Teaching horse to wait?

V

vikkiandmonica

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 February 2009
Messages
1,226
Location
Newcastle
Visit site
I was wondering if you lot could give me some more advice? Whenever I see your videos, your horses are always really patient and wait for the fence to come to them, and remain in a very steady rhythm into the fences and away from them. Well, I jumped Wings today (admittedly the first time since the snow in Nov/Dec), and he was good and listening fairly well in trot, but then in canter, it was out of control! Steering went out the window, brakes went out the window, and it took me around 3 laps of the school to get him to a nice, controlled canter again.

The problem with Wings, is that he used to have massive problems with jumping poles, fillers etc., and today, he was looky, but only refused once, at a fairly scary plank, but then jumped it second time fine! Problem is, once it is no longer scary, he feels he doesn't need me, so pays no attention!! On the flat, he is good as gold, I can extend the trot/canter and bring it back again, but not when jumping!

At the minute, he is in a cavesson, french link loose ring snaffle and no martingale, though may have to put that back on. He throws his head up when evading/ignoring me. He has been in a dutch gag previously, but hated it!

So, anyone have any advice on how to get him listening to me?

Thanks :D
 
I used to have this problem, try a Pelham, IMO, NEVER use a gag and a martingale, you put the gag on and because of its link and leverage it hits the roof of the mouth, causing the horse to pit it's head up, so instead of changing the bit they put martingales on, the horse gets confused and in balenced. Like I said, my cob did this, try a Pelham and if he rushes to the fence do a sharp turn, and again if you get into canter, MAKE him trot then try again and again.

Hope this helps :) x good luck x
 
How big are you jumping?

I'm certainly no expert, but sounds like you need to make jumping/ pole work a part of everyday riding so that jumping isn't as exciting and just something else you do in the school.

Make the jumps v small, or even better go back to basics with poles on the ground/ slightly raised/ different distances between them/ etc so he really has to look at them and think about what he is doing. Really concentrate on how you get to the jump - steady/ rhythm/ steering etc, if they are small it won't matter if he hasn't got enough propulsion to start with. Leave the jumping up to him - that's his job, it's your job to get him to the jump at the right speed, in the middle of the jump.

If he's getting excited when cantering at jumps, don't canter for a few sessions, approach at trot and if they are small enough he will still be able to get over fine.

You don't need to worry about the size of the jump to start with. If they are too big and you haven't got enough "spring" in his gait he is going to rush as he'll panic that he won't get to the other side unless he goes flat out.

You just need to do lots of sessions and incorporate the odd jump/ pole work in every flatwork schooling session.

All easier said than done I Know! Good luck!
 
We weren't jumping big at all today, maybe 80cm max, which he could jump from a trot easily, and did. I do put poles into a fair few schooling sessions, trotting poles are fine, cantering poles he gets excited, but still listens, but then jumps just, fail? If there are poles out in the school, I will just trot/canter over them then settle back into schooling. I also sometimes just put out a course of poles and trot/canter over them, and he does get excited, but not nearly as much as jumps.

Thanks for the help though guys :D
 
Micah used be exactly the same I would not let him jump unless he was listening and steady, I would circle 100 times if necessary eventually he got the idea and it would only take one or two circles to get him listening. The other thing as someone else said is to do it everyday for a week, just a few, then it becomes normal and not so exciting, it was amazing how much this works.
you have to then keep it up so you are still popping the odd fence twice or 3 times a week or it gets exciting again. However its not as bad as the initial wahoo if you use the circling
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top