Stopping her Leaping

[*EQUIBABE*]

I have a lesson every Saturday and I go up 2 the farm every time I am off skool ! i go up with ma little bro and my best friend and we arent really just lessons 2 Margret ( the YO) it is more like we live at the farm ! it is great !! :D when i go up on a Saturday 2 get my lesson i ride a 15.2 bay horse (called Poppet) she is owned by Margrets daughter ( who has just stopped riding and left us 2 look after her horses ) and i love her 2 bits :D she is perfect in every way but her jumping Julie taught her herself and she made a crap job of it she taght her to get over the jump but only in the way that was fastest but makes sure she doesnt knock it down . so when i put up a small cross pole she leaps way above it and she hasnt been taught how to take of properly and sometimes takes of far away from the jump ! at first i was unbalanced and left behind by her leaps but now i am used 2 it but i would really like 2 teach her how 2 jump properly!! any help appreciated
Thanks

[Cheeky]

Hey ...

Are you sure that she did a really bad job at teaching the horse to jump, or is her jumping techniques different to yours? How long have you been riding for?

The horse may feel it is taking a huge leap because of a few reasons:
- there isnt much indication from the rider to tell him/her how big to jump
- she/he cannot see the poles clearly, and there fore would rather take a large jump than hit the pole
- she is a naturally large jumper
- she feels larger, but looks fine :P

Could it also be possible that Julie used her for competing? Some (most .. ) jumping comps are based on speed and accuracy ... so providing that she jumps quick with a clear round, shell get a higher mark.

But, if that isnt for u (obviously from the post :) ), take her back to stage 1. Get off, walk her inhand over a pole. Then jog her inhand over the pole. Make her stay by YOUR side, and jump smoothly, without a fuss. Then, if you can, try cantering with her by your side. When mounted (after ground work), make her walk it, then trot it ... if you are used to the feel, you can feel where she will speed up - HALF HALT HERE. Squeeze your hands to slow her down, make her focus, then jump....

Also - flat work. Do it. Do not aviod it, do as much as possible, coz this will gain control and understanding ... Just take things slow ... and dont let her take advantage, get a connection ... :P

[Funky MeerKAT]

You could do some grid work with her, place a pole in front of the jump 2.7 m out from the base of the fence so that she has to take off just after the pole, start by troting into the jump (just a cross rail), by trooting into it they have to sit back on their hocks better, make sure shes stays in and even trot rhythm into it and then let her take a canter stride over the pole, but don't let her canter before this.

Once she is doing that well you can add another cross rail one stride away from the first (6-7m). Aproach the first one in trot and then let hert canter thru.

After that you can add another jump behind that, and so fourth. A bounce is 3m apart and two strides is about 14m depending on your horse.

[~*sugarlump*~]

if you're going to train her you need to start at the beginning. put her on the lunge to control her. if you can start her with smaller jumps and slower paces, then just build it up to how you want her to jump :) .
ash xx