It cracks me up every time Trainer B talks about the Canter into Doom.
I can’t help imagining cantering into to Mount Doom.
It’s really just a long approach to a single fence. There’s a looooooot of time to think, second-guess, re-evaluate, enact plan b, overthink, and go for plan z during those long approaches.
Which…isn’t great.
For me, that usually means I start out well, probably half-halt and/or pick too much, lose the rhythm and impulsion, gun it to the base about three strides out, and then heave a sigh of relief when Duke manages to make it work and get to the other side.
It shouldn’t be that hard. And it’s not, really. It’s just hard to be patient and trust the rhythm. Which is why Trainer B will either help count out the rhythm or make us do it out loud.
I actually find chanting and/or singing a really effective way for me to keep the rhythm in the canter. “One, two, buckle my shoe” is always a good one.
But my favorite is “Uptown Funk.”
I don’t know why, but the rhythm of that song is ideal for cantering. And it adds a little swagger to my attitude, too.
Here’s a video from our lesson last week, cantering into a Doom Oxer. In time to the strides, I can practically hear myself thinking, “Up, town, funk you up. Uptown funk you up (jump).”
Centered in the Saddle 
Yes, so hard! I try t say the A-B-Cs on the approach, and if I manage to NOT LOOK AT THE JUMP, it usually turns out ok. So, like, 2 out of 10 times…
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Haha yeah looking at the jump is like staring into the abyss 😂
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When I am doing tempi changes I have to count them under my breath. So for threes I say 1,2 and 2,2 and 3,2 and 4,2 and 5,2 The “and” is when I give the aid for the change. it has a sort of rhythm to it and helps me to keep track of where I am in terms of how many I have done. So no song but I like your idea of Uptown Funk!
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I am with Carey. There is no looking at the jump. I set my line. Make sure we are straight and then I look wayyyyy up past the jump. Like tops of treelines off in the distance… May does better without my input 😉
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I may be the only person on the planet who actually does better with long approaches than I do with related distances hahaha. I definitely sometimes try to push Frankie past the spot, or try to sit him down too early, but luckily he covers for me! I tend to look at the jump until I’m 4-5 strides out, then I try to start looking for my next jump so I can land turning. Don’t always pull it off, but the intention is there 😀
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It’s so funny because when I switched from hunters to eventing it wasn’t a problem. There was always a long approach to a single. Granted the jumps were smaller and I feel a lot more educated now so there are more things I can try to do. I think the key is just “do less!”
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