Advice For Horse Always Running Out At Competitions

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Georgiahowarth

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Hello, I am looking for some advice about how to stop my horse running out/stopping at competitions. I'm 13 years old and have been rising since I was 4. I'm loaning a 10 year old Connie gelding who's a bit of a cheeky chappy but always jump consistently and with plenty of scope at home, clearing 1m20 on a good day. I've been having trouble with him running out and stopping at competitions, we've never had a clear round higher than a tiny 60cm (!). I've had many different trainers give me advice on how to stop this but nothing's worked. I've also been told to get something more reliable out and about to help me progress but I really wouldn't like to give up on him. Any tips or tricks to help stop this nasty habit? He tends to whip out of jumps at last minute and I'm worried it could result in an accident. thanks xx
 
I'd get someone to video you at home and away from home and try to figure out what it is that either you / he is doing different (perhaps get your instructor to have a look?). I for example have a bad habit of not sitting up on landing and not giving enough with my hands over a fence and also taking my leg off! (the latter is a bad habit from my previous horse who if I didn't have hold of him when we landed would sod off at speed after a fence). Took a few times of nearly coming off and having a friend there to yell at me to start sorting this out. I also made sure that when out and about the fences were small enough to be jumped from walk or trot if he was trying to run out and built things up from there slowly (just now thinking about stepping things up a bit and seeing what happens).

I'd also get saddle, back and teeth checked / vet to check for lameness etc if you haven't already. Possibly not a physical problem if jumping fine at home but always worth checking these things just in case (friend of mine noticed a vast improvement in her horses way of going when swapping from a saddle that was an okish fit to one that was a very good fit for example)
 
Are you a member of pony club? It depends on your branch but we run sessions at a local showground with a PC Instructor there to help with warm up and any issues etc. Ponies often behave differently away from home. Partly because the human behaves differently in the stress of competition but also because of the number of horses. If you can get an instructor to come with you it will help and they can see everything from the way you travel, to the warm up, to the round. But a video as Bronky suggests will be better than nothing. You may well change your riding a bit in competition because of nerves - everyone does.

Some ponies have figured out that a really good way to get out of work is to refuse at competition. It doesn't work at home because you just keep going. But in a competition you refuse 3 times you get to go out and stop working. It is a really hard thing to stop because it is in fact true! Sometimes a stronger rider can train them out of it - but generally once they have that one figured out it is very hard to break.

I know at your age the height of the class is everything - but if you can go clear at 60cm why not stick to that for a while? In time you'll be able to go to 70cm and so on. But that said - you are also only 13. This is a time you should be enjoying your ponies and going out and doing everything and anything you can. If pony is limiting your ability to do that then it is worth thinking about getting something else. Especially as he is a loan and has a home to go back to. You would not be selling him on. I know how rough that is and how attached you can get but GCSEs are looming now and you want to take every opportunity you can.

If you really want to stick with this lad might a friend let you borrow a pony to compete on from time to time? Pony Club can be quite good for that sort of thing. Equally jumping is not the be all and end all (my daughter would have killed me for saying that when she was 13!) But it isn't. If another discipline suits him better what about that?


OP - just a thought. You are young and you might have used your real name in your post? Please contact admin and change your user name to something else. Not everyone on an open forum is going to be safe. Protecting yourself on line is really important.
 
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The answer is likely to be flat work and then more flat work then pole work then a bit more pole work followed by a bit of flat work.
 
Goldenstar said:
The answer is likely to be flat work and then more flat work then pole work then a bit more pole work followed by a bit of flat work.
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This - until you can control the shoulders through lateral work you have no hope of stopping a run out.

I'd also second eliminating pain.
 
Thanks for the help! I've been told by some trainers that he needs an adult or someone a bit stronger to knock it out of him because it's a learned habit he had before I started loaning him. I am part of a pony club and at training and in groups he's fine it's just when he's on his own in the ring he misbehaves. I'm taking him clear round jumping on Saturday to try and get him roun successfully which will hopefully boost both Leo and I's confidence.
 
I tend to flat him most of the time because he's very well schooled and hack a couple of times a week too, only jumping once usually, thanks for the advice though xx
 
Georgiahowarth said:
I tend to flat him most of the time because he's very well schooled and hack a couple of times a week too, only jumping once usually, thanks for the advice though xx
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There's 'schooling flat' and schooling effectively. Effective lateral schooling would mean you would be able to stop him before he does it. Control the shoulders and he will never run out again.
 
Yes, he usually runs out left but I've tried carrying my stick in the left hand, checking him hard right a few strides out etc but he's much stronger than me obviously and even if we get close he tend to leap out sideways x
 
Georgiahowarth said:
Yes, he usually runs out left but I've tried carrying my stick in the left hand, checking him hard right a few strides out etc but he's much stronger than me obviously and even if we get close he tend to leap out sideways x
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You need to ride leg to hand - lateral flat work will help with this. You cannot stop a horse running out to the left by pulling him to the right. This will just result in crabbing and him still running out.
 
It's very frustrating when you great at home pony behaves badly at shows.

Have a think about how you feel when riding him in competitions. Are you being bossy and determined or are you thinking, will he run out or stop three times again. Its normal to feel nervous and have jelly legs when you go in so the mind has to take over.

The power of positive thinking is amazing. Ride the first fence like a demon, make sure that you are positive with leg and rein aids and be determined he will do it first time. Make sure that you don't drop your hands on his neck at the last moment as this will encourage him to stop. What I often tell my pupils is if you are having problems with run outs, trot into the fence, its far easier to keep the pony straight in trot and if your trot is active he can easily pop 60 cms.

Like others have said stick with the lower heights until he is jumping clear, go to Clear Round Jumping days or practise days where you can keep going if he stops.

Many years ago I had a naughty horse who had learned the three stops and I can go home stunt, I was so fed up with it I got really tough one day and rode into the first fence, reins in one hand stick in the other and gave him three good whops on the way in - his attitude totally changed and he rarely ever stopped after that.
 
Are you jumping from Trot or canter? Can you hire a course and practice jumping on your own away from home? It's a nasty habit that's hard to break but it is all about control as others have said. Jumping from trot will mean it's not as difficult to keep control. I've also been told to give mine a smack behind the bum coming in to the fence and don't be afraid of using your voice! Also holding your hands wide as you come into the fence will help keep him straight. Good luck!
 
Fire fighting advice
Try counter bending him so turn his head slightly to the left that will push his shoulders to the right .
 
I'd advise really trying to not let him break into canter, that's just him taking over and making his own decisions for himself, which includes deciding to make a hasty exit!! You need to be the one making decisions so I'd focus on really trying keep him in trot, or even walk if you have to. Whatever happens, he has to jump the jump!!!
 
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