At 19:05:17 on 28.01.10, Jessicaaaaa wrote:
Hi, i was just wandering if anyone has any advice on how to get my pony to canter towards the jumps? Whenever I'm jumping my pony in the school, he starts cantering but then a few strides away from the jump, starts trotting and takes a big leap over it. But whenever we're outside he canters towards jumps no problem. His old owner says it might be that he would be better in a bigger school, but there is a small grass paddock at our stables, about the same size as our school and he has no problem cantering towards the jumps. Does anyone have any tips? Thanks :)

At 12:00:09 on 29.01.10, Flicka wrote:
I would ask yourself first if you may ride him differently when you are in the grass paddock-just a thought. Do you think he actually has a better canter when he's in the grass paddock. Is your school quite deep?. How fit is your pony? Have you ever tried running yourself on some arenas?-it can be hard work if they get deep He may be losing impulsion as he comes out of the corners. Just a few thoughts. I would work on really pushing him forward in the canter down the long sides without any jumps and maybe take a lighter seat.

At 15:36:42 on 29.01.10, sophieandcallum wrote:
I had this problem as my pony wasn't very balanced and I think he felt a bit cramped in the school, so I worked on balance and a collected canter. It worked for us, it built up his confidence and also make sure your pony is responsive to leg! Then a little squeeze and reassurance and he should stay in canter and pop the jump no problem, I agree with flicka it could be a deep school so harder work for him, but work on getting him fit and balanced and you shouldn't have a problem, maybe go back to flat and polework for a while :)

At 16:53:01 on 29.01.10, Jessicaaaaa wrote:
Both those suggestions are really helpful, thanks! Will deffo try them next time i ride! :D

At 09:40:58 on 08.02.10, j_leopold wrote:
try loose schooling him over the fences in canter....therfore he will be thinking for himslef and then when you get on he wont be to botherd what our doing on top..thats how we trained my friends horse as he had no confidence over fences and we let him figure it out for himself and he went on to b a grade b almost a showjumper...

At 13:02:25 on 08.02.10, Flicka wrote:
Yes I agree with a bit of loose schooling helping them to go forward and get more confident over jumps without being hindered by a rider. It will also give you an indication of how he likes to jump.

At 08:00:04 on 10.02.10, j_leopold wrote:
oh and make sure u put a ground pole out before the jump..coz if your horses has lost confidence maybe he just needs a bit of help on when to ake off in canter...and the ground pole will help...

At 23:44:57 on 12.03.10, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
Legs, hands, legs, hand. Repeat it hold him to the jump and when he usually breaks back leg him on EVERY stride. You have to see the jump, when he canters think about your canter and collection then few strides away remind yourself LEGS LEGS LEGS. Get someone in there with you if it helps to actually say "legs" as when someone says something when we ride we usually automatically do it. If this doesn't work trot into it a few times first then canter at it. He may not be as comfortable in the school and may be more careful in there. It doesn't matter what gait you ride to a fence at as long as you are smooth, consistant and collected.

At 22:48:14 on 15.03.10, ToriSilverson wrote:
my 12.2 pony does this at jumps, usually larger 1s because she jumps easier out of the trot. try cantering over poles, and then elevate them til eventually you hav a small jump. it could just be a confidence issue. Gridwork would be good too, gets the horse and rider into foreward thinking riding, but remember to ride for the last jump.