Indio's first attempt!

[pboy]

Indio had his first jumping lesson today He was quite lively and a bit spooky when I got on - apparently he also did a huge spook when Ali was putting his rug on in the field last night so he's obviously feeling well at the moment!

We started out by trotting then cantering over some poles, then Ali added a cross-pole a stride later. Her philosophy (as per the French / eventers discussion on the other thread!) is to teach the horse to work out their own take-off point so the rider focuses on a good canter and straightness by keeping the leg on and hands soft. Indio was very sweet - he wobbled and wiggled a few times but he never slowed or felt like stopping.

Here's a video when Ali had just added the second set of wings and poles, hence Indio forgetting how many legs he has and nearly tripping over the first pole!!



And the final run-through. Indio was getting a bit tired by now, mentally as much as physically. He was looking for the fences though and felt lovely over the second jump, he really lifted through his shoulders. Ali thinks he'll make a decent jumper and said she really enjoyed the session - as did I!



And some stills:

[fleabitten]

Oh hes so willing! Hes funny getting his legs all mixed up but hes doing a good job sorting himself out! Looking good!

[fimacg]

He is looking really good for his first attempt. Well dobe

[pboy]

Thanks guys! He's such an honest boy and a real pleasure in every way (apart from his occasional tendency to pull back and break headcollars!!) - I'm lucky to have him

[racaille]

Bless him!

I like that approach, letting the horse work it out and it looks like Indio is learning the business quickly.

[brigadier]

Gosh he has done fabulously- very well done to you both, he is very very honest and like you say- uses his shoulder. You've got a good boy there.

Its great to see your threads as Harriet is at a similar stage, we tried her jumping for the first time at the end of last week. She was lovely over the poles as I do a few of them in schooling, but couldn't understand that we wanted her hooves to leave the ground when it came to the jump, she didn't waver or wobble just trotted higher! Finally I had to approach in canter over a straight bar and she jumped it lovely so we ended for the session. I think she will jump well but be a rocket so don't want to do too much and fizz her up completely. She is getting whizzier still!

[brigadier]

He seems to favour a left lead after the jump- was that deliberate or just the timing of the filming? Harriet prefers a right lead I think so will ensure I get some left ones the next time.

[pboy]

Apr 21, 2015 7:32:45 GMT brigadier said:

He seems to favour a left lead after the jump- was that deliberate or just the timing of the filming? Harriet prefers a right lead I think so will ensure I get some left ones the next time.

He favours the left lead and the left rein in general. He was quite good with a single jump and would sometimes go on the right but once we added the second he was consistently on the left. One thing at a time though, I figured it was better not to ask too much in the first session!

ETA - very observant of you!!

[brigadier]

I agree, very much so- the main thing is getting them over the jump for the first few times. But I must say it infuriates me when I see people jumping in training and then carrying on blithely when they are on the wrong leg. Its like the training ends on landing and there is no thought to get away. (can you tell its one of my bug bears?)

[pboy]

I'm a bit obsessed with straightness and doing everything evenly so yes, I can entirely understand that!! I was always taught to treat the jump as a big canter stride, so in my mind that means the canter before and after should be the same...though I do have a tendency to oversimplify

I really like the exercises that Andrew Nicholson demo'ed recently - it's all about rhythm and getting the horse thinking: e-venting.co.uk/2015/02/international-eventing-forum-andrew-nicholson-young-horses/. Deceptively difficult exercises though!!!

There's another article on the older horses too: e-venting.co.uk/2015/02/eventing-forum-andrew-nicholson-older-horses/

[haffyfan]

He looks great for his first attempt, he looks a lovely honest boy. Well done to both of you.

Apr 21, 2015 7:27:12 GMT brigadier said:

She was lovely over the poles as I do a few of them in schooling, but couldn't understand that we wanted her hooves to leave the ground when it came to the jump, she didn't waver or wobble just trotted higher!

I had this issue with Harry, he just kept picking his knees up and trotting over them too! Preferable to Murph who thought 6 inches needed 4ft clearance though.