Getting Back Into Jumping

[lizziebrandy]

Well me & my pony did quite a bit of jumping last summer, not competing just at home, but after a winter of no jumping I am wondering how to get him back into it. If it helps my pony is VERY clever and gets bored quickly, also he can be lazy so I also need a bit of help getting him motivated.
Thanks Lizzie

[Maes Seren]

Poles? Elevated poles, gridwork, dog legs erm ... different fillers underneath, tarpaulins etc.

If you can, stick some fences up in a field?

[abi]

take it slowly, might be easier to loose school him or lunge over small fences first?!

how old is he? does he have much previous experience? how fit is he?

as maes says, start with poles and raise them gradually, jumping uses different muscles to flatowrk and it may take a while to build up these muscles again.

let us know how u get on! xx

[fleabitten]

Just work on your flatwork for the minute (take it slowly like abi says) - teach him to move off your leg when YOU say! Carry a stick and give him a tap on the bum/behind your leg, if he doesnt listen. Canter in your forward seat and practice going from a fast canter to a slow canter and back again.

Try seeing how slowly you can walk, then how fast you can walk and vary it, progressing to trying this exercise at trot and canter.

Set out 4 poles in a box shape with gaps at the ends big enough to ride through.
Ride across the diagonals, in a straight line over 2 poles. Looping round and over the other set of poles, think of different ways you can ride over them.

Set out poles in a straight line trotting distance apart. You could also put them in a fan shape, measuring the trotting distance from the centre of each pole. This enables you to practice shortening and lengthening stride length depending on whether you are riding on the inside, middle or outside of the poles.

You could also raise the poles of the ground slightly, using pole pods or jumping wings, only do raised poles in a straight line though.

Another exercise using poles would be to set them out cantering distance and weave your way in and out of them and also practice cantering over them.

Set out 2 poles parallel to each other in the centre of your schooling area around about where X would be. Trot straight for them and aim to canter before you reach the end of the poles on the leading leg of your choice. - canter down the centre for a few strides then turning whichever way you asked i.e if you asked for canter off the left leg then you would canter straight then circle left. - you should keep cantering until you reach the top end of the poles then come back to trot and repeat the exercise, varying which way you turn so your pony learns not to anticipate. This is a tricky excercise so you might want to trot a bit before you reach the top end or start asking for canter a bit before the top end if your pony is hard to get to canter. But remember, dont just sit kicking, use that stick - responsibly!

When you start to jump again begin with tiny fences and only do one or two single fences at the end of a schooling session, building up to low grids after a while.

have fun

[lizziebrandy]

Thanks I will definetly try all them things
abi-My pony is 14 but very well muscled[sp?]
We have 3 sets of wings an lots of poles,
I shall try and get some fillers made.
Also the arena is 40x20.
he's had plenty of jumping experience when we previosly loose jumped him he got up to a 3F 6 spread, even though he's only 13"2
Thanks again. ;D
also we have been working on the reponsiveness all winter but cantering is still a bit of a problem mostly on the left rein

[Blonde Donkey]

i am just doing this with my mare, we are doing poles on the ground - not walking over them calmly like i wanted never get a connemara! - but she is getting back to it gradually

[abi]

should'nt be too hard to get back into it if hes been there done that and is already fairly fit.

with responsiveness, do it in three stages.
first, squeeze with your legs.
if he ignores this, give a bigger kick
if he ignores this too, give him a tap with your whip, dont stand for any messing about, he needs to know you're in charge if you want him to listen to you when jumping, which can be crucial.
stick with the three, and he will soon learn it is easier to move forward when you squeeze xx