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Improving Bascule
Topic Started: Sep 19 2007, 11:12 AM (958 Views)
T-Dawg
Schooling
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Can anyone suggest some exercises to help my horses bascule over a fence? Thanks!
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Brydelle Farm
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Some of it depending on your horse's "current" jump. Do you have a recent photo?

Improving your flatwork will help for sure, making sure your horse moving off his haunches well, is back is strong and round (not inverted or stiff) and that he reaches well from his shoulder. So working lateral movements is always a good idea to build this into his repertoire.

As far as jumping, working gymnastics is always good. If you horse tends to jump flat, working bounces and in and outs (set a little tight) would help, as long as he doesn't already jump over himself. Also, jumping spooky jumps (with saddle pads, a barrel, etc) can get them to lift their shoulders better and use their backs. ***All of this goes on the assumption that the horse is well schooled on the flat, not strung out and/or unbalanced.***

Happy Riding!!
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T-Dawg
Schooling
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Here is a picture from a show this weekend.

http://www.gallopprints.net/gallery2/main....g2_itemId=75779

We haven't done too many gymnastics.
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TatteredDaydreamer
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Your mare looks great TDawg! She's adorable.

L
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BBowen
Weanling
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T-Dawg:

Lovely horse. As Brydelle Farm mentioned, gymnastics are a great way to improve your horse over fences. An exercise that Dorothy Crowell (eventer, but exercise was George Morris') had us do was a small cross rail, one stride to a 3-foot oxer, one stride to another cross rail. The oxer really made the horse rock back and the cross rail on the back side kep the horse from getting flat. You realy have to remain centered and still or you can easily be jumped out of the tack.

Also, in the photo, you are jumping ahead of your horse and leaning way over his shoulder. Your position is not allowing him to really round. Keep your shoulders up and stay centered over your horse. This will give your horse more freedom to round over the jumps. The gymnastics will also help your position. They will force you to remain still over the fences. Please know that I am not being critical. Anyone that jumps has been there at some point in their riding.

Good luck.
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T-Dawg
Schooling
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Thank you. I do have a bad habit of ducking that needs to be improved. I will be working over gymnastics with her to not only improve her. I'm anxious to try the exercise suggested!
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Brydelle Farm
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Your mare is lovely!!

As BBowen mentioned, a few changes in your position will help as well. I would shorten your stirrup which will help with your jumping up and ducking.

Also, while working over gymnastics, you can practice varying your release, short and long crest and then throwing in the auto release when you have established good balance with your upper body. This will encourage your mare to use her neck/back a bit better, she is very tight and tidy with her front end, but she is jumping UP instead over up and over in a nice arc. These "deep" jumps encourage this type of jump as well, so working with airy verticals is helpful as well.

Keep it up, you two make a very nice pair!!
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Ladybug Hill
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I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
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What is the breeding on your horse? Just curious--she is lovely!
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T-Dawg
Schooling
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She is out of a thoroughbred mare, Tempest Lady and by the swedish warmblood stallion Kardinal.
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SnackPack
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You're BANNED!
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Question from the picture: how much 'pace' where you carrying? The horse looks rushed in that picture, like she's coming down the line awfully fast. The momentum of a hurried, flat canter causes a flat jump, whereas a balanced, impulsive canter allows the horse to push of from behind and round better.
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T-Dawg
Schooling
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We had a good, steady pace to the jump, no rushing, no speeding through the line, etc.
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