I would do V poles over placing poles when free jumping. You want her to be focusing forward not where her feet are between fences so she can gauge the fence and it will help keep her moving forward. The Vs will help immensely and they don’t have to be super angled. Even just wide ones will help.
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Dressage person here, not jumper but I agree. Better tempo and more push from behind.
Susan
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The day after Free Jump Friday, I got an opportunity to do a jump lesson with someone I’ve always wanted to train with. Sorry shayney, two jump days in a row!
The instructor set up a grid that could not have been more perfect for what we were working on (though maaaaybe a little over our pay grade haha). He set probably 15 poles at 10 feet distance, then as we went through it 4 of them turned into jumps. When they were all poles, she was getting a little flat/fast but once there were jumps in there she really learned to sit back and balance. He also had us do a few other things. Shayney was super, and gave everything I asked a good solid try. Good girl!
She got a super light hack day today and will get tomorrow off. Not ideal for two days of jumping in a row, but when an unusual opportunity arises… 
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With a sad face, I announce - I am starting to see her winter coat. :(.
I’m going to wait until 2 weeks before the inspection to decide if I’m going to clip or not. Again, she does NOT turn mousey, so I’m not concerned about color.
Yes yes, it’s facetious. But I want her to look her tippy-top best for this.
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You can also look at the weather forecast for that day. Warmer weather will lay that coat down slick and shiny, shinier/healthier looking than the old tired (no matter how healthy) Summer coat. BUT, that warmer weather may also just be too warm for what she’s asked to do that day.
Winter coats are absolutely making their visual appearance now, mine are getting just a little darker, coat change dapples are coming in, and they’re definitely at least as hot, if not hotter, on a lower humidity 88* day now than they were on a higher humidity low 90’s day.
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Yesterday I had a short ride. The flies were HORRID despite multiple fly spray coatings, I even got off once to put more on. We did a lot of cantering just to keep the flies off us. Honestly it was miserable, despite it being pleasantly cool and rather windy.
Today, I switched her bit from a bomber ported barrel to the NS verbindend because she was getting heavy in the bomber too regularly. Flies were much better tonight. I worked mostly at the trot - forward and back, then transitions walk/trot/walk in shoulder in, then did shoulder in to medium trot back to shoulder in. Ended with a very nice stretchy trot. She stayed more reasonable in the contact in the verbindend, even when a little fatigued.
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Here’s free jump Friday from 9/2. I tried the V poles, i think they worked ok. On the second to last one she over reached either in the chute (though I don’t see it) or afterwards, ripping her bell boot off and taking a piece of a heel bulb with it. She didn’t seem too phased so I sent her through the chute one more time and called it a day. Suggestions for better bell boots? These are rubber pull on ones.
The last two go-throughs the last jump is 3’9" with a 3’ spread. I personally don’t see much more scope in her past maybe 4’. Thoughts?
We did it in a bridle this time, so full blown practice. I think practicing has done her good, as she seems to be getting more relaxed about it all. There is still some hooligan behavior afterwards, she’s always so proud and excited when she finishes. I wish I could close the chute at the end, but with only marker tape as the side I don’t want to risk it.
I wasn’t going to get hind boots for her for the inspection but seeing as how free jumping is before the inspection itself I think I should probably do everything I can to protect her so she doesn’t hurt herself in the chute.
Two more weeks…
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Also, I still gave snacks (sugar cubes because of the bit/bridle) but tightened up expected behavior before the snack. I say whoa with her a good distance away, she stops, I approach her with the treat. My terms, little lady. Not yours.
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She’s improved so much! And excellent job on the treat situation 
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Looking very professional and focused here. And relaxed, novelty has worn off and she’s ready to work
All I can see here’s shes not got a snappy front end but, on the other hand, theres nothing particularly impressive about that very simple oxer. At this point she does not need to see anything impressive anyway, shes calmly giving whats needed…and thats huge.
Scope is a wait and see thing plus some see an overly impressed youngster extravagantly overjumping by several feet as an indication of future scope.
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I was thinking the next (and probably last) free jump I’m going to drag some new stuff in to gauge her reaction.
I like that she’s looking much more round, and far less flat.
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Wow! Really awesome improvement and progression here.
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Much, much improved. She really seems to enjoy it. I think I hear her celebrating afterwards 
As far as the bell boots, I would rather her rip a bell boot than the bell boot not rip and she eat the dirt.
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Oh yes agreed! Maybe there’s something more form fitting that actually works though? These bells are old and getting a little dry rotted, not a surprise it ripped. Just a bummer she snagged her heel bulb, which is what they’re there to prevent!
I cut out the celebrations, because it’s her hooliganing around with me yelling Shayney quit that! Shayney no don’t you dare kick that tripod over! Shayney don’t you dare go backwards through the chute!
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Yes, I quite like these, if you don’t mind something that you can’t leave on: https://www.farmvet.com/Quarter-Boots. (I personally hate leaving bell boots on.) And then, while spendy, I use these on my jumper for showing: https://www.farmvet.com/Veredus-Carbon-Shield-Overreach-Boot.
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I think I love Dory!
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I agree, the Veredus are the best but their price is just awful to stomach.
I also like the Back on Track Performance (no turn) bell boot because it’s about impossible for them to step on but provides protection from strikes. Disadvantage is that they don’t reach all the way to the ground so if you have a horse that really likes to pull shoes, they can still grab the shoe. I will use Italian bell boots on those guys.
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Lord have mercy on the $$ Veredus. If I didn’t know they were bell boots they could be a very expensive bra. I like those Walsh ones though! Has anyone tried the Professionals Choice ones that are plasticky like Davis boots but more form fitting like the Veredus ones? I saw them at a tack store and thought they looked cool.
And yes, I feel like you either get superior fit and heel bulb protection, OR a shoe pulling deterrent. She lives in those gummies because my farrier might kill me otherwise.
@chestnutmarebeware she really is something else. So sweet… so silly… so absent minded… she can’t help it, so you learn to just laugh.
