Jumping

Straightness

It is essential to your horses training that he learns to stay straight both into and over a fence (also that on approach to a fence you stay on the correct line).

Straightness over a fence

We can develop the grid exercises described in March training further to help this.

If you find your horse drifting left down the grid start by laying a pole on the floor before and after the fences to the left of centre.

This should help keep him straight.

For a horse drifting to the right, lay the poles to the right of centre.

Another way to keep him straight is to use "guide" poles. Again using the grids, position poles from the floor to the left and right of centre.

Firstly you need to check your approach to the fences.

To approach this fence the dotted line is incorrect. The solid line is correct. By overshooting your turn and loosing the shoulders to the fence You are immediately encouraging your horse not to jump straight. If there was another fence in a straight line to the first you have trouble riding to it.

To help you ride the correct line firstly walk the line you want then try to ride the same line, (using your outside leg and hand to control your horses shoulders from drifting.)

If you are still having difficulties lay a pole on the corner and ride to the centre of it then on to the centre of the jump. (Again use your outside leg and hand to help you.)

Stride out the distance to the pole to help you meet the fence correctly. March training