Wont slow down

[Lynda]

has anyone any good tips as to slowing a horse down when jumping, he just seems to attact him fences he is realy keen (to keen) I ride him in a snaffle bit because i want to compete in Working Hunter. I do not want to have to put a stronger bit in him. He is 15.3 3/4 bread with a supurb temperment.

Lynda Co.Antrim

 

[hummmbug]

I use a dutch gag on my cob for working hunter classes. I usually ride him in a straight bar happy mouth, but found it didn't help me when jumping him at a show! The only thing I will say is, when doing a working hunter class, the judge likes to see the horse jumping at a fast/hunting pace, not out of control, but not as collected as a show jumping horse. Otherwise you can look at calming feeds, for example a cooling mix or using your body weight to hold him back slighty.

Good Luck

****Slow Down for Horses****

 

[Dandylion]

It may help to take your horse back to basics a bit and try some grid work, in particular ones which involve bounces and one stride fences, to encourage your horse to slow down and listen to you more, whilst helping to establish balance and rythmn.

 

[star]

when schooling at home, try putting 3 trotting poles in front of a small cross pole, leave a stride, then put 3 after when he is calmly trotting over the jump. don't put the poles after if he is cantering over the jump and rushing off with you. wait till he calms down. start with 1 and build up to 3.
also, try asking your horse to stop once he jumps the jump. don't let him canter away with you. put the brakes on and aim to get him stopping as close to the jump as possible.
also, try a pole, then a stride, then a little, jump, then a stride, then a pole. walk over the first pole, then ask the horse to trot over the jump and you should be walking by the second pole. my instructor did this with me and it really makes the horse think. obviously, you can't build huge fences like this, but once you have control over smaller fences, you can start to up the size.

hope this helps.
star

 

[Lynda]

Yes this sounds like good advise thank you star

Lynda Co.Antrim

 

[jack]

Lynda. Build a course of small fences in an arena or field(about 2 ft. high). Teach your horse to canter in a collected pace around and between these fences. When he is doing this easily you can start to pop the fences as if they are just getting in the way, always maintaining your collected canter. He will soon realise that this is the way you want him to showjump every time and you can start putting the fences up. This worked for me as I had the same problem. It takes about four weeks of constant practice but it is worth persevering!! GOOD LUCK

 

[chappy 3]

I have had similiar trouble with my cob but found that by pulling him out of a jump and making him do about 3 small circles every time he pulled on it seemed to make him calm down and wait until he was asked to perhaps go on for a jump.You should try doing lots of circles in front of a jump,then when he is behaving you should allow him to jump, this should help his abbedeance.
Another thing try lots of grids, I mean I don't want to give my secrets away but try lots of grids which are full of high crosses(this will definately make him slow down)

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[0]

Lynda, I have a similar problem with my mare and have tried the methods already mentioned by others here to be excellent. An additional tactic which I have found works with my mare is to collect her and get her back on her hocks BEFORE turning to go towards the jump but then once you are approaching the jump to relax the collection so that a fight does not ensue. I have found she then relaxes and goes at a nice rythmatic pace. This may take a few goes to get right. I think often horses rush their fences by expecting a fight and so they get anxious to 'beat you to it'. Pen

 

[hoofbeat]

I've tried this method with my cob who is also extremely ken and talented. However, this only helps him slow down through a combination and it doesn't really help on slowing him down on the approach.

I think stars idea of a pole, jump, pole and using walking over poles and trottinf over the jump is a different way and I'll be certainly trying that.

 

[hjb]

I have the same problem. I wouldnt say he's too keen, Ive been told many times that when a horse rushes, it's probably due to pain (ill fitting tack) or because he lacks confidence. In my case, he did have a small back problem and his last owners forced him to jump too high too young. Jump him small and do lots of gridwork (triples and pole work are great) and my instructor had me jumping bounces which were actually a bit short in between so he had to slow down himself in order to get over them. Make sure you dont yank him in the mouth on the last few strides out in an attempt to slow him down as this will upset him. Try keeping him really calm and dont use his energy to explode round the jump off! take it easy until he is ok.

Good luck!

 

[Lynda]

I have tried bounce fences and did slow him down well, Thanks.

Lyn Antrim

 

[Lynda]

Hi Pen

I think your right it is all about anticipation and not expecting a fight, and giving him somthing else to think of at the same time, thanks..

Lyn Antrim

 

[emnish]

My horse does this as well and on hacks. I tried bounce fences and doubles to give her something to think about other than attacking the jumps. I also use cool mix doesn't give them as much energy

Good Luck