This week in lessons

This week in lessons we are going to continue to work on some tricky looking jumps. This helps make sure rider's have a strong position that can keep their horse confidence even if they are sceptical about the jump.

Spooky jumps really highlight rider issues such as dropping their eye, or dropping their body. Riding a spooky jump needs a rider that has a deep and secure seat, but that isn't so much behind the motion that they will get left behind if the horse jumps. Basically, just make sure it is your CORE and not your lower back holding you up, and that you can feel your seat bones in the saddle. They rider's eye must stay up, as must the rider keep the horse's eye up so they don't fixate and focus on the spooky jump, and instead both horse and rider must look up and past the jump.

Looking  up and past the jump also helps the rider FEEL if the horses starts to wiggle or get crooked. It is important to hold the horse straight, and to maintain the same rhythm to the jump. If the horse gets quicker on the approach, chances are the horse is nervous, and planning to run out past the jump rather than over.

It is far better the horse stops straight in front of the jump, than runs by.  A horse that stops in front of the jump is at least still thinking about the jump. When this happens I usually hold the horse in front of the jump, let them look a moment, give them a bump with my legs to remind them to GO, and then try again. On the next approach I will sit a little deeper, possibly cluck as well, but keep them from getting quicker, and be ready for a BIG leap over by grabbing mane and/or slipping the reins as it is very important to not catch the horse in the mouth when it finally jumps!

If the horse tries to run by the jump, the rider needs to do their best to NOT let them go past by pulling on the rein to keep the nose pointing at the jump, even if they bonk their (the horse's) nose on the standard! If the horse goes to run out left, pull right! Simple as that. If they DO get past the jump, pull them up as soon as possible, bring them back to the jump, bump with the heels, then turn away to the opposite side and come again, protecting the side that they ran out on, making extra sure to not let them get quick as that almost always precedes the run out! As with stopping, make sure you are ready for them to jump by being ready to grab mane or slip the reins!

Karen

(remember no lessons on Tuesday night!)