JUMPERS: Need help with combinations!

[bettina]

My horse really rushes with one stride combinations (double and triple), no matter how calm I am on the approach and how much I calm him down with my voice and my reins. And I know I'm not unconsciously spurring him on with my legs.. when I trot him to combinations he canters in between them and rushes, too. It's getting kind of on my nerves... he's too fast pulling away from the combination that when there's a sharp turn and a jump right after it, he's too fast and I have to circle to get him to calm back down then the jump (after the combination) again. Can anyone offer me any tips? Thanks!! =)

[Georgina]

Hi,
I consider myself still only a beginner jumper, but this might help anyways.
Mostly sounds like you want to practice re-establishing control after any type of jump. In my last jumping lesson, I practiced halting after the first jump even though there was a second jump a few strides ahead. These are small jumps. The exercise was practise gaining control of the horse, halting and then doing the second jump (even if I had to back up the horse a bit.) Then do both jumps as a combination and practice a halt after the fence. If he's going faster than you want, he isn't listening to you. Maybe a more remedial exercise similar to this will help? Then build back up to the complexed combinations.

[Canter]

Hi!
I know exactly what you're talking about. We have a school horse named Star who is as calm as can be until you point her at a jump.... then she bursts forward at a mad (and terribly uncontrolled) gallop and scares the rider to bits! I too have had my students practice halting after the first jump (even if it is the only jump) in order to re-establish some control. Sometimes I place one pole on the ground a short distance after the jump in order to give the student and the horse a visual to stop in front of. However with this type of horse it is much more easily said than done! Now, I don't know what level of experience you're at, but if you're jumping combinations I'm assuming you've got pretty good control of your mount.... all too often when you ask a horse who is prone to rushing to stop between two jumps, it becomes a messy and combersome plough right through the second jump. Does your horse rush at only one jump? ...or is speeding up a result of seeing more? I would suggest you set up only one jump and stop after it a few times, then add the second and continue to stop between them. Once your horse is used to stopping and hopefully begining to anticipate that - then ask her/him to continue through the combination. Remember to throw in that halt now and then, even after you've travelled through the whole combination in once movement, just to keep the horse guessing.

I don't know if this will help, but I'd be interested in hearing how things go...

Good luck,

Shelley

[bettina]

Hey!! I just had a riding lesson and we did triples again and with a little more rein pressure Pete's finally slowing down!! I was so thrilled! This is so much better than barreling over the jumps and bolting off after one of them.. we did that triple combination, turn, jump kind of exercise again and I actually jumped the second jump without having to circle before jumping it. Finally. *grin*

Georgina & Shelley: he doesn't rush to single fences, just combinations. I can halt him easily after single fences and combinations with more than 3 strides in between.. combinations placed closely together usually excite him and that's when he rushes.

But I think he's finally listening to me! Thanks for the suggestions you guys!!

[Sarah]

hello!

Glad to hear that your last lesson went better. The strides that a horse does in the middle of a combination are meant to be canter strides, so don't worry if he is cantering between the jumps.

There are many reasons why Pete could be bombing off after the combinations, he could be panicky about them, unbalanced or in pain. Or it could just be that he has always doen them this way!

Looks like you have got it sorted, be careful not to sock him in the mouth to slow him down over the last element. Try to use your seat to steady him too.

bye!

[Tikki]

Hi. How about setting up rome related distances at slight angles - e.g. 3 jumps in a sort of V with 2 strides on one side and 3 on the other.

It can be jumped from top or bottom and if your horse is not used to gymnastic jumping will probably take him a bit by surprise. He'll need to listen to you for directions between elements which hopefully will slow him down a bit. Worth a try?



[This message has been edited by Tikki (edited 02 December 1999).]

[bettina]

TIKKI: I'll try that idea! Thanks a lot!!!!

[olympicprincess]

Bettina- I strongly advise you from ever stopping purposely in between jumps! This will lead to refusals or run-outs.

Try using placing poles- your horse will either correctly use them or trip over them. If he trips-good! He needs to wake up and listen.

If everything is working well like you said, ignore my message and good luck.