timing troubles

[riderready]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I'm starting to jump a big horse with a huge stride.  He collects nicely, but a few strides out I can see that it will be a long 4 or a short 5.  Since his problem is being strong and over exuberent, the correct thing is to go for the concervative 5 strides.  The problem is that he is so big, his collected stride is longer than other horses, so we end up chipping in.  But, we are not ready to go for the bigger fence yet. Any ideas?   #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Mystic]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Sounds to me like he needs to learn proper rhythm. My suggestion is to work alot on gymnastics and cavalettis with bounces and one strides. He needs to learn to back himself off the fence and this will help him do that. It will also teach him proper jumping form. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Leena]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Since you are the rider, you have to set him in a regular gaits, and ride the course this way.I know it's seem a bit difficult but as other mentionned, ground riding, and cavaletti exercices, ground poles will help you setting the pace for him.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Good luck and I hope this help !#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Leena#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[graciespook]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Set out a canter pole nine feet from the base of the jump...it will do wonders....and I second the flat work...another good exercise is to set up a four and a half stride line and practice 4 strides then five .#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Flyin' High]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#i agree with the above posters, flatwork and canter poles are great. gymnastics will work wonders too. your horse needs to learn to adjust himself, and you need to learn how to help him do that. my old mare had a long staride to, and was very strong (once took a 5 stride line in 2 strides w/o being long.. still can't figure it out)#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#gymnastics help a LOT!!!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[*Giddy Up*]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Poles!! You can never go wrong with poles.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#A good thing to do is to set up a line, say something like a 5 stride, then you practice doing it in all different strides- 5, 4, 6- work on lengthening and shortening your horse's stride as far as you can go. It will really get the horse listening as well as develop your eye better.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#As well, you can set up a course of poles, where the good thing about poles is that you can fiddle around with striding without worrying about hitting something, knocking down something, big trips, ect. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[riderready]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Thanks for the input.  It's definately a rhythm problem - most horses see the fence approaching and adjust - he doesn't.  His stride is so long, I have a hard time helping him adjust.  I like the idea of combinations or ground poles.  #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Figuring out the best canter quality may also help.  It's hard to get the good impulsion without him trying to hook off with me.   #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[*Giddy Up*]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Poles and grid work will be really good for getting him to adjust. That's something that comes with time- don't worry too much! Just keep working at it and he'll understand. Same with his pace and quality of canter- the poles are really good for that because you can work on getting him to shorten and lengthen and to listen to you and gridwork also helps because it tells him his striding and thus he'll eventually figure out the pace he must go.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#If he has a really long stride you may want to work on collection and extension on the flat first.#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Good luck!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[shady222]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#the more dressage and trot pole work you can do will help this horse develop a rythm. try getting the distance between poles or raised poles before setting them up as jumps. When you can get the number of strides you want between the poles then i would try jumping, at this point i would try and find a rythm for him and leave him with hunter lines set on the 12ft stride and not ask him to collect or extend quite yet as that may upset his rythm. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#