Strides jumping

[NoviceNic]

Without the assistance of a RI, how do I learn about strides? So I can practise them at home. Captain keeps putting in half strides. I am sure this has something to do with me as when he lunges he doesnt. :o

I go to local shows and have no-one else to hold my horse. So I cant walk the course. I watch the other competitors going around to figure out the course. I usually get there really early and just bang straight into the clear rounds before anyone gets a chance to watch. I wondered last time how I just couldnt keep one double up until I watched someone else do three strides in between. Thye were riding a smaller pony. Captain is just under 14 2hh but he is HW and not as nimble as these ickle ones. By sheer fluke I counted Captain was doing 2 strides and just tapping the pole off with his front feet. So I debated that unless I could get him to stretch to getting one stride in then we could clear the double. But I know my limits and Captain wouldnt have any confidence for that action yet.

[skye06]

Sounds like you could do with working on shortning and lengthening stride on flat and then you can practice while jumping. ground poles placed out slightly from fence should make him back off fence and not put in the half stride or placing poles to encourage him to take off in right spot. Placing poles for trot should be around 8 - 9 feet, placing poles for canter should be 9 to 10 feet.

[nutkin]

I agree with Skye on this.Practise makes perfect after all.One reason your horse may be putting in the extra half stride though is lack of impulsion so working through poles and working on shortening and lengthening through poles will help with that.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

the most important part about jumping is rythem. you need to get your horse going foward in a rythmic jumping canter and let him figure out his distances a little bit. if your horse can find it fine on the loung then you dont have to help him, let him figure it out for himself. you will be surprised at how much easier it is to get your spots when you stay out of the horses way.

just keep your leg on and it will help get rid of those chips.

[ponytude]

Sounds like you could do with working on shortning and lengthening stride on flat and then you can practice while jumping. ground poles placed out slightly from fence should make him back off fence and not put in the half stride or placing poles to encourage him to take off in right spot. Placing poles for trot should be around 8 - 9 feet, placing poles for canter should be 9 to 10 feet.

Here is a kick butt website about pole placing and the distances between poles (IE trot poles, canter poles and bounces, 1 stride, 2 strides, 3 strides, etc...) :)

http://www.cee.hw.ac.uk/~rose/equine/jump.htm

[domane]

I would suggest some gridwork too... little jumps with no room for strides.... start with a couple then add another or two... :)

[iloveshearer]

Also- wouldn't there be someone sitting nearby you could ask if they wouldn't mind holding him for you? Quite often there's people nearby? Or would you not trust someone else with him? Because i do find walking the course really helpful!

[NoviceNic]

He is too clingy. Not his fault but I get really anxious about Shows. So when we get there he is already wound up. I would hate to ask someone else to hold him as I can gaurantee in 2 mins he would be loose and running towards me or another horse. Probably knocking over the person holding him. :o I will have a look at those links and take on board all of the info you have all given me. Thanks. I have been lunging him a lot so will continue with that. How far in front of the jump should I put a ground pole?? Just off to read the link see if that says anything.

[~* Fab Filly *~]

i would try grid work, and just putting poles at different lenghts apart, so macking him shorten and lenghten his striding. x