**help-napping**

[Kerri&Smarty]

Hiya all!
2day i went along to do some clear round jumping that my riding club has every month this time of year. I have a 14.1hh New forest, although he's 11yrs old he is very green (he was turned away for years). He is very spooky but we r working on that, he is slightly better than he used to be with fillers and spooky fences (but still h8s them!). Any way, it's not the spookyness i wanted to ask about, but 2day he was really playing up because a jump was right nxt to the exit gate, he kept running out towards the exit. He has done this b4 in SJ, he wouldn't go over a fence that was going away from the exit, we got eliminated for 3 refusals at this jump, then i circled around and approached the same jump from the other direction and he jumped it straight away, easy peasy towards the gate!!
2day when he ran out towards the gate, i steadied him up then approached it again with lots of leg and a tap on the neck the side he ran out last time and said "GO ON!" in a firm voice (if i use my voice firmly when he starts to back off a jump he usually responds and jumps), but he did it again!!
Also, when we finish our round i still circle him around a lap b4 going out the exit, so he doesn't just jump the last jump and then go straight out the exit.

Has anyone got any advice to help stop him napping towards the exit and refusing jumps near the exit?
please reply!!

Kerri and Smarty

[lamprellsarah]

erm practise plenty,
make sure you are sitting up urging him on, and maybe slow it down.
i would start off low till he is taking them well and confidently
you have less chance of a run out it you slow it down maybe do it in trot, and if they are small you will be able to still jump it if he stops!!
even if he pulls it down or cat leaps it, give him loads of praise.

[Miriam]

Rhi used to nap at the exit. I was told to pull my rein back to my side and squeeze her on so that she still had to go forward. It works great if only I could get my eldest son to do the same instead of letting her get away with it. If you are jumping would you be able to turn her away from the exit after the jump than towards it?

[Sudden_Impulse]

WAIT WAIT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There isnt any solotuion to a horse that tries to run to the gate. All you need is some rail work or Dressage work. I prefer Dressage more than rail work, due to the fact that my horse rounds better and listens more. I have a 17 hand, Hanoverian/TB head rusher. he is 16 now, but man, the stupid horse is like LETS GO LETS GO!!!!YAYAYAAYAY IM JUMPING!!! but no - you cant do that. what you need to do, is stick your horse on the rail, and round him into your seat and legs. by doing this, your pushing him forward with your inside rein and leg. dont mess with your outside leg, and dont sea-saw either. cuz that builds up the wrong muscles in his neck...and he'll become more unresponsive and will ignore you and rush to the gate more. maybe you need to drop jumping for a few weeks and just get him used to the fact that he cant go out the gate. ride him past it, back him up by it. and every time you pass it, ask for a "head in" which is a little jiggle on your inside rein and leg. he'll realize that "oh, ok, we cant go out side" and he'll also realize that "oh ok, its the exit gate, she's going to ask me for my head, so I'll just give it to her now" see what I mean? he will become a lot more responsive. and dont go back to the high jumps, keep em low for a green horse, no matter his age, he has to mature before he can ever do the big stuff. he has to be in his "right mind" and thinking clearly before you advance. I hope this helps. if you have questions - e-mail me - sudden_impulse_rs@excite.com or go to my webpage, isnt much, but it helps, www.hjusa.freeurl.com
~Beth

[Sudden_Impulse]

btw - I belive in Dressage BEFORE jumping. keeps you better seated, and gives you a whole new balance. you learn the tricks of rounding your horse out in the trickest sittuations. Good Luck!!
~Beth