just dont have enough gas to go over the jump and make this huge effort which kinda throws me off balance.

[BackintheSaddle]

This helps me spot my takeoff point and also seems to help the horse spot a good take-off point. I also count to myself, "1-2-3 jump" which helps me pace and helps keep me from anticipating. Looking ahead will help your eyes judge the distance, so as soon as you're over one fence, start spotting the next. That is officially all I know about jumping as I am just learning myself. Good Luck!

[RachelEvent]

I find canter a bit easier, but I'm equally happy jumping from trot - I've been known to trot into the odd arrowhead on a cross-country course for the extra control you have over straightness.

Regarding finding placement spots, don't worry about it, at all! At any jump under three foot, until you are an experienced jumper, don't think about trying to put the horse in the right place. You need to obtain rhythm and energy, and consequently a good canter. Approach a jump in a good, bouncy, forward-going canter, and wherever you meet the fence, it will be easily jump-able and you just need to concentrate on going with the movement. At the end of the day, if you stop trying to place the horse, the horse will usually begin to place itself, and will become more adept at adjusting his stride to meet the fence correctly (which is far easier on the both of you!) At most, the worst 'wrong' to a jump you can be is half a stride out.. if you are going very forwards at this point you would take quite a long flat jump, if you were not very forwards you would chip in a short stride. By fiddling around and disturbing the rhythm and energy as you try to create a stride out of nowhere, it usually makes it more difficult on the horse. If however, you see a spot which needs a little adjustment, but you 'feel' like you know just where to move on, then go ahead.. if you can't see the stride don't hook and hook and wait, just keep the rhythm and keep the legs on with plenty of energy. If the canter has energy, it makes jumping easier and smoother for you and the horse, and it makes the whole thing feel much more positive, horses can get put off by too much hooking and disturbance.

My rule for jumping Ferdie, is that if by 4 or so strides out I haven't seen a nice spot, I just keep my leg on, keep the energy, and then 9 times out of 10 the jump will go beautifully (and we're talking big jumps here!) Also, be careful not to fight with their mouth approaching jumps, if you're saying 'WAIT' and they're ignoring you, I have now learnt just to soften my hands and appreciate that once you are 4 strides out, it's up to them, not you, to sort out the striding.

In essence, think about three things while jumping, RHYTHM, ENERGY, STRAIGHTNESS. Get these three right, and good placement spots will come naturally!

Rachel xx

[Torie]

I find it depends on the horse that I'm riding as to wether cantering or trotting fences is easier. If I'm on a very forward or or rushing I'll often jump from trot, or at least to begin with, until I'm sure that they are listening to me and calm about jumping rather than tanking and pulling their way around a course. Equally, if I'm on a stuffy or lazier horse I'll do most of the jumping work from canter so that they are thinking forwards and I'm not worried overly about them falling behind the leg - ovbiosusly I still keep my leg on, but it does make life easier! I'll also jump from trot if I'm on a greener horse if I feel they would beneft from the extra 'thinking time' approaching in trot gives them to sort out their legs, I may also jump from trot if I'm on a completely new horse just to get a 'feel' for them. Jumping from trot can also be beneficial if the horse has a particular problem, say running out as it can give you the extra time and accuracy to prevent such problems.

I also echoe RachelEvent about what she has said about the placement spots. As long as the fences are under about 3 foot, don't worry overly bout finding the exact take off spot instead concentrate on achieveing a bouncy, forward going canter with rhythm and approaching the fences accurately and straight then you'll be ok.

Torie xxx

[kedwards]

From the perspective of my timing and balance, I tend to find cantering jumps easier. However, the trot has the advantage (as you mentioned), of making "takeoff spot" a non-issue.

However, as others have mentioned, the placement will come if you keep working at the canter. Don't be too concerned about making mistakes in your distances, at low fence heights, it isn't likely to cause any major catastrophes, so you can safely chalk it up to "practice" while you are both getting the striding down.

By the way, I'm a big fan of gymnastics. If you set them up correctly, the distances ride correctly and it can teach both of you what good rhythm and placement feel like.

[Dina]

When i was training my horse to jump i found that when i cantered him over a jump he would jump it properly rather than just take a big step over it which was what he did when i troted him over.

[NuttyMare]

in my opinion its much much easier for the horse and rider to jump in canter (if its balanced and controlled). Since it is more comfortable and rhythmical. I like jumping in canter, but I canter just before the jump otherwise I get really paranoid and mess up completely :rolleyes:

[Nikita88]

i have an ArabxT'bred so she gets a little sasssy sometimes, whenever we trot up to a jump she is more likely to refuse the jumps. For example, at one show i was going to trot the course (we could choose cuz it was just a small show) and she refused 2 jumps. I kept going at the trot, my 2nd time in the ring...i did it at a canter, she NEVER refuses a jump when we canter. So personally i think its easier at the canter even if the horse does take the jump bigger....more fun that way :) lol

xoxo
*Jen*

[amylou_84]

When riding the school horses I find cantering into jumps easier as it gives them more impulsion and speed to clear it. Many times in trot the horse isnt going fast enough and stops infront of the jump and bunny hops it :D
However, even in canter some horses dont get it right, so may be easier to jump in trot. If the horse is generally impulsive and forward going then trotting them should be ok. It depends on the horse i think. For example i ride a horse called Miller, who is a heavy set cob. He is lazy and knocks nearly every jump on the way past, even in canter. Trotting jumps with him requires alot of leg and encouragement. Recently iv been having trouble with speed, strides and impulsion, causeing him to jump to early, so he jumps a small jump really big!

Amy :D

[Jumpers_Pride82]

I felt the exactly same way the whole first month of jumping! I couldn't find balance or anything. I was taking small jumps at the trot and I kept loosing my stirrups! Finally I realized that maybe I should learn a comfortable canter and try jumping that way. Sure enough after a few weeks of flat work I had a comfortable canter and my jumping problem was solved! Some people like me just have to learn to jump through the canter! LOL! Well the point I am trying to get to is make sure you know you flat work first before you jump it helps A LOT!:D :) :D