At 03:08:29 on 11.11.11, AnEbonyDream wrote:
Hi, i'm having an issue with my pony, a 13.2hh, 20yr, mustang mare. She loves to jump and when given a jump she will pop right over it but she used to be a barrel pony and she has only been jumping for the past two years (i've taught her all the english riding she knows). She always tries her best to jump and do her best at it but she doesn't really *jump* over the jumps, she just does a big canter over them, no matter the size. i want to show jump her but because she doesn't know what to do with her legs she sometimes knocks the poles and it just doesn't look right. Star, my pony is a trooper though, she never refuses and she always tries her best to do what i ask of her, she just cant get this right and i cant seem to help her. So if anyone could help or give me advice on how to get her to pop over fences correctly it would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

At 06:22:17 on 11.11.11, kibby wrote:
I'd go xc training. Solid jumps should help her.

At 15:53:21 on 11.11.11, AnEbonyDream wrote:
I don't have access to any xc courses or solid jumps, though, any other ideas?

At 23:16:22 on 13.11.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
You could make a solid jump, maybe some tyres or empty water carriers/barrels, also wooden brick walls, also have you tried free jumping her? I would suggest free jumping over a grid of bounce stride jumps getting bigger and bigger (maybe 3 jumps starting at 1st jump 50cm, 2nd 75cm and finishing at 1m if she can jump 1m if not do smaller jumps) this should make her tuck up, once you have got her jumping try not to interfere when you ride over jumps let her teach you what she taught herself free jumping. Hope this helps

At 19:49:47 on 14.11.11, AnEbonyDream wrote:
thank you, this helped a lot. I took the two poles that i have and made a cross rail jump and put a cut off piece of a barrel (about a foot tall) under the jump and she tucked up right away. im headed back to the barn now to try again and i might try free jumping her as well. thanks.

At 16:27:02 on 21.11.11, AnEbonyDream wrote:
this is a video I made showing stars jumping progress so far because of your help. thanks guys(:

At 00:33:40 on 22.11.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
Glad to see her improving :) it just takes practice on both parts, you'll get your 3ft goal in no time!

At 01:17:46 on 22.11.11, kibby wrote:
A lot of horses don't understand they can't get rails. It's why I love little logs and solid jumps first.

At 04:13:15 on 22.11.11, AnEbonyDream wrote:
yeah, we're doing the best that we can. she's at 1'6" now and i'll update you all again when we get over 2ft