Getting the right lead on landing

[Mousemagic]

Hope someone can help.

I own a brilliant Hannovarian Gelding who is an extremely talented jumper. We have a reasonable degree of success but now need to refine our technique.

I find that he seems to land on the wrong leg - especially coming from a right rein and landing to go on the left lead. I always try and keep him together and apply the aid for the new lead as we go over - but more often than not land on the incorrect lead.

Seems not to be so bad coming from the other way i.e. coming off a left rein to take a right lead.

Any tips would be brilliant.

thanks:)

[LouiseEdwards]

Try looking where you are planning on going next, and try not to throw your weight to the shoulder that you are trying to lift for the correct lead, that seemed to help me...

[Mousemagic]

Hi Louise

Many thanks. Generally when jumping say off a turn, I turn my body well in advance in the direction of the fence.

Perhaps on the approach to a jump - I should start looking in the new direction and especially over the fence. Do you think this should help.

Interestingly, I seem to have more problems when jumping indoors. When we are outside - more often than not, we are on the correct lead. Perhaps we both take it more seriously outside. I know that it's loosing us valuable time especially in a jump off situation - and I would rather not keep on the wrong leg for the sake of a few seconds. Although he is a very genuine jumper and will jump it anyway.

Once again thanks for the advice.

[LouiseEdwards]

how balanced is your horse in counter canter though? I had a slight problem with my horse because when I started working him at elementary dressage we had to do counter canter, hence in the jumping he decided to practise his new trick as much as he could! Maybe he is better when you are outside because there are no wall for him to rely on, so he is actually listening to you instead of getting too clever and knowing where to go? One exercise you could try at home is approaching the jump in trot, and then asking for canter after the jump on the lead that you would like. Another one is to ask for the canter lead a few strides out of the jump so that your horse learns what you mean as you jump over, especially from the first exercise, he will really get to know what you mean. You could also put the jump on the centre line, but facing 'B' if you know what I mean, and then doing a half circle to 'X' in one direction, and then a half circle in the other direction ( ie A, X, C). Try both of the exercises with the jump in this position.

[Mousemagic]

Hi Louise

Counter canter gives him no problems - again my riding club had an internal competition recently, the test had counter canter in it - we were placed second. Perhaps I need to make sure I don't practice it in advance of a jump comp !

When I have lessons - my trainer regularly has me jumping out of trot - although he will do it (I must admit that I hate it) - he is 17.2 and was Intermediate Evented before I bought him. It's as though he says - "what jump out of trot" ! A few weeks ago we tried this exercise jumping about 2ft 9 out of trot - but at the end - we was really using himself. He tends not to put an effort in until the jumps become about 3ft.

I like the idea of the exercise down the centre line - that way I can decide on approach whether to take a right or left lead and see what our success is. I have a jump lesson on Saturday morning so will suggest this.

I am always surprised at the comments from fellow riders - who say "Laura why worry about all the technicalities - if you are in the rosettes who cares" hmmmm - same riders will compete if the ground is rock hard" - say no more.

thanks again - will try exercises and report back

[LouiseEdwards]

The exercise I suggested was facing B or E, not down the centre line, as sometimes I feel that the horse has a little bit too much time to try and find a way out of things! Also, make sure that you are straight for the jump, that way when you ask for the turn and change of leg it will be clearer for your horse. Good luck!

[Yorkshire_Lass]

Unless you are doing the first part of a double try to start turning in the direction of your next fence as you go over the jump so your horse knows which way he is going on landing and make sure your looking in that direction as well as opening the hand on that side, but don't lean as this will throw your weight onto that side and that will unbalance the horse and he will have to land on the wrong leg to balance himself for the turn.
Good luck!

[kedwards]

I'm actually working on this issue myself with Bud and we haven't yet got it consistently (though in our cases it's landing right that is the problem). One exercise I saw for this was to set up a fence angled toward the rail in such a way that to land and approach again would require a half-circle. Supposedly, by setting the fences this way, the lead is really encouraged.

I haven't tried it yet, but I plan to soon.

One added note, on horses that do land their leads, I find it much more useful to ask with leg or an opening inside rein rather than looking toward the next turn. In many cases, you may want to ride straight after a fence to get a better approach but you still want to get a certain lead for the upcoming turn, so it's best to seperate the cues for leads from the turn itself.

[Mousemagic]

thanks for all the useful help.

As I said earlier, I have a jump class on Saturday morning. I will certainly put these to the test and report back.

:)

[Cochise]

Backing up what kedwards said, I find that over the jump by opening that rein and getting the opposite leg back I am asking for a change of bend, just in mid air. If I want him to land on the right leg its open inside rein and left leg back, even in mid air.

[Jojo_82]

Hi there!

The above are some good methods. One particular exercise I teach for this problem that 9times out of 10 works, is to set up jumps on a 20mtr circle. Perhaps put a fence at B and E (they don't have to be of any great height, just enough to get a decent lift out of the horse) and pick up a good, collected canter (with his hocks right under him) on the circle. When you've got a good, working rhythm, start to include the jumps in the circle. Don't rush them, just take your time, work on your rhythm and concentrate on keeping the circle as you land.

This exercise will help to develop airborne turns (you'll see the likes of the whitakers etc doing these if you watch closely) when the rider subtely turns and shifts his weight in the saddle ever so slightly over the fence to encourage the horse to land on the desired leg in preparation for the next jump.

Carry the exercise out on both reins, it will take time. Maybe decrease and increase the size of the circle, or work it in a figure of 8 with a flying (or simple) change in the middle to develop his balance on both legs when landing over a jump.

I hope this helps? Also if you're finding it harder in the indoor school, maybe it's because he's ever so slightly more spooked or distracted?

Let us know how it goes anyway!

Jo x :D

[Mousemagic]

Hi Jo

thanks for the tips. I am a member of my local Riding Club and our next internal competition is Jumping.

I did try the circle exercise a few months ago with my instructor. We jumped on both reins - frustratingly with no problems.

I jumped on Tuesday this week - we had about 5 fences in the indoor school - which ended up at a health 3ft - he jumped them all brilliantly - but the problem (landing wise) was coming across the diagonal right to left. We almost always landed on the wrong lead. Then was struggling to steady him, get the right lead to jump the final fence which was a reasonably large spread.

I tried all the usual things - but was only when I almost rode him at the opposite wall that - lo and behold he landed on the right lead.

As said previously - we don't seem to encounter the same problems outside. But with the winter upon us - more of my comps will be indoors - so want to get it right.

Thanks everyone for their help - this is a great website :)