At 08:58:28 on 26.11.09, Flicka wrote:
I watched a demo by Tim Stockdale last weekend-always entertaining!! He said he goes from walk to canter and hardly uses trot. Obviously a good canter is really good for jumping so I thought we could share some tips for improving it here. One thing Tim said which I really agree with is that once you've asked the horse for canter he should maintain it and you shouldn't have to keep using your leg. Often I see people pushing with their seat too much as well. I was taught that rather than pushing the canter all the time, let the horse drop back to trot if it chooses to and then immediately pick it up again. Any more thoughts or tips?

At 16:26:42 on 04.12.09, Sylvia Hibberd wrote:
My loan horse speeds up before the jump but in the last three strides he almost stops how can i stop this???

At 11:35:41 on 09.12.09, Flicka wrote:
Hi Sylvia-it could be that because he's speeding up going into the jump you're holding him too much with your hands and forgetting to keep your leg on. Often when you're forging a new relationship the jumping can go a bit awry because the horse has got his way of jumping and you have yours!! So I would try and be a bit more giving with your hands. Then I would check that you're not holding your breath-make sure you breathe slowly and deeply into your belly. Also make sure you don't lean forward too soon as this will unbalance him and put him on the forehand. I'd make sure you've got someone on the ground who can watch what you're both doing and play around a bit. Putting trot and canter poles in front of the jump will also get him to think and slow down a bit. Hope this helps.

At 14:53:00 on 12.12.09, Mouse wrote:
Are your aids consistant when you are riding towards the fence? Two common mistakes are for riders to take off their legs on the approach to the fence through nerves and expecting the horse to "go it alone" & grabbinbg the rein contact-causing the horse to be unsure if the rider wants to jump or not! OR the rider fires the horse at the fence, all guns blazing in the last few strides, the horse quickly learns to anticipate this & thinks that this speed is what the rider wants. Try laying out a course of poles, flat on the floor & ride around it in canter as if they were jumps. Work on getting a consistant canter rhythm, balancing the horse through the turns, changing canter diagonals, approaching the poles with impulsion but not charging at them. This exercise is ideal for giving the rider the a chance to identify their own & the horses weaknesses & strengths. It sounds like you are leaving the horse to it's own devices. Horses need to feel that you are with them, keep your legs around the horse, NOT kicking it, just squeezing & keep your rein contact. Try The exercise, I've found that it has worked with rushing horses & riders who are prone to over excitement!!

At 19:11:15 on 17.12.09, Sylvia Hibberd wrote:
Thank you so much Flicka, very useful info xxx

At 15:26:03 on 29.12.09, Natasha wrote:
My pony speeds up very fast at jumos then stops dead infront of them, how can i stop this??

At 18:14:35 on 29.12.09, sophieandcallum wrote:
I have spent the last 18months (obviously in moderation!) trying to get a quality collected canter out of my pony and we finally have it! He used to rush all over the place and it was basically impossible to stride him into jumps so would trot into jumps, now we have this good canter which I don't let his rush at all in I can stride him and he doesn't panic and really enjoys it! I agree that if you have to keep using your leg let them drop back and ask again straight away. Also I give one little nudge just before him taking off to reassure him I want to go over that! and it seems to work, he has only ever darted out when I didn't give the nudge!

At 18:16:01 on 29.12.09, sophieandcallum wrote:
If you have to keep nudging in canter it becomes like nagging them and therefore becoming dead to the leg! Which is even worse! Definately something you should nip in the bud even if it takes ages for your horse to grasp it will be worth it!

At 18:27:42 on 29.12.09, Flicka wrote:
I think the advice given to Sylivia probably applies to your situation too. As he's speeding up it might make you hold him back too much with your hands and forget to keep your leg on. Some people are often tricked into thinking that a horse that tears towards the jumps loves jumping when sometimes they are actually afraid so you need to go back to basics, regain their confidence and work on a consistent canter rhythm using poles as Mouse suggests.

At 21:50:25 on 31.12.09, Rahara wrote:
Flicka and Mouse have good advice there...my instructor took me back to poles on the ground and trotting I bought a young mare recently and didn't want to make mistakes with her and mess her up, I jumped her a few times in the arena she goes well but I don't ..looking down going over the jumps or back...dithering around after the jump and not looking to see where I'm going to keep her going so she's doesn't know what she's doing OMG so I've gone back to basics for now plenty of flat work.I can honestly say it's brilliant getting lessons even though I've been ridding for years.It always helps when someone is watching you...