Things You'll Need:
- Jumping Saddle
- Snaffle Bridle
- Cavaletti
- Low Jumps
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Step 1
Start by riding your horse on the flat, taking plenty of circles and slow corners to loosen him up. You can improve your horse's form over fences by increasing the effectiveness of your flat work. If he moves well on the flat, he'll move much better when he jumps.
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Step 2
Set up several cavaletti (five or six) in a straight line on the arena floor. Trot your horse through the cavaletti several times to loosen his joints and increase his flexion. Make sure he's round and supple, and not hanging on the bit.
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Step 3
Next, set up a gymnastic, which is three or four cavaletti before a low cross-rail. This forces your horse to use himself over fences, which increases muscle and improves the form. Again, make sure he's supple and moving forward to the jump. Don't let him hollow his back or crow-hop.
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Step 4
Add another low cross-rail to the gymnastic and repeat. If you don't know how to set this up, ask an instructor or experienced rider to help. It's beneficial if you have someone on the ground anyway.
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Step 5
Check your own position. Are your knees closed, inhibiting his movement? Are you jerking him in the mouth over fences, causing him to hollow his back? Subtle changes to the rider's position and methods can make a world of difference.
Comments
Goduncaroo said
on 8/15/2008 That picture is NOT a nice round jump. It is a rider pinching with the knee causing the lower leg to slip back which has caused the rider's heel to come up so she/he no longer has her weight balanced over her legs and has caught the horse in the mouth....you can see that her hands are actually pulling on this horses mouth and her elbows have flapped out and open. The horse is trying to jump round and nice but the rider is restricting the jump. The horse's nose should be stretching down and out...not down and in towards the chest!