I really need help with my youngster

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Posted : 5/2/2011 6:12:04 PM

I have recently started riding a 6 year old irish draft thoroughbred cross who was an affliated jumper at the age of 4, since then he has done little.
I rode him a few days ago and we were just having an experiment to see how high he could go, and he happily cleared 3ft 9. However a couple of days later I decided to start putting jumps together to build up slowly to a course, however we only have a double of two cross poles no bigger than a foot.. he would go nice and steadily foot perfect into the first part but run out at the second. After a few more tries he went over both but he soon returned to running out the second part from both angles, I just don't understand as he is more than capable and I don't know how to get him out of this bad habit. I know he is only young but I want to beat this habit before it sticks.

PLEASE HELP!!

danastark

Posted : 5/2/2011 11:28:52 PM

Sounds like he's figured out your weaknesses and what he can get away with ':)'

I apologize ahead of time if any of this is too elementary for you but since we don't know exactly what you ride like, these would be my assumptions ':)'

Make sure he listens well to your legs so that you can keep him straight, that he isn't popping out his shoulder to escape from you by holding the outside rein when turning his head and keep your head up and looking where you are going. If the jumps are simple 12 in. cross rails, you can simply walk him over them until you get him going straight, then try adding the trot. Goodluck-BTW, we'd love pictures of your boy!

showqueen74

Posted : 5/4/2011 3:32:38 PM

What I read from your post is your horse hasn't done a lot for quite some time, and now your wanting to go and do some jumps (sounds like your doing a set of in and outs, or bounce?) he may not physically be fit to do so just yet. your one day of 3'9 probably left him sore too.
Thats what I think of when I read your OP.
Good Luck!