maria9657
31st May 2005, 03:06 PM
Hello everybody,
Not quite sure where to put this thread.
My riding school recently bought a new horse with plans of using her in regular lessons. She is a 14 year old warmblood mare, about 16 hands. Prior to being bought by the riding school she was a very well cared for pasture ornament, owned by an older couple who didn't ride her. She had been a dressage horse and had popped over a few small jumps, then had sat in the field for 5 years. 6 months ago she was brought to the riding school and rebacked and has been ridden by the instructors since. She is a great horse wtc, lead changes, etc. She loves jumping, after someone gets off, if they let go of her she will run off and jump all the jumps by herself.
I am now riding her in two lessons per week. She is also being ridden by some other students. In the flat work portion of the lesson she is amazing, will sometimes get a little exited but other than that she is perfect. When we get to the jumping portion she is good. She tends to rush the jumps a bit, usually takes off a bit too far from the jump and prefers to go over everything at a fast canter. We are only doing small verticals and x-rails nothing over 18 inches. My instructor has said to me that since she is still a bit green jumping, she hasn't quite figured out how to shorten/collect her strides while jumping and that the easiest way for me to ride her is to sit quietly and let her for the most part work out the striding and pace. This has been working very well actually. I have learned that if I try to interfere to much she throws a massive fit and dumps me or ducks out the side of the jump. She is usually quite speedy and will sometimes, usually about 3-4 strides away from the jump take off galloping and not even notice anything that happens to you.
So my question is how would I be able to keep her speed under control, while at the same time interfering as little as possible?
Not quite sure where to put this thread.
My riding school recently bought a new horse with plans of using her in regular lessons. She is a 14 year old warmblood mare, about 16 hands. Prior to being bought by the riding school she was a very well cared for pasture ornament, owned by an older couple who didn't ride her. She had been a dressage horse and had popped over a few small jumps, then had sat in the field for 5 years. 6 months ago she was brought to the riding school and rebacked and has been ridden by the instructors since. She is a great horse wtc, lead changes, etc. She loves jumping, after someone gets off, if they let go of her she will run off and jump all the jumps by herself.
I am now riding her in two lessons per week. She is also being ridden by some other students. In the flat work portion of the lesson she is amazing, will sometimes get a little exited but other than that she is perfect. When we get to the jumping portion she is good. She tends to rush the jumps a bit, usually takes off a bit too far from the jump and prefers to go over everything at a fast canter. We are only doing small verticals and x-rails nothing over 18 inches. My instructor has said to me that since she is still a bit green jumping, she hasn't quite figured out how to shorten/collect her strides while jumping and that the easiest way for me to ride her is to sit quietly and let her for the most part work out the striding and pace. This has been working very well actually. I have learned that if I try to interfere to much she throws a massive fit and dumps me or ducks out the side of the jump. She is usually quite speedy and will sometimes, usually about 3-4 strides away from the jump take off galloping and not even notice anything that happens to you.
So my question is how would I be able to keep her speed under control, while at the same time interfering as little as possible?