I am at a loss. I struggle with seeing distances and my pony has a terrible habit of chipping in. We even at beginner novice with potential to do novice but I definitely can’t even think about moving up unless we sort this issue out. She is confident in her approach but tries to throw in an extra baby stride, loses all momentum, and cat leaps over the fences. She totally disrespects smaller fence heights and I tried putting a placing pole and she acts like it isn’t even there. She has front shoes and pads. I don’t know what to do. After having a fall XC because of this im at a loss as to what to do.
Well, if you can’t see distances that’s where to begin, with a good trainer. You need eyes on the ground and someone to set up grid exercises for you. And to check that you are maintain steady speed to the jump, not half halting 4 strides away.
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Without seeing a video, I would say you likely need to work on the quality of your canter. In trying to find the distance, you may be riding ‘backwards’ to your fences. Good jumps, jumping from a good distance, comes from a good quality canter (forward and balanced). In your flat work, put some poles down and work over those.
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First, a “chip” has very little to do in how close your take off point is to the fence. It has everything to do with the quality of your canter. Fix your canter. Second, most horses without anyone on them would find the perfect distance all by themselves 99 out of 100 times–which means you are likely interfering with him in front of the fence. If you are riding to a fence and don’t see the distance don’t pull (which you are probably doing) instead put on a supportive leg.
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Stop worrying about distance and add more leg on take off. Even if they “chip” what you describe is a horse behind the leg. I’d also have a vet check and make sure Hocks etc are all good.
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Thank you all for your comments! I’m going to try some things 
My big guy was chipping in all the time because I was riding to slow to the fences. When I got him really moving, it fixed itself. I am not good at distances either.
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My guess is you’re unintentionally backing off approaching the fence. I saw a great exercise at Equine Affaire last year. Set up two ground poles, one before / one after a fence. Make sure they are the same distance / same amount of strides. If you come to the jump with more strides then after, you have your answer.
- Develop a better quality in your canter.
- Count your last three strides out loud.
- Keep your leg on during those last three strides.
- Be patient with your upper body, keep your eyes and shoulders up.
Chipping is a safety option for horses. And you’re right, don’t move up until you can sort it out at the lower height. If you continue to have trouble and try to move up, your horse will start stopping.
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I will also agree with bornfree that while everyone’s advice about the canter is spot on, it could also be the hocks. If it is, then all the efforts to get a better canter won’t fix it. I’d have a vet out and do an exam with this problem as a specific touchpoint.
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Count, it made a world of a difference for me. count 1,2,3,4 as you’re cantering around. It’ll teach you to feel the right canter as well and help see your distance.
As for seeing a distance, just canter over poles on the ground, all over the place.
It sounds like your horse is chipping because the rhythm to the fence isn’t consistent. (preaching to the choir here). Story of my life, I can’t keep a rhythm, but counting helps. Even though you may think it’s the right canter, it may still need to be more powerful.
A coach, or a good friend on the ground can help immensely to see what you can’t feel.
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I typically do the 3 stride counting, as well. Until I had a great lesson with a trainer who had me doing it farther back- like 8 strides- as that helped me see whether to add leg or support and hold. It took some practice but it has helped immensely.
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I agree with everyone else’s assessment as well as Asterix regarding the hocks. You can’t get a good canter if your horse doesn’t feel capable of doing it. My own recent experience has lead me to look at front feet as well. I got his feet feeling better and the canter wildly improved. In the process of getting his feet feeling better, I added pour in pads, but then needed to put on a bell boot otherwise he destroys the pad. My horse LOVES to get long and flat and you have to really work to keep him small and package and he’s so good about tricking me into slowly letting him get long and I struggle to feel it happening until its way too late and the freight train has left the station. But by adding the bell boots I can hear them make that “clicking” sound as he canters and I use it as metronome. I used to play in band and orchestra so I’m used to that noise when practicing alone. Who Knew!? That’s helped my ability to make the canter happen immensely.
Agree with asterix (as usual).
Is he conformationally better off getting to the base of a fence? My huge but short legged Irish Draught successfully did Intermediate in the UK with a professional and chipped in regularly. When an inexperienced trainer here tried to get him to leave long at Novice fences, he started refusing. They sold him cheaply to me. He was happy with us when he realized we would let him select his own distances.
+1 to this. Is she barefoot? Front shoes may help - she may be reluctant to land if her front feet are sore.
A few years ago my guy started chipping in, and it turned out his soles were paper thin. Fixed his feet and he was right as rain. (I hated using pads on him just because I lost so much traction, so the next year I was diligent about using Durasole on his feet.)
She had been barefoot but I recently put front shoes and rim pads on her to see if I helped any. She is still having the issue, I’m sure it’s almost worse by habit by now. She even does it over small 18" fences like she sucks back and her momentum slows so much despite adding leg. I think I better add a tap on her butt as we approach to remind her to move forward. I tried setting placing poles but she completely ignores them. She would just barrel through them if I let her, doesn’t try to pick up her feet. I’m getting someone out to watch and give me instruction tonight - hopefully we can jumpstart fixing this. She is half haflinger half Arab so she likes to pull and run flat on the forehand as well. If we can’t resolve it I will definitely have a vet check her out.
Quality of the canter and balance. An unbalanced horse will chip. An unbalanced horse will rush and not pick up their feet. Lessons, lessons and a few lessons on a schoolmaster for you to help you relax and ride the rythm
Do you have video? It might help others pinpoint what they see,.
Sounds like she doesn’t respect you. The fact she barrels through placing poles, but doesn’t make a difference when you add leg means there’s something missing.
I would almost want to keep at the placing poles to teach her respect.
How is she with grid work?
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My experience (most of which have been mentioned).
- Hocks
- Behind the leg/flat canter
- Me leaning forward a bit before the jump which knocks off his striding.
- Me messing with the reins too close to the jump. I have to remember not to touch his face after about 6 strides out (which is hard, since as mentioned his canter can get flat).
Good luck!
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