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 Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 12:41 pm
What is the best thing for a horse that gets really excited into jumps and races at them? (And don't just say half halts, and it has to be somethin g the rider does, not a jump exercise because if I'm in a lesson I need to be able to fix it myself).
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 1:37 pm
Half halts are not just a "jump exercise" they are in fact quite useful in rating a horse whether or not they are racing into a jump.
However if a horse is ignoring half halts (that should be your go-to solution first off) only then try something else. When my pony would try to return to his show jumping youth we would come to a complete halt one or two strides out from the jump (he also would like to take long spots which this helped) and only then continue. It takes quite athleticism to be able to rush that (though he was quite capable of that as well, just too lazy 9 times out of 10)
But I cannot stress enough the importance of doing half-halts, they are as fundamental to your riding as tucking your bum underneath and having the straight line from head to hip to heel.
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 1:44 pm
GreenePony Half halts are not just a "jump exercise" they are in fact quite useful in rating a horse whether or not they are racing into a jump. However if a horse is ignoring half halts (that should be your go-to solution first off) only then try something else. When my pony would try to return to his show jumping youth we would come to a complete halt one or two strides out from the jump (he also would like to take long spots which this helped) and only then continue. It takes quite athleticism to be able to rush that (though he was quite capable of that as well, just too lazy 9 times out of 10) But I cannot stress enough the importance of doing half-halts, they are as fundamental to your riding as tucking your bum underneath and having the straight line from head to hip to heel. also, you need to make sure YOU are balanced in order for the horse to stop racing. A horse that races at a jump is usually a horse that is unbalanced, and if the rider is unbalanced then the horse typically will be. Here is how I keep my horse in check over fences: on approach, look over fence, not AT it. 10 strides in, sit back, heels down, feet forward- keep this as you approach over the fence, continue with above, but DON'T FORGET TO RELEASE. I know horses who race over jumps because they know they'll get caught in the mouth halfway over. You could also work on balancing yourself and your horse and slowing him down by taking a single jump, starting with x-rails, and jumping it on a circle. if he starts racing, make him jump it from the trot, but remember to SIT UP and keep your a** in the saddle. This way, if your horse falls or something because he's jumping incorrectly or because of a freak accident, you will have your base of support.
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 3:01 pm
L Y Z Z A C I O U S` DB GreenePony Half halts are not just a "jump exercise" they are in fact quite useful in rating a horse whether or not they are racing into a jump. However if a horse is ignoring half halts (that should be your go-to solution first off) only then try something else. When my pony would try to return to his show jumping youth we would come to a complete halt one or two strides out from the jump (he also would like to take long spots which this helped) and only then continue. It takes quite athleticism to be able to rush that (though he was quite capable of that as well, just too lazy 9 times out of 10) But I cannot stress enough the importance of doing half-halts, they are as fundamental to your riding as tucking your bum underneath and having the straight line from head to hip to heel. also, you need to make sure YOU are balanced in order for the horse to stop racing. A horse that races at a jump is usually a horse that is unbalanced, and if the rider is unbalanced then the horse typically will be. Here is how I keep my horse in check over fences: on approach, look over fence, not AT it. 10 strides in, sit back, heels down, feet forward- keep this as you approach over the fence, continue with above, but DON'T FORGET TO RELEASE. I know horses who race over jumps because they know they'll get caught in the mouth halfway over. You could also work on balancing yourself and your horse and slowing him down by taking a single jump, starting with x-rails, and jumping it on a circle. if he starts racing, make him jump it from the trot, but remember to SIT UP and keep your a** in the saddle. This way, if your horse falls or something because he's jumping incorrectly or because of a freak accident, you will have your base of support. @ GreenePony: I know half halts aren't just a jumping exercise, I mean I need something other than half halts OR specially designed jumping exercises. If I'm in a lesson I can't just stop dead before the jump (even if I was strong enough, actually if I could stop him before a jump I could probably control him in canter anyway). But thanks.
@ L Y Z Z A C I O U S` DB: Thanks, that was very helpful, I'll try that. My main problem is I don't want to have to be strong and just hold on, it seems unfair to the horse. I want to get control and do it right. Your suggestion is very helpful though, thanks.
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 7:57 am
http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=14250393
http://www.animalnetwork.com/youngrider/board/Topic156811-15-1.aspx
Cherry Hill has some great excesize books avail thru Amazon (or the library)
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 10:41 am
You need to establish a half halt. This is a MUST for jumping!! There are 3 things you have to have on the flat before you can jump safely. Half halts, having the horse infront of your leg (the go button), and rhythum and balance. With out these, jumping cant be nice for the horse or rider or both. Essablishing a good half halt comes from riding on the flat. The better schooled your horse is on the flat, the better he`ll jump. There is NO problem with doing some flat schooling on a day youre doing jumping. Some people just get so obcesed with the fact that today they are jumping that they wont go back and school issues theyre having on the flat. The horse is running through your hand, and not only is this rude and a training issue, but its dangerous. Work a couple days on the flat making the horse go forward and come back, lengthen and shorten stride.
When you jump, set up a line of 4 or so low jumps, either one or two strides. Between each jump, circle out, bring the horse back to a trot before coming back and jumping the next jump. This is also an excellent excercise to get the horse to bring up its front end and jump from behind. Youre essentially doing a loop between each jump. Make sure you dont always circle out, every so often jump 2 jumps in a row, so your horse doesnt just get the pattern in his head, he needs to listen to you. Another is the clover lead pattern. 4 jumps are set up in a + shape. You go over one, and either turn right or left (depending on what direction you took it from), where you make a loop and cross your line to jump the perpendicular jump. Practicing stopping at the end of a line can help teach a horse to come back to you, but if he`s running throuhg your half halt, that needs to be adressed first.
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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 10:01 am
If you're in a lesson, you should be talking to your instructor as to ways to get him more under control. My first suggestion would be to focus more on your warm-up. Before you start jumping, while you're still working on the flat, get him totally in tuned to you. Hundreds of transitions, get them as light as possible. You want to be able to rate him back in the canter just from shifting your weight on the flat. The fact is, a lot of horses tend to get more excited over fences, so if you don't have the re-balancing button near perfect on the flat, it's not going to happen over fences. So in your warm-up, really focus on responsiveness and balance.
Now, if your instructor isn't doing anything to address your horse's rushing in your lesson, you have a problem. That's their job as the instructor. Even if you're in a group lesson, it is very possible to address an individual's issues while still teaching effectively to a group. (*is an instructor*)
If he's rushing to the point of being uncontrollable, you need to drop your fences down. I don't know what height you're jumping now, but you need to go back to cross rails and cavaletti for a while. This is NOT saying that you are a bad rider, or that you are incapable of riding the larger fences, working on lower gymnastic work is essential for riders and horses at ALL stages of their development. Brat's exercise with the loops is an excellent one. Halting two or three strides out from the fence is another one that is excellent. If you can't get him stopped from the canter, do it at the trot. That's why you're lowering the fences. You may have to get a little crude with your aids at first if he's completely blocking you out. This is not a matter of finesse or things looking nice, this is a matter of SAFETY. if your horses is ignoring you over fences, that is DANGEROUS and is something that you and your instructor need to seriously address.
Another of my favorite things for a horse that gets hyped up over jumping is to combine the jumping and flat workouts. Start out with your usual flat work out with some low jumps scattered around the arena. Work on transitions, lateral work, shortening and lengthening stride, whatever it is that you normally school on the flat. Once you have your horse really tuned in to you, pop over a fence, then go right back to work. Don't make a big deal out of it, don't give him a super long approach, just make one of your circles include a fence every once in a while, then straight back to work. Make jumping not a big deal.
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Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 2:35 am
Half halts, half halts, half halts! I'm pretty sure everyone on this topic has said this, but I agree! What i did with Cimmaron was...
I would half halt, sit and we would trot up to the jump, I would have really close contact and I was thinking "We are doing this my way!". So I was sitting and half halting with a tight rein. Around two or three strides before the jump, I would give her, her head and jump!
She doesn't rush anymore! You could try this with cantering, but I did it with trotting and shes fine both ways =D
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:53 pm
Half-halts aren't simply a "jumping exercise." They help in all aspects.
1) Circle your horse before the jump. Stay far enough away from the jump and slowly move your circle closer to the jump and then take it.
2) I hate to be Captain Obvious, but if you're using spurs or whips, stop. Please.
3) If confident and trainer suggests/ approves it, try out a double bridle, two reins, stronger bits, or a curb chain.
4) Don't jump your horse if excited AT ALL!! There's a difference between power and being out of control. Power is when you can feel the forward momentum but you know you could stop your horse an inch away from the jump. Power is different for riders and horses, so don't take me too seriously. When a horse is out of control, you know you can't stop. You know that if you try to stop, you're going to screw up your horse.
5) Practice walk-halt, trot-halt or trot-walk, and canter-trot/ canter-walk before you even THINK about jumping. You need to get your horse under control so they know who's the boss.
6) Try tightening your reins just a smidge. Not much, mind you, but you shouldn't have any breathing room for your horse. Elbows stay at waist level and close to the body, hands firm but not constant pulling.
7) RELAX! If you're calm, the horse will be calm. Don't get excited about the jump. Stay calm, but focused and alert. There's a difference between being tense/ apprehensive and excitement. You stay calm, act like its no big deal, and the horse will eventually think that its no big deal. Just another jump.
8.) USE YOUR VOICE! There is no connection between a horse and rider if the horse won't respond to your voice.
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