How to not fall off when your horse runs out

[Fingerontheneckstrap]

Hi,

this seems like such a stupid question but here goes - my current horse is a very honest ISH who locks onto things and goes for it. He’s brilliant and such a confidence giver and I’ve never had to worry about refusals or run outs with him because he loves his job. He recently went lame and will be out for a couple of months so I’ve been loaning a cob cross from a local riding school instead to keep me busy… but he’s so cheeky and really sharp at times. Every jump we come to, especially XC fences, he tries to get out of it - there’s nothing wrong with him physically, once he gets going he loves it and has a fantastic jump - but he just won’t do it if he can find a way out (don’t blame him I’d be the same?). I’ve gotten very good recently at reducing the run outs to once in a blue moon but because of this he always gets me when I least expect it. I mean you will be just about to take off for the jump and he’s gone from underneath you and because of this I have had a fall basically every time he runs out.

i just want to know - how in the world do you sit a run out when you least expect it. I know my seat just has to improve in general because I haven’t had to worry about this since I’ve ridden a school pony! But what can I do with my seat when approaching a spooky jump that he might run out at that will minimise my fall risk ??

For those of you who will say I need an instructor to help me - I have one and she’s been the one who’s helped me reduce these refusals from about 5 a day to not even once a week. I’m just asking in general for those of you who may have experienced this!

 

[Flying_Form]

I know a girl who schools a lot of sport horses and when she gets the less hot, less sportier cob/draught types she encounters the exact same thing! They are sooooo intelligent and usually if they’ve been in a riding school they know every trick under the sun so you should give yourself a on the back for getting to a stage where you’ve reduced the amount of run outs because with a schoolie that knows all the tricks that can be so difficult!

Your heels are your anchor - put them down a lot and it shifts your centre of gravity from in front of you to in line with you (heels, hip, elbow!), that way you won’t tip over his head and you’re more likely to go with him.

Sit up really tall and stick your chest out too - basically does the same thing. Have a firm lower leg to anchor you to him - this will also guide him straight.

Look over above the jump not at it, not to the side of it - the difference this can make is not even funny - you look where you’re most likely going to go!!

If there’s a side of the jump you know he’s more likely to run out at, for example you think he’s going to run out to the right, you want to open your left rein very slightly - don’t pull it like people tell you to do, that just will cause his hind end and shoulder to pop out and result in one of those last second runouts and your core and balance will be on the left side so if he does run out to the right you’re gone! When you open your left rein, also keep a firm contact on the right rein, don’t leave it slack!! And finally, with the right hand, hold onto your neck strap. This will lower your hand and if he does run out it’s extra security.

I might have over explained a bit there but just want to help as I’ve been there before!! Eventually you’ll get to a stage where you’ll feel it happening about 2 strides out and you’ll make sure it doesn’t happen!!