Jumping exercises?

Question

I'm leasing the horse I ride next month and she needs some definite help on a few things. One is lead changes, I know what I'm gonna do for that, but the other is consistency over fences- both in speed and not refusing. I was thinking some gridwork would help for refusals, but what exercises can I do to help her keep an even canter throught out a course, and not rush at jumps and break stride on turns.

Answer 1

Grids really help with rushing. Build a combination with one rail 9 feet from a vertical then 9 feet after the vertical another rail, then another 9 or 10 feet to an oxer then 21 feet to another vertical (in the middle another rail) and then on the landing side another rail 9 feet out. It is to be cantered, and is very, very tight. Because it is tight, however, it will really help slow down the horse and make it more aware of where to place its feet.

It also sounds like you need to work on some more basic flatwork such as pushing your horse over and balancing it into your outside rain and leg, the more balanced the horse the less likely it will break stride and will also help with lead changes. I suggest lateral work at the walk and trot. It will engage the hind end, which is the motor of the horse (too many people focus on the front end), the more engaged the hind end the more balanced. Remeber when doing flat work it is all about your outside rein and your outside hind. Try googling or talking with your trainer about some more specific excercises for the flat.

Hope this helps, if you have any questions just ask!

Answer 2

Horses are not born jumpers. Although a horse in the wild can jump a log to get to a certain destination, a horse in domestication needs to be taught to jump. Teaching young horses to jump can be tricky; their first jump will leave a lasting impression. In an ideal world, horses should jump every obstacle we present to them willingly. In reality, horses develop all kinds of problems and try to avoid jumping as best as they can. Not all horses do that, of course. Some horses are naturally talented and those of us who own such horses are blessed. As for the rest of us who really enjoy jumping and want to get the best out of their horses, how do we deal with all the problems associated with jumping?

The problems described below are general and common in the horse world. Every trainer will probably have his own technique to solving a problem, and every horse is an individual who may or may not respond to a particular technique. Therefore, the solutions suggested are general and apply to all horses. Most importantly, do not make the mistake of falling into the never ending spiral of tension. Stay calm and maintain a neutral but positive state of mind. Never loose your temper.

Problem # 1: The horse refuses to jump, stops before the fence, or jumps hesitantly.

An over-faced horse will refuse to jump because his confidence has not been established. Check that you are not advancing too fast for him. If you are, go back one level and reduce the difficulty. When you are positive that he is jumping positively, gradually increase the difficulty. Many horses take a long time to build their confidence so be patient.

If the horse still refuses to jump, get another horse to jump ahead of him. Horses learn surprisingly fast from one another and they also trust each other…if he can do it, so can I.





Be warned that beating the horse with a whip or digging into his ribs with spurs will only make the situation worse. The goal is to let the horse trust in his ability, not completely shatter his confidence.

Problem # 2: The horse hesitates on the approach and slows down.

This happens with a horse who does not enjoy jumping or thinks it is too difficult for him. Instead of kicking on and on, work on the flat to make sure your horse is very responsive to light leg aids. Strong leg aids don’t work any better, they just deaden the horse’s sides. You want to sharpen his responses, not eliminate them.

When you want to jump, approach the fence in walk. Pick up the trot about 15 meters before the fence, encouraging him with your voice. Use your leg only if he needs it more forward energy. Otherwise, the legs should be draped around the horse, doing no more than ‘breathing’ with every stride; translated as the legs should lie closely against the horse.

Problem # 3: The horse rushes on the approach and rockets over the jump.

Allow more time for the warm up to make sure your horse is loose and relaxed. When working on the flat, include trotting poles and jump a small cross-pole every now and then. This accustoms him to the concept of jumping and plants in his mind the idea that it is no big deal.

Before jumping, ask yourself these questions: are there other excited or active horses around? Are you riding next to a paddock where horses are turned loose? Are you jumping towards the gate? These are factors that can contribute to the horse’s rushing. Try jumping in a quiet area and away from the gate.

  Approaching the fence on a circle can help. Jumping from curves rather than straight lines tend to settle horses down a bit. Another good remedy is to place three to five trotting poles before the fence. This encourages the horse to slow down and think about his approach.

Problem # 4: The horse runs away after jumping the fence.

One of the main reasons that his occurs is because the horse is afraid of the rider’s hand. Harsh half-halts and pulling on the bit can actually aggravate the problem and make it worse. To slow the horse down and regain control, sit upright in a dressage position and keep your seat light and soft. Half-halt a few times until the horse has slowed down a little. You can place the jump before a wall to discourage the horse from taking off. It may be easier said than done to ask you to sit upright and half-halt a galloping horse, but it is the only way to correct the problem without making it any worse. Make sure that as soon as the horse responds to the half-halt, you lighten the contact and give him some rein. If he tries to pick up speed again, bring him onto a circle to avoid any loss of control.

To prevent it from occurring, approach the fence with as much leg as necessary. Don’t generate too much energy if the horse can manage the jump with the current activity.

Problem # 5: The horse is always fresh and very excitable about jumping.

A young or nervous horse should be jumped frequently but with little demand. Four or five times a week should be sufficient. Try including trotting poles and small fences in your daily schooling of your horse. You want your horse to build his confidence and get used to jumping, so never ask too much of him before he is ready.

Maintain an even rhythm and never ask for sudden changes of speed when you are jumping. Stay calm and work on establishing a secure seat for yourself so that you do not upset him by an unbalanced seat. Include frequent hacking as this is essential for the mental well-being of the horse.

Problem # 6: The horse leans on the bit, resists the aids, and runs out at the fence.

If your horse only does this occasionally, consider if you have overworked him. Horses get frustrated by too much work and will resist if pressured. If that is not the case, then don’t give the horse anything to lean on. Lighten your contact and give him more rein. To maintain control with the light contact, keep your hands wide apart as you approach the jump. This lessens the pressure on the bit and keeps the horse straight. Your approach should be slow and steady; half-halt if necessary but always give the rein again to prevent the horse from leaning on the bit.

It has been said that changing the bend two or three times on the approach to the fence can stop the horse from running out. You can try this if you wish, but if it results in a crooked jump, it is best to try another remedy.

Also, jumping on a curved line or as you come out of a curved line can help with the problem. This engages the hind legs and maintains a certain bend, discouraging the horse from running out. Above all, never use harsh or restraining aids or equipment to force the horse to jump.

Problem # 7: The horse approaches the fence in a crooked line.  

This is a problem often associated with poor schooling on the flat. You will need to spend more time working on straightening exercises on the flat before you attempt to jump. Once that is done, to break the habit, you can position ground poles before the fence in a funnel shape. That is, make a lane of poles that direct the horse to the center of the fence.

Your horse could also be stiff to one side. You can correct that by straightening exercises too. Jump him more often with his stiff side stretched, i.e. bending to the left if he is stiff on the right. Remember that most horses are stiffer on one side so work on the flat is extremely valuable to suppling both sides of the horse. You can also practice lateral movements by getting the horse responsive to sideway-stepping aids. It will prove handy when you need to straighten the horse on the approach of a jump.





Problem # 8: The horse jumps diagonally instead of straight through the middle of the fence.

That is an effect that results from a crooked approach. Again, work on improving your horse’s straightness on the flat. Check that you are not the cause too; if the stirrups are uneven or if you collapse one hip on the take-off, the horse will be unable to maintain a straight line.

If the horse always tends to jump towards one side, try the following exercise: Say your horse jumps with an angle towards the left. Ride a circle to the left and jump the fence at approximately a 45º angle to the right. The opposite applies if he jumps to the right. Make sure your angle is not too sharp or you are risking a run-out.

  

You can also manipulate the poles to your advantage. Raise one pole from one end and let the other end drop to the ground, or raise one side of the top pole a few holes higher than the other. The higher side should be the side to which the horse tends to travel. Another option is to place one end of a pole near the middle of the top of the fence, and the other end on the ground in front of the fence.



Problem # 9: The horse is tense and is hollowing over the jump.

Hollowing over jumps is similar to hollowing on the flat. Again, go back to basics and work the horse in a rounder, longer outline on the flat. Read the article on Long & Low as the exercises described will help strengthen the horse’s back. Otherwise, spend more time in the warm up loosening your horse.

Check if you are blocking the horse with your hand. A heavy hand or seat can result in the horse hollowing his back. Always maintain a light but steady contact. Hill work can also strengthen the horse’s quarters and back and will help him retain the desired bascule shape over fences. Lateral exercises, such as the shoulder-in and half-pass, can be of great benefit to the development of the horse’s athletic ability, provided that your horse is already established in his training. Perhaps you can do some loose jumping (jumping without the rider) as this will help him find his balance naturally.

Problem # 10: The horse is careless and constantly hits the poles.

Does he do this at the end of the session? If so, he may be tired. Give him a break and jump a small fence after he catches his breath, then declare the workout  

Answer 3

There is a great book I use and love called "101 Jumping Exercises" by Linda Allen & Diana Dennis. It's designed so you can hang it on the arena wall and each 2-page spread shows you a map of the exercise and simple instructions about how to ride it.

It's also great for when you're getting bored and need some ideas to freshen your schooling.