Jumping youngsters

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sue_dutton

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I have a 5yo ID who ive recently started jumping, i had a lesson the other day and he was a gem but my instructer has sed that after the jump to stop him 'running off' with me i need to pull him, she said and i quote 'yank him right back with all your strength' when he wasnt running off or trying to at all, he was so nice and steady and i was so happy and proud with him, now, to me this doesnt sound correct? should i really be 'yanking' my baby in the mouth? advice pleeeeease
 
Have only given mine a firm reminder when he needs it! He is in a neue schule training bit so very mild, but on one or two occasions has got a bit too excited while jumping. Certainly wouldnt yank his back teeth out though.
 
I totally disagree with your instructor .

Once he has jumped for me personally ...You should be encouraging him to go forward ....at least in a steady manner and certaintly not 'yanking' him in the mouth
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be very wary my 5 yr old kept bucking after the jump and we was told not to let her and tell her off.
she then started getting stroppy about jumping lately and we wonder if this is one of the reasons
as long as they are going forward and lets you pull him up sensibly i wouldn't worry.
 
He needs to learn early on to keep a rhythm after the fence, so personally I would land and ask him to stop a few strides out, the walk round and come again, do this both ways and aim to get him so he is waiting for your aid, once he is landing waiting for the next instruction then allow him to canter away from the fence in a straight line.

He may only be 5 but he needs to learn this now or you will have problems later on. My 4 yr old has learnt this lesson and now lands waiting an instruction, be it turn, collect etc..
 
but, he is a big horse and can be quite stong and hes reasonably forward going. i think this is why she told me to 'yank' (i hate that word) him, but i never felt he was pulling or bolting off
 
we had a pole either side! i have my morals and yanking a horse, hitting a horse i wouldnt do.

do you think trying it by myself 'experiment' without yanking and see if hes fine etc?
 
have you changed your name??? If not have a friend (also on this forum) who has a 5 yr old IDX she has recently started jumping and the instructor said exactly the same thing. Told her what i thought of it though
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! really dont think it is a good idea as they will learn that is what happens after jumping and start refusing. Her horse was starting to soften over the past few weeks when said instructor hasnt been around and she said at the end of todays lesson he was hard in the mouth again also.
 
Ride 'straight' away from the fence and (after giving him time to finish his jump) sit up, shoulders back and ask for him to come back to you. When he does halt, praise him and continue, not aways in the same direction/at the same speed, but keep him guessing. I know it's early days but he should be responding to your body weight and position and voice already on the flat. Therefore, in theory, he should be tuned in and at least understanding what you are asking - without the need to introduce unnecessarily harsh aids.
 
If you're not happy with your instructors advice, I would be looking for a new instructor who has a vast experience with dealing with yongsters. IMO, if you are finding him strong now, yanking him in the mouth will just make him dead in the mouth and he will not react to correct aids. Apart from that, if you give a good pull, it will just encourage him to grab hold and pull you all the more. Maybe try plenty of grid work with lots of poles through the distances. Sounds like you need to tweak the basics with plenty of schooling and get him listening to you again.
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Just a thought, do you talk to him when you ride?? The more I talk to my horse the better he goes. He's such a stressy little man, I have to stay calm and soothing when speaking to him, even if I am saying naughty words like 'fluffing pedigree chum' to him!!!
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When I first started having lessons with my instructor a few years ago, I was so nervous riding in front of her, I totally forgot to talk to Sammi! She had to remind me! xx
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No I can pretty safely say I would not be sticking with an instructor that told me to "yank" something in the mouth.

But what madhector says he should be doing is exactly right. He has to be in control and taught charging off is not correct. Enthusiasm is nice in a young horse and I can understand you don't want to disappoint and sicken him but if you don't get the basics right now you are making a rod for your own back. It can of course be done kindly without yanking him in the mouth though!!
 
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