My trainer is always trying to impart to me the difference between “riding forward to the deep one”, which is what you want in the jumpers, especially once the oxers go up, versus pulling to the chip, backing up to the chip, taking your leg off to the chip–all of which I have perfected, lol…
8 Likes
This is true mostly- but I am one of those who see the jump out of the corner, raises her eye and never looks at it again. I can’t tell you how I do it, why. My trainer and I toyed with changing it but I rarely miss so we left it as is.
So my go to move is to add no matter what. Like, girl, your eye isn’t that good, you don’t need to make changes 6 strides out no matter what’s going on. I think this horse will help teach me to leave him alone because he is so good at his job and he actually has a super quality canter that’s not that hard to create so the distance should theoretically just show up. Another point, is that he’s soooooo uphill and huge and I’m pretty tiny, that the jump disappears from sight a few strides out. So I’m kinda forced to keep my eye up and leg on and trust him to do the rest.
Again, all of this in theory. In practice my reptile brain takes over half the time and convinces me that the best way to jump is to curl in the fetal position and pull.
5 Likes
This is me as well. It is a bad habit from riding a horse who was hard to get in front of the leg and was super heavy on the forehand with a weird stride and I was always picking and micromanaging because otherwise we’d get funky distances. Loved the heck out of him, but bad habits were created. What has helped me is with my new trainer she always tells me get your pace in the corner, but as soon as you are straight to the jump just stay. On a horse that knows their job just keep the same amount of leg and stay out of their face and they can judge where they need to be. It helps that right now I’m also on a saint who really knows her job so I get to really focus on not freaking out and micro managing when I don’t see a distance and learning that the right distance isn’t scary, just different (since I’m so used to the chocolate chip).
Your new guy looks lovely! Congratulations.
1 Like
Those are almost the exact words my trainer used when I first got the chance to jump a course on her daughter’s big eq horse who competed in the finals at MSG. He was a joy to ride after years of bored, sour schoolies but it took time learning which buttons to push.
And after a 20 year break from riding I went back at age 50 and was lucky enough to lease some wonderful packers who took good care of me in my old age when all I wanted to do was have fun on a horse that I knew would take care of me. 
3 Likes
I ALWAYS preach “Long is Wrong!” then I show off my surgical scar on my collar bone (if I can) from the time I violated my own rule 
1 Like
New horse has been at the barn now for a little under a month. I don’t have video, so y’all will have to take my word for it. It’s taken a couple weeks to learn how to stay with his big jump and how to release sufficiently for his giraffe neck and huge effort but it’s finally clicked. We signed up for a clinic and ended up in the 3’ section because it’s all that’s left. We’ve all been preparing for the clinic and have been working on the same bending line course all week at cavaletti height. Last night I said, hey, if I’m doing the 3’ section I better jump a little bigger soon. So after a couple warm up rounds she put everything up at 3’/3’3” and we JUMPED THE S*** OUT OF IT!!! It was the highest full course I’ve ever jumped and probably the nicest course I’ve ever jumped. We had to rejump one oxer because I half halted a little too hard in the corner then goosed him to make up for it and jumped past our distance a bit and took one rail down. But other than that, every fence came up perfectly, we were forward yet balanced and it was so fun I literally couldn’t sleep last night because I was up riding the course again and again! Suffice it to say, I made the right choice. I feel like this horse has already changed my life
59 Likes
Love this!! Hopefully you’ll be able to snag some video during the clinic that you’ll be able to share.
1 Like
I will! My friend is taking my free auditor ticket and will be forced to be my videographer.
2 Likes
Ahhh! I love this. Let me guess. You had a giant smile on your face and you couldn’t stop smiling after your ride? I know the feeling so well from when I got my unicorn. He is clearly worth his weight in gold. I can’t wait to see video!! Sounds like the 1.0 and 1.10 is in your future!!!
2 Likes
So pleased to read this update. Can’t wait for video from the clinic!
Downside: I got yelled at for petting my perfect horse in the middle of the exercise
14 Likes
If thats all you got yelled at for, you are golden. 
Oh, for those who are pearl clutching or otherwise aghast, you wait until you are done with the exercise. Don’t change the hands and reins in the middle of it to pat enough the clinician can see it.
Understand its new to you to be surprised at success…get used to it with this horse.
. What a saint….he had it all the way except for rider input.
1 Like
Dam single oxers on the diagonal…all we have to do is sit and wait yet….my trainer made me close my eyes 4 strides out.
If you would just sit still, close your hip angle to lighten your seat and relax your arms, that gymnastic would flow like silk. But good job resisting the temptation to lift those hands up to “help” him.
Ask your trainer about riding some low gymnastics with one hand on your hip or both hands out to the side. Like the Pony kids do, or used to when they used to teach them to RIDE. Once you learn to relax and just sit into his motion, its a wonderful feeling. Try it. Its fun no matter your age and you got a horse that wants to help you there.
1 Like
I’m sorry to see you removed the video - I thought you and the big guy looked great! You are still very much in the getting to know each other phase, and it was quite brave to show the clip. I am pleased no video exists of my saintly but “We’ll go over OR through the fence!!!” horse.
I hope you are willing to share your progress in the future. Well done, you two. 
1 Like
My confidence is a fragile thing and I realized maybe I’m not quite in a state to open up to internet criticism! I’m probably a little too dramatic for that
1 Like
I hope that was not due to my thoughts…if so that was in no way my intent, I went through the very same things as an older adult rerider, trying to share what helped me with my struggles and maybe add a little humor… but text does not always translate
If that was a flop, will very happily go back and delete it with many apologies.
You were perfectly helpful and kind, no need. It just made me nervous that I might come on and see a comment nitpicking every aspect when I’m feeling quite proud because I’ve already come along way. And I thought, that’s not going to be helpful for my state of mind and confidence
2 Likes
Oh, I get it having been in almost the exact spot you are… 
.
