Comment

Comment by Shirley on August 22, 2012 at 10:53pm

Jessica, I love your attitude! You are a winner right there as far as I'm concerned, "Neither is right or wrong, just different". I suspect if you are like that with peoples ideas and differences, rather then insisiting you are right, you are very likely fair with your horses. That is very important to me.

Thanks for taking the time to explain.

Comment by Jessica Kerschbaumer on August 22, 2012 at 4:06pm

It never hurts to ask for sure!  There are many types of jumping releases, and it really depends on the horse and rider what works best.  I try to use an automatic release a lot of the time, where a light following contact is kept with the horse's mouth, because we are often turning in the air and making sharp turns on cross country.  Some other people use a crest release, where you may see a lot of slack in the reins over the jump.  It just really depends on the level of the horse/rider and what they are doing.  Neither is right or wrong, just different:)

Comment by Shirley on August 22, 2012 at 12:29am

I really do not know anything about techniques of jumping. She does seem happy with her job.
Keep enjoying and taking care of each other. I'll try to watch and learn.

 

Comment by Jessica Kerschbaumer on August 21, 2012 at 3:05pm

I was using an opening rein as the turn to this bank was a sharp one, and my reins are long after having to slip them as my horse jumped down the bank into the water a few strides before this photo.  Not sure what you mean by "this kind of pressure on their head and mouth," I am in balance with the horse and following her motion, definitely not hauling on her mouth in any of these photos, and her ears are pricked and she is happy to do her job.  If you have any other questions I would be more than happy to clarify.

Comment by Shirley on August 21, 2012 at 2:39pm

How can they jump and balance with this kind of pressure on their head and mouth? Seems impossible.
Am I missing something?