Help with pony that rushes jumps?

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equibabe20

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My 17 year old arab x welsh has a tendancy to rush jumps. The first couple of jumps are ok ish but once he's jumped a few he then charges at them as soon as you turn the corner, hence making doing courses a bit difficult! He seems to just switch off if you know what I mean and is only interested in the jump which makes it very hard to control. I've had a few instructors but none of them seem to come up with anything that helps
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I changed his bit from a Myler correctional ported to a hanging cheek waterford which is helping to stop him throwing his head down and just going, but any tips/advice would be very helpful x
 
I would work on alot of varied exercises at home, constantly changing directions, loads of circles and different combinations etc. I found that this helped alot with my horse, he had a tendancy to rush after a few fences, he anticipated his jumps and this just wound him up. I found that by varing the exercise, it kept him thinking and therefore kept him focused on the job in hand.
 
Working on the flat around jumps may help, circling in front of jumps and stopping in front of jumps, circling away and then coming more calmly.

Your horse is older which will probably make it more difficult because they may have gone like that their whole life!

Don't keep jumping the same jump over and over if possible because this will probably make him worse, try and vary it abit.

My pony used to anticipate and after lots of work he eventually calmed down and would listen to me so there is hope!
 
Hi, as above really, variation so as he doesn`t anticipate and get bored. Also if you are already doing this, then used canter poles up to and after the jump. This slowed my mare down. Make sure that you get the distances right though as you don`t want him treading on them in landing.
 
well i havnt acheived sucess yet!but i do what is said above;vary it and trot in a small circle in front of the jump, and when he has settled as you circle around to it head him towards it. These eventually work for my boy but once i set up a course he speeds riht up again, i dont think he was schooled very well before i got him. good luck-i know what a nuisance it can be!!
 
Have you tried grid-work or bounces?
Or putting two jumps on a 20 m circle opposite each other ie one at B and one at E and getting a good rhythm between the fences (have a video of this if it would help)
I'd also suggest working your horse around the fences, aim him towards them but not directly in line, turn away and don't let his rhythm alter a jot (if you can!) Eventually when you feel he is settled enough allow him to go over it and if he speeds up or rushes then carry on working around the fence, getting as close as you can until he chills out again.
hope this helps
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Hey thanks for all the suggestions I'll try some of them out. I've borrowed celebrity jumping exercises from a friend and they have some very good suggestions in so hopefully these may help too! X
 
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