approaching fences

As it is often the case, the rider’s position and mind-set are the root of the problem: fear of jumping, incorrect or disorganised use of aids, lack of strictness in keeping the horse at the same definite speed…..All these influences will increase the problem when it will come to jump a course during a show.

Charlotte rides a nervous horse who has a tendency to rush while approaching fences and get over them quickly. When a horse rushes the fences, his jumping trajectory is modified which is a factor of faults or even stops for some horses.

Michel offers, here, a very gradual approach to solving this kind of issue in a calmly manner which will enable the horse to enjoy jumping again by breaking down his movements.

The exercise begins with some work over ground poles at a walk, then a trot, and at a canter. Next, the rider will go over few cavalettis and some fences at the 3 gaits. In the end, Titus succeeds in jumping a good size vertical breaking down his movements without rushing the fence when approaching it or upon landing. This is the result of focusing on the fence with calm and serenity.

The lesson starts with some flat work and getting the horse on the bit at the three gaits. Michel offers an easy solution without the help of any rein-aids that he has banned from his training method years ago. This session proves one more time the effectiveness of his work principle based on the respect for the physical integrity of the horse.

As the session goes on, the rider learns to combine the position on the bit with the improvement of the quality of the canter as he approaches fences. The solution offered by Michel leads quickly to good results without going through the classical dressage training which can deaden some horses.

Approaching fences, it would be ideal to have the horse round and on the bit, with a good strided quality canter. To reach these conditions, the rider has to give priority to the pushing force and forward movement. Charles de Gaulle has a tendency to be a bit slow in his hind legs and not lift his back. To solve these issues, Michel advises Gilles, to get a stronger canter further away from the jump and to come with strides that decrease closer to the jump.

The solution is to alternate transitions within the gait until the horse settles round on the bit.

Most riders have a tendency to do the opposite which is to close the horse in from afar and let him open up in the approaches on the pretext to give him more freedom…at that moment, the horse goes above the bit and loses his pushing force and engagement.

The proposed solution here is to stock up some strength in order to regulate it close to the fence.
 

Once we’re successful, meaning when the horse gets used to staying on the bit in the approaches, we can modify the work by approaching fences with steady strides, and then increasing the stride length.
 

During this session, Michel teaches Lea, a student-rider. He explains the necessary conditions for a successful approach. He insists on what he calls “the quality of the canter” which is essential to take advantage of the ability to see the spot.
Lea will experience it by walking on foot over ground poles and by changing the length of her steps and her speed of run.
An original session based on simple exercises to be used in everyday life.

Michel teaches Dominique on Aiti. He executes the exercise at the same time with Nenuphar Jac to show his student the correct state of mind and body to reach the expected goal. The rider’s priority is to correctly prepare and anticipate each step of the sequence of movements. The set–ups with the flexy jumps are useful to get the horse to reorganize his canter between fences. For that, the rider has to focus as much on the ground poles as on the jumps. He also has to be aware of his vision. As soon as the rider looks down, he ruins his position, loses his connection with the horse; his actions become disorganized and out of phase with the situation. So it’s necessary to come out on top of the exercise mentally and physically with the correct panoramic vision. The rider must be aware of everything and above all of his mind-set to get rid of all the irrelevant thoughts that could disturb his interventions.

The exercise is to be practiced on both hands of course. The rider and the horse can be more comfortable on one side than the other. Even though it’s important to accept some mistakes, as we go along, the aim is to solve the issues and to balance the right and left side work.