Training advice - horse rushes and stops

J

JoJo_

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 March 2008
Messages
2,266
Visit site
Hey just looking for some advice on jumping. I have a 7yo IDx who was green when I got her 2 yrs ago. I'm guessing had hunted but not see much show jumps and was super green in the school.

Everything was going well, flatwork improving, always keen to jump and took me to a fence although could be a bit all over place with legs sometimes. She still tried and wasn't put off by knocking it down. We got up to 80cm competition and jumping 90-1m at home training.

I took her to some xc schooling and second time we encountered a fairly upright White xc jump which just spooked her totally and on the 3rd refusal I fell off. Got back on and jumped all the small jumps to keep her confident. After this it is obvious she has lost confidence and has started stopping if the stride isn't bang on. This has rattled my confidence too.

She comes in very keen still and almost rushes towards the jump, her canter is bouncy so when she slams the anchors on it is easy to be unseated. We have gone back down to small jumps again. Does anyone have any advice on how to stop her rushing without encouraging her to stop at the jump? She doesn't give u any warning that she is going to stop.
 
Is it definitely not health related? It seems a bit strange to go from keen and honest to stopping and rushing from just one scary fence. Xc on varying terrain may have just exacerbated an issue that wasn't shown in a sj arena or maybe it was just coincidental timing either way I'd be looking at something physical first.
 
D and I had something similar - would come in a feeling like she was going to jump it and then BAM, anchors on (though other times she was stops 10 strides and and just go 'Nope, not today thanks' lol) With D it really is about controlling the canter and making sure it's adjustable - lots of work over poles really helped as I could practice changing the canter and seeing the stride without worrying about a fence. Another thing to make sure you not doing (and I have an awful habit of doing this) is throwing the reins at her at the last stride, keeping the contact consistent is really important for a Ds confidence. Lastly I also found I had to be quite clear that stopping is the naughty option and not be too quick to turn her around and represent - I had a few lessons using lightweight plastic poles which meant if she stopped she was literally pushed through the fence (we're talking very small, very lightweight fences)

Not sure if any of that is useful or not but those are things I've found helpful alongside a good instructor.
 
What seems to be working for mine at the moment is to practice approaching fences in walk right up until the last few strides, making sure that he really focuses on the fence in front of him and not what's going on in the next field, then either trotting / cantering at the fence as appropriate with minimal interference from me then halting a few strides after landing. Obviously you can't come right back to walk in competition but good for practising over smallish fences to stop rushing before / after fences. Also make sure you aren't doing anything weird with your hands or your position as I definitely went through a phase of riding far too defensively cos I'd gotten to used to him refusing to actually commit to jumping!

Tbh I'd say the best thing though would be to seek the advice of a good instructor (ie who has a few more tools in their box than "more leg!")
 
Sometimes they rush because they feel the need to save themselves. You say you have lost confidence too - understandably. Could you be hunching forward slightly bringing your weight over her withers and making it hard to take off? As Vallin suggested the quality of the canter is the key - not the speed. And quite right to check tack / back / teeth as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top