improvements - why does he do this?

[jenren!!]

there was showjumping comp today at our yard and i entered the clear round (2ft ish), the novice (2ft 6 lovely height :) ) and the intermediate (2ft 9). i got a clear round, 4th in the novice and the intermediate, erm two runouts and a knock-down!!

Anyway i noticed a few things as i went round the course (in all the classes).

1. he kept getting too close to the double therefore mucking up the second part which was a spread (why does the second part always have to be harder when you've just mucked up the first part?!).

2. whenever i went over a jump on a diagonal and i wanted to change leg, i'd apply the aids, but he'd change his front legs and not change his back legs so it ends up in a really odd canter which is sooo uncomfortable leaving me with no choice but to pull him back to a trot and ask for canter again .(deep breath) he does this also when he lands on the wrong leg and i sharply turn him to change his leg but ends up doing this! this was my biggest problem i think.

3. all the other ponies' seemed to do flying changes if they get their leg wrong, why won't my pony do it? he stays on the wrong leg.

4. he cleared the hard jumps and mucked up the easy ones!!

Apart from this our jumping itself was brill but i wondered whether you could help me iron out these little problems as our progress goes towards points for our winter jumping league we're having and i want to do well!! any advice would be fab!

X jenny X

[galadriel]

Has he ever been taught flying lead changes?

[intouch]

Well done, sounds like you have the makings of a showjumper, first thing you need is enthusiasm, then the desire to keep improving!
First thing you need to do is establish a good, forward going, consistant canter, with a steady rhythm - not too fast, but maybe more powerful than you would think. If you have walked the course you should be aware of your line and if the distances are right for your horse or if you have to adjust your stride to meet any of the jumps.
Then make sure your approach is STRAIGHT towards the middle of the jump, keep a good steady contact, and let the horse do the job!!! Your job is to show him which jumps you want him to do, set him up for them then let him get on with it.
As soon as you have set him up for a jump, you should be starting to look for the following jump, so you are not looking down into the jump, but over it in the direction you need to be going for the next one. That will give him every chance to land on the correct leg, but this is something you need to do a LOT of work on at home.
If he is not on the correct leg, come back to trot for a stride and correct it. Don't worry about flying changes at this stage, that will come with practice and experience.
Ride all the jumps in the same way, easy or hard - that's just your opinion, your horse might not agree! And when you come to the last one, imagine you are having to go round again - that will avoid "last jump itis".
To sum up - consistant canter, LOOK UPand have fun!!!

[jenren!!]

well, galadriel, i have tried teaching it to him, but it doesn't work. he'll do it over a pole. what are the aids as i'm not sure i'm doing it right!!

intouch, thanks for your advice, you've made my day! i still wonder though, why do you think he changes his front but not his back legs?!

X jenny X

[galadriel]

I have a discussion of the aids for a flying change here:
http://lorienstable.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=137

[kedwards]

i still wonder though, why do you think he changes his front but not his back legs?!

He's probably not balanced enough to make the change with his back legs at the time you are asking, especially if, as you said, you were turning him sharply. Changing in front is a little easier for the horse, changing in back requires that he is sufficiently balanced and really able to get his outside hind leg under him for the switch. If he's leaning or you are leaning, he won't be able to do it.

As for going in too close to the first fence in a double, if you see that it is happening, collect and rebalance him immediately after the first fence, then allow him to go forward to the second fence so that he can come into the spread on a good forward stride. Easier said than done sometimes, of course, in the heat of competition.

[Elvengirl]

Like intouch said, most importantly you need to keep your eyes up looking for your next fence and keep a consistent, steady pace. It's easier said than done, but it helps to keep these thoughts in mind throughout your course. Do you have a coach or experienced person walking the course with you? It always helps me to have someone to help decide the best routes and striding for the course.
What is happening when you "muck up" the first fence in your combination? Do you add an extra little stride? Do you take off long? If you are adding an extra baby stride before the first fence, you need to sit up and wait for your horse. Put your leg on and think "Horse first, Rider second". If you get the first fence correct just sit and wait for your second fence, let it come to you and let the horse jump up to you. From walking the course, you should be aware of what kind of stride you need to be on to successfully negotiate, so stick with your decision. If you take off long, don't give in to the idea that you need to gallop to make the second fence, balance and ask for a longer stride. The thing is, if you mess up the first fence in the combination, don't think it's all done and there's no hope, just ride it, keep your leg on and stay confident, your horse will figure it out as best he can so try and give him the best ride you can.
In regards to lead changes, it sounds like your pony is not balanced enough to change. This takes practice and a lot of time to get him to change his lead. Horses will change naturally at liberty but this changes with a rider on their back. What may help is when you ask for the change, if he only flips his front, give him a tap with a dressage whip behind the leg and see if this will encourage him to flip his hinds. You should have a coach work with you on lead changes.

[jenren!!]

thanks for the website galadriel, your notes are very useful!!

As for the double, what he usually does is get right under the jump and then try his best to get over it, resulting in an awkward and uncomfortable jump. i suppose it's all about thinking fast isn't it. after the horribly uncomfortable jump over the first part, i don't often 'think' about pushing on and checking my rhythm towards the next jump, definitely something i need to work on! i might invest in the near future on some flatwork and jumping lessons. the instructor i have had before is very experienced and certainly knows her stuff, and very nice and understanding too.
you both say that he may not be balanced enough to make the change, i am currently schooling him properly now as he wasn't schooled properly by his last owner, so really he's in his early stages at 8 years old, could this be the cause for his unbalance? if so, how can i make him more balanced? both for jumping and flatwork?
thanks again,

X jenny X