True is getting extra dependable by working at a trot and canter over low hops not way more than a foot excessive.
I hope your horse is, too.
Earlier than we proceed to leap gymnastics, associated jumps, and bigger jumps, now’s the time to excellent the fundamentals.
At this stage, a younger horse needs to be approaching and exiting a low hop on the identical constant tempo, with no dashing up or slowing down. She ought to hop the middle of the soar with out drifting proper or left. She shouldn’t be shifting too quick or too sluggish, and he or she mustn’t rub her toes on the poles or clear them with toes to spare.
True has had two issues with the fundamentals.
First, he tends to turn into excited when leaping. After the primary few calm hops, his head comes up, his tempo will increase, he will get stoked. The low-hop stage is the time for me to right that. So proper now, he and I work on slowing down, calming down, maintaining the duty simple in his thoughts.
When he rushes, we circle round and check out once more. Generally I cease and again him a couple of steps very quietly and calmly. If he actually hurries, we cease and stand for 2 minutes, which looks like without end to a horse who needs to go. Then we proceed.
When True slows and calms, I reward after the hop by letting him stroll for 15 or 20 seconds on a free rein, stroking his neck, and telling him what boy he’s.
The second fundamental downside, which I described means again in my article known as “Crosspole Roulette,” is that from time to time True jumps a number of toes greater than vital. And he does this at random, so the rider can’t put together.
With time, apply, and rider enchancment, that downside is now uncommon. I wanted to strategy low jumps with larger rest and steadiness to assist True keep constant in his soar peak. When he overjumps, we proceed at tempo and circle again to attempt once more. In different phrases, we hold working.
When he hops simply excessive sufficient to clear a low pole, I reward with the stroll, free rein, strokes, and reward. We all the time finish the session on a profitable notice as a result of ending is the best non-edible reward of all.
Each horse is completely different, so yours may show different issues at this stage.
When you have hassle with tempo, work on consistency at stroll, trot, and (later) canter with out utilizing poles in any respect. Counting strides or steps typically aids consistency as a result of your mind can hear the distinction in velocity even when you may’t but really feel it.
When your child has realized to stay constant, return to a single floor pole and work as much as low hops once more as I’ve described in different articles. However this time, concentrate on constant tempo. Don’t improve the problem of any step till consistency there was mastered.
In case your horse is simply too quick, circle earlier than or after the hop—wherever the velocity tends to extend. If vital, cease or break to a slower gait. Transfer away from the soar or floor pole, and set up the velocity you need. Keep it for a few minutes. Then, at that very same velocity, attempt to strategy the pole.
If the horse hastens, cease and again up gently earlier than reaching the pole. Or strategy on a straight line, then circle away gently if the horse will get too quick. The secret is to proceed working calmly on the issue till the horse responds. When he does, reward!
“Calm” is vital to all of brain-based coaching.
These issues are typically irritating. Perhaps we’re wanting time, aggravated at a co-worker, or not feeling too effectively. Don’t trip kids on these days. Come again when you may concentrate on the horse and stay in emotional management.
In case your little man hops too slowly, add some leg and soften your palms. Additionally, work on a quicker tempo at trot and canter in flatwork, the place no poles are used. In different phrases, train the horse which velocity you need earlier than you count on him to take care of it over floor poles or low hops.
In case your horse is tremendous sluggish, or reluctant, you may want to extend velocity over floor poles in a spherical pen or on a longe line.
For these of you whose horses are likely to rub poles with their toes, proceed working once they contact a pole, however stroll and reward once they don’t. It’s also possible to use data of equine mind science—yellow is the strongest shade horses can see. Use a yellow pole, and your inexperienced bean will carry these toes excessive of it naturally. Then you may reward and go from there.
You possibly can study extra about this from Horse Mind, Human Mind—equine shade imaginative and prescient, how horses study, non-edible reward, and extra—and you’ll apply it to any maneuver you want to train: Western or English, leaping or reining, slicing or dressage, driving or using. It’s about equine brains, not equine disciplines.
In case your teen drifts, train her to trot or canter completely straight down an unfenced line with out steering corrections. Horses aren’t born understanding these things! Trot and canter serpentines to show shorter straight strains mixed with half-circles at every finish.
If you’ve mastered that, set a floor pole and provides your horse plenty of room to strategy it—100 toes minimal. Look straight forward at eye degree at one thing within the distance—a tree, a gate, a cone—that permits you to mentally mark the middle of the pole. Hold your eye on that concentrate on all through your strategy, hop, and exit. A distant goal will show you how to to really feel small diversions from middle, which you’ll be able to then right. Finally, proceed to low crosspoles. They’re wonderful for correcting drift as a result of the middle is clear for each horse and rider.
Lastly, in all of those corrections, look to your self first because the potential downside.
Typically—no, VERY typically—we riders trigger horses to float, velocity up, decelerate, transfer at an inconsistent tempo, rub poles, or soar too excessive.
Make certain your leaping place and flatwork abilities are prime notch when coaching a younger or inexperienced horse to leap. This isn’t the time so that you can be in studying mode; it’s worthwhile to be the instructor. Make certain you’ve loads of expertise leaping all types of various obstacles on completely different horses. Your child can’t study the method from somebody who doesn’t have the using talent for it. And if you get even a bit off steadiness, a younger horse has to compensate in odd methods that may trigger errors, accidents, and fears.
To arrange your self, apply on a faculty horse. Take extra leaping classes. Video your self to see if you’re inadvertently inflicting the horse to float or hurry. Typically we aren’t conscious of those errors. Rent a coach for assist. You don’t have to rent long-term; simply request a couple of classes to learn to remedy one particular downside.
It’s tremendous simple to right an issue on a floor pole. Not a lot over a five-foot oxer!
Associated studying:
Mind-Based mostly Horsemanship is a weekly column that chronicles Janet Jones, PhD, and her journey with True, a Dutch Warmblood she skilled from age three utilizing neuroscience finest practices. Learn extra about brain-based coaching in Jones’ award profitable guide Horse Mind, Human Mind.
A model of this story initially appeared on janet-jones.com. It’s reprinted right here with permission.
