Improving technique: straightness and forearm

[fermecinqsens]

I bought a new horse a couple of weeks ago. I’m looking for some exercises to target her issues and improve her jumping technique.
she drifts right quite badly. It is not so apparent over single fences but I rode her through a line of poles today (three canter poles on either side of a vertical) and she drifted so sharply to the right that she missed the poles on the landing side. Even with me consciously attempting to correct it on approach, over, and landing she still veered right. Any exercises for remedying this? Would it be useful to put guide poles on the right side to keep her left?

she does not use her back well over jumps and definitely no forearm/shoulder. I have been doing pole work, bounces, and canter poles on take off and landing. Anything else I can do to improve bascule and teach her what to so with her front end other than hang it? She is scopey- if she figured out how to snap her knees she’d be clearing everything by like 3foot.

[phoenixrises]

the straightness starts on the flat, shoulder fore, haunches in (not at the canter) leg yield, turn on the forehand, turn on the haunches, over and over and over. 1) that will help you realize where she’s weak and two it will teach her to move off your leg so when she does get crooked you can correct.

[equisusan]

In addition to what phoenixrises said you maybe lacking some muscle strength in the hindend and through the topline. Horses often evade when they are weak so be sure to get this horse strong. Lots of long and low to engage the back and hindquarters.

[findeight]

If their hocks are bothering them, they will drift, might check with the vet…and, no, they don’t limp if both hocks are sore.

Also, conformation can limit how high any horse can lift its knees, if her shoulder angle does not allow it, it’s not going to happen so be careful not to ask for something she can’t do. Horses can also drift to compensate for not being able to get over straight so I would hit the Flatwork pretty hard focusing on laterals and isolating/controlling the haunch before jumping much, give her a chance to strengthen herself so she can hold a straight line over a fence.

[Nadia1990]

How is she conformed?? if her poor form is caused by poor conformation chances are it won’t get a whole lot better

[Horseman15]

Blaze is doing the same thing, but going left. We had the vet out and it turns out the problem is in his ankles. His left ankle in particular. We’re going to try steroid shots next week since he’ll have rested for a couple of weeks.

[PNWjumper]

I agree with the flatwork suggestions - lots of lateral work and transitions and just general conditioning. I’m assuming that their aren’t major conformation issues causing the drift, but regardless, you also have to realize that it’s going to take a while to address the straightness.

On the immediate response front, though, try approaching the poles from the right and then leg yielding right to left over and across the poles/jumps with the goal of ending on the left side of the poles. Start the leg yield before you enter the poles so that she’s already moving her body over towards the left as she trots over the first one.

ETA - I also agree that compensation for soreness somewhere is a great wrecker of straightness. I wouldn’t rule that out either!

[fermecinqsens]

Yes we are working on it on the flat. I know that it will take a long time to fix straightness issues. (I am actually a dressage/event rider so I do love dressage and know how long it can take to make a horse truly straight). But I would like to jump a bit too while we figure it out. So if anyone has jump-specific exercises to target this that would be most appreciated!

Her conformation is quite correct. Great neck. It’s a Westphalian mare bred to jump with springs in her feet.

She was recently vet checked and she is only 5 so I’m quite sure it is not soreness. I bought her as a problem horse so I know that this steering/turn/drift issue is at the root of her bigger problems. Which we are addressing.

I am not concerned about her jump technique at all – I’ve learned that you can train it into them. I just need ideas! My other horse was a total spud when he started jumping and almost fell on his head over everything. I thought he was going to be a strict dressage horse. Now he is stellar. But their issues are different.

Other horse 4 years ago: https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/418862_10150993234547854_799083384_n.jpg?oh=3fe512f9820f33e3be1fd4576edfb101&oe=55E6D33F
Other horse this year: https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xft1/v/t1.0-9/11032688_10152759670277854_1187504406604125050_n.jpg?oh=3a4cb41a4244fbee0696fd0fb4b93819&oe=55FB8639