AboutJenn C Expertise I can answer questions on eventing, dressage, jumpers, some pony club, re-schooling race horses, and barn management. I have ridden western but am not an expert, so western questions best left to someone else.
Experience I have prepared and schooled horses for thee star level eventing, competed prelim, having also schooled to prix st george and competed second level dressage, shown in jumpers schooled 4'6". I am also a PC grad at the C level, now a current sponsor of the club in my area. I have managed stables as large as 97 horses, most of the horses were competing at the national level (some were international level horses).
Organizations USEA, USEF, USPC (sponsor at club level), preparing for USEA instuctor program, working towards USDF and USEA officals program.
Education/Credentials Trained under and/or worked for international three day event riders on regular basis for the past 12 years.
Past/Present Clients Currently the Clouser Event Team is based out of Wishing Well Equestrian Center.
Expert: Jenn C Date: 6/10/2008 Subject: Too Strong Cross Country
Question Hello! I have a 6 year old TB/Percheron gelding. I've owned him for a year and a half and we have been eventing for about a year switching between Beginner Novice and Novice levels. We travel to shows with the same group of horses and riders and he can be pretty herd-bound. He is wonderful in the show jumping arena and usually very good in dressage but once we hit the cross country course he just gets too strong for me. I'm riding him now in a snaffle with a pair of bridging reins. I've been able to hold onto him enough to make it through the course but this past show i just couldn't fight him anymore. It seems all he is thinking about is getting to his friends (the jumps are insignificant, just something in his way). He pulls and stretches down and if he can't get his head that way he bows up his neck. This never happens at home, only at a show, so it seems like there is no way to practice or prepare. This weekend I made him stop on course and back up several times, taking some jumps at the trot but my muscles eventually gave out and I pulled out. Any advice?
Answer Hello Callie,
Thank you for the wonderful question! Considering your horses' bred, you have a large and powerful horse on your hands. The draft horses and crosses are strong willed and if they do (or do not for that matter) want to do something there seems to be no stopping them. I will give you a few ideas, try them at will and see what works. Please keep in mind that I have not seen you and your horse go, the following are things I would suggest to my personal students.
1) Try different bits! There is nothing wrong with stronger bits as long as the riders uses them properly. Since you are comfortable in the snaffle try a full check snaffle, waterford, or key snaffle first. If they do not work move up to a kimberwick then an elevator. Still no response check with your trainer to make sure you are ready to ride with the more stronger bits (ie phelam, twisted wires, and gags).
2) Before moving on past the snaffle range of bits, remember that there are different types of mouth pieces. <Mullen, single joint, double joint, metal, rubber, happy mouth> It may be a change in bit form will work also, depending on how the mouth of your horse is shaped.
3) Think about adding a running martingale to your list of attire. DO NOT use a standing martingale!
4) Practice you gallops (at competition speed) at home. Try alone and with some of the horses you compete with. If he does not change between the different gallops then you need to work on some training for cross country. A good trainer needs to watch him and you go both at home and competition to give you one on one opinion in this case.
5) When he gets strong try a circle (not near one of your jumps on course), asking him to come back to you using half halts. Also try half halts throughout your courses. If he knows leg yields give him some of those on course also.
One thing to keep in mind is you horse has to be able to settle in on course and focus on your aids and his job at the same time. If all he is doing is fighting against your aids and ques, he can not focus on the fences as needed. Which he can get by like this at the lower levels, but as you move there is going to be trouble. Number5 is the beginning of things you may try to get his attention back on your aids and removing the focus of the two of you pulling again each other. Please let me know if these ideas help you, and feel free to ask me more.
Last piece of advice: if you don't already have a good professional instructor who experienced in eventing, FIND ONE soon! Only eventers know what event students have to face when it comes to cross country.
