Getting to Base of Fence

[pryme_thyme]

Looking for some exercise opinions.
Same mare for those who remember myself/my mare, for those who don’t she is a dwbXapp, good overall conformation, lovely long neck, although built a little flatter if not slightly downhill with a back bordering on the long side.

Long story short. We have been working on getting deeper distances to fences/poles to help create a better bascule.
To get the deeper distance I have been sitting a bit more in the saddle on approach and half halting every two strides to the fence to remind her to wait and shortening the distances between fences.

Though, I am finding that the deeper distance doesn’t transfer over when I build my working canter for courses… Suggestions?

I have been wondering if holding balance is a little tougher for her when more forward due to strength…

TYIA

[hj0519]

Have you tried using placement poles in front of the jump to help manufacture the distance?

[pryme_thyme]

I have used placement poles before and after fences pretty religiously for the past two years until October… I have been trying to wean her off needing them.

[woodhillsmanhattan]

[QUOTE=pryme_thyme;7546520]
I have used placement poles before and after fences pretty religiously for the past two years until October… I have been trying to wean her off needing them.[/QUOTE]

Maybe try slowly increasing the distance from the pole? If you are using 9’ placement poles now then increase it to have one stride from the pole to the jump, then two strides, then three, etc. Make all the distances quiet.

[hunterrider23]

If you’re having trouble in lines, it could be because when you get short to a pole, you’ve eaten up almost a full stride and need to sit back to make a set number of strides. If you’re long to a pole, you’ve lost a lot of ground normally covered by the front feet, and need to move up. It’s the opposite for jumping. If you’re long, generally the stride is lengthened enough that you can shorten for the next jump, if you’re short/chip, you almost always need to move up.

[ToTheNines]

I assume you are training for hunters? I am not that great of a rider, and just do little stuff now. But I practice a lot at home and work very hard to make mine easy. I just keep the pace I want, ride forward to the jump, and if they go past the perfect distance, so be it. Let them learn to hold themselves off. You have to sit still and pretend it is the perfect distance tho.

Not a fan of placing poles for the reason above. But maybe a tiny jump set 45’ in front of another little one.

[Ponyclubrocks]

I like to use bounces to get my eye comfortable with a deep distance, you sure don’t want the long spot to the first element of a bounce!

[Hawks_Nest]

[QUOTE=ToTheNines;7546562]
I assume you are training for hunters? I am not that great of a rider, and just do little stuff now. But I practice a lot at home and work very hard to make mine easy. I just keep the pace I want, ride forward to the jump, and if they go past the perfect distance, so be it. Let them learn to hold themselves off. You have to sit still and pretend it is the perfect distance tho.

Not a fan of placing poles for the reason above. But maybe a tiny jump set 45’ in front of another little one.[/QUOTE]

This, just wanted to add that you have to remember to keep your leg on in those tighter spots. All the riding to the fence should be done 6+ strides out, in those last 3 strides just about any adjustment generally kills the canter and/or the distance

[Pally]

Gymnastics. Specifically, ones that ask her to slightly lengthen stride between elements, followed by a shorter distance that asks her to rock back. The jumps do the work, not you. Don’t try to hold her off the tight elements…let her figure it out on her own (yeah, it will take a few tries).

This is one of those things good pros really tend to do differently than the ammies. The ammy tends to want to pick and hold and protect and circle and whatever else they can do to try to get that “perfect” distance at home. While you may see pros performing all sorts of heroics to make it around the show ring clean, at home, they leave it up to the horse to figure out. Don’t worry if she hits a pole…nobody is scoring the faults at home.

[pryme_thyme]

This is great input all! Thank you once again for the advice. I am going to give it all a shot.

I admit… I do tend to help her and micro manage. Though, when I pretend I am infront of a judge and sit pretty, it tends to work out… This would be why!

I was thinking of working on more bounces. I tend to find them intimidating ever since she discovered how to land one, stop, spin and leave the way we entered. And I was second guessing her athetic ability! :lol:

[jetsmom]

As you come out of the corner, try half halting there, and then relax. For some reason, it always seems to work and let you get a deeper distance without having to try to make adjustments closer to the jump. But you must make sure you are straight, and not throwing the hip or shoulder out on the turn.

[findeight]

Try square oxers too. They don’t like to get tight to those, even a ramped oxer will back her off a bit. If you just use skimpy verticals there’s not much to encourage them and no consequence for burying themselves.

Make sure you have a definite ground line too, not a skinny dirt colored rail, use flower boxes if you have them.

Have you had any vet work lately? Sore hocks are really hard to see until they get to a fence and don’t want to rock back, they’ll drag you past every time.