background source: yourhorse.co.uk
There are many reasons for which the horse does not want to jump over an obstacle, which was mentioned in this article's previous part. An effective rider is able to identify the source of such situation as well as change it. In order for everybody to be able to become such rider, let's try to take a look at some more, most popular horses' "problems" that show while jumping. We will try to show you solutions how to change such unpleasant (both for the horse and the rider) situation.
Today we will discuss cases, where:
1. Horse stumps - adds additional foules before take-off.
2. Horse is afraid of new obstacles.
3. There is a problem with turns on the parkour:
- Too broad turns.
- Falling in and falling out on a turn.
Horse stumps - adds additional foules before take-off
What does it mean that the horse "stumps" before an obstacle? It is a pretty common term for a situation when the horse adds one additional foule before taking off, which was not intended :) In such case, the steeds usually throws the poles with his front legs. It is caused by the fact that the horse takes off too close to the obstacle. Jumps with "stumping" are similarly exhausting for the horse to jumping from a stop, namely way more exhausting than a properly performed jump.
Causes:
Horses usually learn "stumping" when the rider has an improper seat while jumping and right before jumping, when not waiting for the horse to take off, the rider "steps ahead" of the horse with his or her torso, forestalling the horse. It results in a heavier loading of the horse's front, who adds some extra foules to regain the lost balance.
The rider anticipated the horse with her body. It is easy to see, when you look at the girl's hips, which are practically above the pommel instead of the seat. Photo's author:
Rob Lith |
CC BYSolution:
Rider, who slightly "anticipates" the horse makes a much worse mistake than a rider who even badly "stays behind" the horse. Why? Maintaining balance is the most important for the horse while jumping. Rider, who "forestalls" the horse disrupts this balance. Horse, whose rider "stays behind" the movement will feel it in the landing phase, meaning - practically after the jump.
Some animals, when such situation of the rider "stepping ahead" repeats, quickly learn to "stump". In order to prevent it, below we present you with a few helpful exercises.
Exercise: a rank jumped without the use of reins and hands
You can find many ideas for arranging the ranks in our previous articles concerning the jumping gymnastics. Remember to adjust the obstacles' height to your and your horse's abilities. There is no point in setting obstacles that would be too high, because on lower ones the horse can perform more attempts. However, it is good to set the obstacles on such height that the phase of flight is long enough (height of 60-70 cm - of course depending on the horse's height).
While performing this exercise, it is good to for example tie the end of the reins in a knot so they would be shorter and would not hit the horse's legs or the obstacle's elements. However, remember that you have to tie them in such a way that they would still perform their task. After all, you have to somehow lead your horse before and after the jump :)
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Exercise: lengthening and shortening the foules
Below you will find exemplary arrangement with distance of 2 and 3 foules between the obstacles. Apply the distance that would exactly fit your horse. Ride the line calmly, then ask your helper to gradually extend the distance approximately of 15 cm with each approach.
Your horse will have to lengthen his foules, due to which the moment of taking off will be clearer. Why? Because it is you who would have to force the horse to make 2 big foules instead of 3 little ones, and that will result in you having better control over the place of his take-off.
Nevertheless, remember that the only moment when you can give your horse the signal to lengthen is the moment od landing after a jump. Do not try to lengthen the foule right before a jump - it is too late then.
Even horses with short foule are capable of learning cantering with longer foule. However, remember that you cannot maximally lengthen the horse's foule with one exercise during one training. It needs time. But if you will gradually and sensitively apply greater distance on a given amount of foules, you will succeed :)
Horse is afraid of new obstacles
Causes:
Horse, since the beginning of his existence, was a victim of carnivores. Thus, he has an intrinsic instinct: threat = run. The horse will first run to a safe place and only then think, what in reality might have happened.
Some horses are more "vulnerable" to new stimuli and they tend to be more fearful than others. They avoid or run away from new items and objects of louds sounds and noise. Sometimes we think that some of them pretend just to get away from performing some exercise, or get rid of us from the saddle. Of course, those are single cases - usually the really experienced school horses, the so-called "troupers".
However, most of our four-legged partners really panic and avoid the new "threat" as the plague. What to do in such situation?
Photo's author:
SJH Foto |
CC BYSolution:
- First of all, if you see that your horse is afraid, accustom him with the obstacle by letting him sniff it and see it from every possible side until he stops showing any signs of interest towards the poles. You should do that before riding, walking the horse in your hand.
- You should act calmly, gently and consistently so that your horse can feel secure with you in a new situation.
- Avoid focusing (both you and your horse) on the objects and things that can scare him. Do not lead him pointing with his head towards the thing he is afraid of. Distract him by occupying him with something else. It is worth trying to bend him in the opposite direction so he does not look on the "feared" place. Slowly, keeping the horse's head turned, approach the place until you pass it.
- You train with your horse at home. Remember that it is good to spend some time on training from the ground - in such way you build the horse's trust to you and his self-confidence. It is worth to try to play with him - walk on colourful foils, put various "scarers" on him, visit the stable's area and give the obstacles some unusual design (you can hang something on them, paint them or place something next to them). You give your horse unlimited time to get used to them, encouraging him with your voice and sweets, or even another horse's presence, who is not afraid of that thing. Due to such lessons, not only jumping weird obstacles would stop being a problem, but also any unexpected situations in field or getting in a trailer. Even if a new stimulus appears at any time, which is unknown to your pet - the fact that he trusts you will take over and he will wait for your signal to know how to react.
Accustoming the horse to new objects, source: theequineindependent.com
- If any obstacle terrifies the horse during training, you should set it in a way so it is so low that the horse would be able to jump over it from a stop. The horse has to know that even is something scares him, he can take a look at it, but eventually he has to respect the rider's decision. He ought to remember that on the signal of the rider's calf, proper seat's pressure (alternatively with additional command "go" or a smack of your lips) he has to obey. Even if from a stop, eventually he should jump over the obstacle. He has to know that he can trust his "commander on his back" and when the rider tells him to go forward, he must go forward :)
- If you know that your horse has troubles with new obstacles and you are at a competition - remember that you have a moment before the start. Thus, it is good to use that time and approach the most "innovative" obstacles, which in your opinion will concern the horse. Always allow him to sniff them.
Problems with turns on the parkour
Too broad turns
Falling in and out while turning
Causes:
- Forgetting about the rule telling us that the direction of riding is the most important goal to achieve during training. Thus, allowing the horse to take too much control.
- Using aid and signals that your horse does not understand and is not capable of reacting in a proper way to them.
- Improper dressage work that numbs the horse for the rider's signals.
Solution:
Manoeuvrability of the horse is important in every discipline. However, it is especially important in time trial show jumping where the horse's response time to aids is crucial, because each second matters. Immediate taking turn is very important while riding on a parkour. What to do to improve your horse's manoeuvrability?
- Planning and precision. Before you begin the exercise, analyse how and where you want to get.
- Always look a few steps or foules ahead. Direct your sight into a place where you want to be in the next stage of riding and lead your horse there.
- Give your four-legged friend signals with a sufficient notice. Just like in the road traffic - first you signal that you are taking a turn (indicator), and only then you take it (you turn your steering wheel and push throttle). The exact same rule applies when you are horse riding - first give your horse a signal that you will turn, and then perform it.
Below you will find exercises that will help you improve the turns' quality and their speed.
Exercise: jumps in a circle
In a circle of 20 m diameter arrange poles on the ground as on the below picture (16 m distance between the ends of the parallel poles). Ride the circle at a canter. If it turns out to be too tight, enlarge it. If your horse ride the initial circle with no problems, ask your helper to exchange the poles with low obstacles, preferably with cavaletti or straight rails of 40-50 cm height (properly to your horse's size). Try to ride that arrangement both to the left and to the right side. Take into consideration the fact that your horse has a "weaker" side and it will be harder to bend him. Then remember not to tire him more on his worse side, because the horse gets frustrated with each failure. Ride alternatively - a few times in each side, trying to keep even pace.
It is important that the picture of the planned circle goes exactly through the obstacles' centres. After some time, when this exercise becomes easy for your horse, you can try to decrease the circle's diameter and place the obstacles closer to the middle of the circle. However, remember not to do everything during one training!
It is good to plan a series of 12 - 16 jumps (3-4 rounds of full circle) and take a short break, giving your horse some time to rest at a walk.
Exercise: Hap Hansen's circles
This exercise was created by a great jumping rider - Hap Hansen, who used it while training his charges. This type of exercise gives you an opportunity to perform thoroughly considered turns, which will allow you to precisely approach the middle of the obstacle. It is a necessary ability to become successful on parkours :)
Place the obstacles (as before - cavaletti or low straight rails) as presented on the below diagram, leaving a distance of 8 - 8,6 m between each, which will correspond to 2 foules at a canter. Note that the end of one is coincides with the middle of the second obstacle. Thus, remember about changing a leg after jumping an obstacle, so you will start each circle riding on the right leg.
It is not worth worrying about the jumps - rather focus on the proper leading of the horse on the route you set with your sight.
Too broad turns - riding on a parkour
Too broad turns are effect of starting them after the jump, at a moment when direction of the next foule is already decided. If it is not as you expected, you lose precious seconds on the parkour. In order to buy some time, you should plan the route at the moment of take-off.
Exercise: decreasing the number of foules by tightening the turn
Obstacles from the below schema might be low (40-60 cm) or of medium height (70-90 cm) - according to your abilities and the number of repeats you want to perform.
While approaching the obstacle no.1 remember to start the turn at the moment when the horse takes off. Try to count how many foules he manages to make from the moment of landing from the obstacle no.1 (beginning of the turn) to riding on the straight line to the obstacle no.2 (end of the turn). You should remember that number in order to lower the number of foules with next repeat. It is good to do the same between the obstacle no.1 and no.3.
Such arrangement of obstacles as on the below picture allows you to ride in both directions - both to the left, and to the right side. It is good to perform 2-3 repeats on each side, then change direction. Try to reduce the number of foules gradually, of 1-2 or more with each round on each turn. Keep even and calm pace. Also try to lengthen the foules' length on straight lines, without accelerating. You should pay attention if the horse is obeying your commands instead of working "by heart".
Falling in and out while turning
Below you will find a perfect exercise for horses who learn to fall in while turning.
Exercise: reversed turns
Start this exercise by approaching an oxer, then change a leg while you are still in the air, turn and approach on the straight rails. If you arrange both of the below configurations, it will allow you to ride in both sides - left and right. Tend to precisely enter the corner, so that you will have the opportunity to precisely approach the straight rails. 
Most important rules concerning elimination of the horse's mistakes while jumping:
- You do not jump the whole parkour. Repeating the same exercise on one obstacle (straight rails or envelope) of remote height (40-50 cm) will allow you to eliminate mistakes.
- Do not hope on fixing all the problems during one training. Usually the bad behaviour has already takes its roots at the horse. Thus, you have to be very patient and prepared that the process of "unteaching" him and teaching him new behaviour while jumping might take a very long time (even a year). Everything depends on how deep the wrong reaction has its roots at the horse.
- You should take into consideration that you might be the cause of your horse's mistakes. If you have problems with keeping balance, you cannot follow the horse with your body and "give away" your hand to him while jumping, you have to be aware of the fact that each jump with you on the horse's back is not a pleasant experience for him. You should work on yourself first, preferably with a coach, and on the professor-horse (experiences), who would forgive you all your mistakes and shortages.
- If you experience problems with the horse while jumping, very often it is a result of lack of solid dressage basics and trust in the rider. If you omit certain elements of training, sooner or later you will have to go back to them anyway. Thus, it is not worth loosing time on teaching the basics again. Try to train your horse step by step, without rushing another phases of teaching.
Also, remember that the very basis of jumping is a helmet. It is worth investing in one of good quality that will absorb the impact, having all the necessary certificates and meeting all the European standards. It is also worth to buy a solid vest that will protect you from serious injuries in case of any falls.
We hope that our tips will prove helpful! Soon we will publish next part of this article, discussing another examples of mistakes that the horse may make on the obstacles :)
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