Can't Stop Won't Stop

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flavellc

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So I've been loaning a mare for about six months now. I love her to bits, she's the most honest horse I've ever ridden.
I event. When she first came to me, she wasn't particularly fit (having been left in the field by an owner who was concentrating on other horses, the main reason for loaning her to me). When we first started out together we got along great, jumping clear rounds left and right. She's as strong as an ox, but with the right bit and some hard work from me, we managed.
The trouble is that as she's gotten fitter, she's gotten stronger and stronger, to the point where I can't stop at all. She's not the most naturally careful horse, and if you leave her to it she jumps straight through every jump, regardless of height. It's simply impossible for me (5ft4, teenage girl) to stop her charging everywhere like a rhinoceros. In dressage, once we move into canter, I sometimes find that I'm halfway around the arena from the point I was supposed to stop by the time we actually stop. She often raps her front legs over XC jumps and I'm worried it's going to result in an accident.
I've tried a couple of different bits: she came in a two-ring gag, and I'm currently using a waterford as she has a tendency to lean. Can anyone recommend something to either make her more careful or to slow down?
 
It sounds as if you have done a fair amount with her in the last 6 months without getting the basics properly established, and also found out why she was in a field rather than being ridden by her owner, you now need to decide whether you want to continue to ride a horse that is not careful xc, the sj is less of an issue as the fences fall rather than the horse as most will eventually hit one too hard and the consequences can be serious.

If you are going to continue with her you need a good trainer involved who will take you back to basics and give you the tools you require to get her under control properly so you will both be safer, eventing is risky enough with a horse that listens to you and respects the fences for one that does neither it is a risk too far in my view, an accident waiting to happen and I wouldn't allow you to go xc if I was teaching you until you had more control.

This is not going to be something fixed quickly by a change of bit or a simple change of technique but will require a long term, over the winter is ideal, approach of going back to the very beginning and retraining her, and to an extent you, pretty much as you would an ex racehorse, she may always be strong but should be able to learn to listen, wait and be more careful, if you cannot achieve this then eventing should be left until she does start to listen, your life is not worth the risk and you are highly unlikely to win anything anyway if she runs off in the dressage, knocks down numerous show jumps and carts you round the xc.
 
Thanks for the advice. I find that I usually have more control XC - for one thing we're travelling at the speed she wants to be going at, and once she starts to tire she's easier to stop. She's actually a great ride XC, she has lovely rhythm and is so brave - the trouble is rapping these jumps.
I'm not particularly interested in winning - just taking part is enough for me haha.
 
Second the idea of getting a good trainer involved, constantly rapping xc fences is not safe. Also depending on where she carries her head a combination noseband might be worth looking at for jumping rather than a stronger bit as some horses will just pull harder the stronger the bit is. It does sound as though the flatwork needs addressing first, you really need to establish the basics including correct half halts which will encourage her to balance and get her hocks under her so she can work correctly. This will pay dividends with both the flatwork and the jumping and may well give you the correct canter to improve her technique over a fence and so avoid rapping the jumps.
 
Definitely agree that more flatwork is essential. Do not ride straight lines, circles, shallow loops, serpentines etc but no straight lines for her to build up momentum. Ride upwards transitions then after 5 strides transition down again, keep her attention by constantly doing something etc.


Is she a bold type or is she likely to back off after a scare? If it's the latter if she's still rushing I'd put up a grid and let her crash through it a couple of times and hopefully she'll then be more careful - you might want a neckstrap though! Grids on their own are again very useful.
 
That is actually something I have been doing, its at competitions I mainly have problems.
She's the bold type - she doesn't seem to particularly care about knocking them down.
 
There is always a reason they are turned out in a field doing nothing and its rarely the reason the owner gives you! My friend took on a 'totally wasted' showjumper who they simply 'didnt have time for'! ..... It was nuts, yes it could jump and had talent but you took your life in your hands when you got it in the ring!
 
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