ouchie

[TedMonkey]

In a moment of madness decided to jump 2ft 9 with Ted last night. Got over it the first time, but wasn't great. Second time he slowed right down to refuse, I kicked him on and then (bless his brave little heart) he jumped it literally from a standstill. Big jump for a little ponio.

He didn't touch it and really tucked his back legs up - which meant I was pinged straight out of the saddle. Rolled when I hit the ground and his hoof caught me on the chin. Was very lucky as my friend thought he had stood on my arm.

Now have a large black lump on the bottom of my chin - very attractive!

Ted just stood there and I got back on. Thought I'd do a little cross pole and he jumped about twice as high as he should, which lead to me clinging on for dear life again!

Ended on a good note witha 2ft3 straight - which again fel quite 'pingy', but at least I kept my seat this time.

Day off today, as I can't do my chin strap up. Yay for body protectors though, as nothing else hurts.

[Osci]

Ouchie! Hope your chin feels better very soon, but YAY for Ted trying his little heart out for you even if he is a bit like a coiled spring!

[gem]

Oof! Glad you're not too broken! Bless him for giving it a go :)

[TedMonkey]

I love him, but his jumping technique is very hard to sit to at the best of times. He needs to learn that he doesn;t need to go straight up then straight back down - with his head on the floor and his feet high in the air!!

[My Crazy Clan]

:lol: glad your ok though.

[Catg]

Youchy! Glad you're ok hun that sounded scary! Bless him for trying so hard for you.

I wonder whether putting poles out in front and behind the jump will help him to get the take off and landing right for you? If he's still learning this should really help him, when I had some jumping lessons with Zeb last year I really noticed a differece when using poles, he's terrible for refusing as I lack confidence but he never refused with the poles out.

Cat x

[TedMonkey]

he still seems to jump just as vertically over a spread. I think time and practise will help. I have been loose jumping him so he can sort his own feet out.

He's better on the smaller jumps now, but anything bigger than 1ft 9 he feels he has to slow down to take a good look at it.

Jumped him over a small pile of tyres and we actally got an extended canter stride over them - eventually!

[Catg]

Not sure if you last response about the spread was in response to my last post but just to explain myself better I meant put the poles on the floor like trotting poles. It will help him to gauge the distance better and allow him to make a smoother transition from his last stride into the jump.

Zeb slows to take a look to but he doesn't fo it as bad with the piles there, they seem to give him confidence as he's not having to try and judge the distance (or rely in me to do it as I'm crap lol).

Cat x

[TedMonkey]

I always use a placing pole on an upright. Would you put more than one pole out? How does that work when cantering into a jump?

Thanks!

[IcarusGirl]

To think it seems like only a couple of weeks ago you were attemping tiny jumps. Well done both of you!

[TedMonkey]

Maybe it would have been more sensible to stick to them!!!!

[fell lover]

Ouch! You were lucky by the sounds of it though I bet it hurts!

[Catg]

I always use a placing pole on an upright. Would you put more than one pole out? How does that work when cantering into a jump?

Thanks!

Ok, I'll try and explain what I have learnt so far. Anyone feel free to correct me!

I would put more than one pole out yes but then you are turning it into gridwork where you are training yourself and the horse to 'see' a stride.

On my first jumping lesson I didn't jump anything :o. We put four trotting poles out and rode over them on the flat in trot and canter to work out what Zeb's natural stride length was. (worked out that three of my strides equated to one of his (in trot) so my poles were three of my strides apart, you have to just play around with it until they are moving over them comfortably with having to stretch to get over them or are kicking them)

Once you're comfortable with the poles on the ground you can introduce a jump at the end, so if you're coming in at Canter for example you would count 'one, two, three, jump' as you go ride over the poles and the jump. This should help you to approach the jump at the correct distance. Possibly the reason why he went to refuse was because he was too close to comfortably jump it. The other reason could be that he was too far away to be able to jump it but not so far away that he could squeeze in an extra stride. So in the end he just did a catleap which threw you off (been there :lol:)

Gosh that turned into an essay! That's basically as far as I got before I put the jump up too high and fell off ruining my confidence :rolleyes: Sounds like you just dusted yourself off and got back on but I sat in a heap on the floor and cried :lol:

I'd go back to 1ft9" jumps that he is comfortable with and work on your approach with him before going higher again. He obviously loves jumping so once you get that bit right there'll be no stopping you!

I hope some of that made sense!

Cat x

[TedMonkey]

Thanks Cat. Will try that.

basically what I really need is a few lessons, but can;t afford them atm.

[beks the artist]

Glad you are ok. The more you jump the more you will find what works for his 'ping' lol xx

[Anni~Bell]

Awww well done for doing it again once you fell off hun :)
Time will take with his jumping but no doubt everything will work out :)

[ness]

You are doing so well with Ted and jumping-well done for persevering and I hope your chin soon gets better!