Friday, July 31, 2009

Hunter form?

my horse does not have the natural hunter form, for example, he doesn't hold his knees up and even over jumps.
Other than than he is a great jumper. he loves to jump and can jump over 3 feet at least. does anyone have any suggestions about how to improve his form over jumps?
Answers:
Try using trotting poles before the fence. You can also raise them a few inches off the ground to encourage him to lift his knees and hocks. Adjust the height and distance from the fence accordingly. Believe it or not, encouraging him to use his hind quarters and be round over the fence will also help with his front leg position. Practice trotting over cavallettis. On the flat, stop and back occasionally to get his hindquarters under him, and include collected work at the canter and sitting trot. It never hurts to revisit the basics.
The bounce combination also helps. Oxers have not helped me with this, but jumping a rounded wall has. Especially with the pole before the fence. Sometimes a higher single fence can help too.
Making sure you have enough impulsion is something to look at too...
Geez, sorry I keep rambling. Good luck!
OH! I thought of something else... lol... make sure you stretch him before jumping. There are some stretches for the front leg that most Equine Sports Massage Therapists do. That could help... any possibility, right? :)
Some horses just aren't hunters by nature. And you can only do so much... But what I suggest doing is really building up his forehand muscles so that he has an easier time lifting his legs up and really jumping. Keep his head up and make sure he's not heavy on the forehand and that he's propelling from the back. Practice Practice Practice! Make sure you kick or nudge or crop on take off and get him motivated-- make him over shoot the jump a bit so he will think to pick them up higher. My trainer always suggests oxers and bounce combinations AKA gymnastic lines... Start doing some more oxers with him, maybe some triplets so that he will get into the habit of tucking his legs more.
You cant really help a horse get better form over fences. There are some in humane ways like tieing elastic straps on their legs forcing them to tuck but those are hurtful and incredibly dangerous. Maybe you should try the jumper ring or eventing.
If your horse is jumping 3 feet and is not knocking down fences, it sounds like you need to be showing him in more of a show jumping setting than a "Hunter" setting. Some horses just don't have the natural form that most judges look for when it comes to jumping.
Hmm... maybe he isn't cut out to be a hunter. My horse isn't... but she does great in the regular jumping circuit. There are differences between hunter jumper, and regular jumper circuit. Jumping is just getting the fastest round, without nocking any of the poles down and geting faults. Hunter is more based on form over the fenses rather than the speed. Hope I could help : )
You might want to check you horses physical condition first.
There could be a reason he or she is failing to lift properly on the jumps. Your horse could have a shorter muscle in the area of where the lift motion is directed from. Also keep in mind you horse may have a bone problem that may be keeping them from performing to there maximum ability.
Have you vet come out and watch your horse in there jumping routine. Maybe he or she can define if the issure is medical or if the horse needs more intense jump training.
Unlike what one poster said, building up his forehand will do nothing for you. Worse, it will put your horse on the forehand and will worsen his form over fences.
The best thing you can do is work him correctly. His form may improve if he becomes more balanced, supple, and comfortable working in a frame. This means strengthening the hindquarters rather than the forehand. A horse's "engine" comes from their hind end, and you engage their hocks by riding with a strong active leg. Too many riders just muscle their horses' heads down with a strong rein, but this actually hollows out their backs and creates a false frame. It also makes it difficult for the horse to jump. A good hunter should carry his head just slightly so he can look at where he's jumping, but he should also remain round through his body and flexed at the poll. When he's traveling in a proper frame, he'll jump better than if he's heavy, strung out, or on the forehand to the fence.
Some horses aren't hunters, though. That's why people drop well over fifty thousand for a nice hunter prospect. Made hunters go for well into the six figure range. At lower level shows and unrated competitions, less expensive horses could still take home a ribbon. In rated competition, though, it becomes tougher for those horses to do well. You should try to evaluate your horse honestly for his potential as a hunter. Free jump him if you can. Without a rider on his back to hinder him, you can evaluate his true potential. Most horses jump the best when they're riderless. If he's still awkward or uneven over the fence, you'll have to admit to yourself he may not be cut out to be a hunter. If his form isn't so bad as to be dangerous or if he's still careful enough with his knees that he won't pull a rail, than you may consider making him a jumper. In jumper rounds, form doesn't count, only power, speed, and accuracy.
Hi, I found some useful tips on hunter and jumpers here: http://hunterandjumpersblog.com...
There was plenty of resourceful tips and techniques from a actual rider. Hope it helps.

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