Rushing Fences

[moli]

I have recently started jumping my mare and am really enjoying it. The only problem I have is she either loves her jumping or want's to get it over with as she seems to rush to the jump.

I was only concentrating on one jump with my friend increasing the height. This meant that I was hanging around between jumps. Do you think she was anticipating the jump too much - I felt that I didn't have a chance to prepare for the jump as she was off as soon as I turned the corner.

I felt slightly nervous by this. Can anyone offer some advice?

[sweetbriar]

I too have a mare who is 'enthusiastic' with her jumping. She has a tendency to rush her jumps when she gets excited, especially through combinations.

I would try trotting poles on the ground to begin with as this will help to slow her down. I use them with my pony when she's been getting a little strong with her jumping. Poles in front of the fence can be effective also.

Some people also recommend turning a circle before the fence if they start to rush the jump. I've tried it and it does work. I've always been in two minds about this method as I always thought it might encourage her to run out or refuse her fences.

Between jumps I wouldn't just stand still or idle while the jumps are being put up. I suggest riding a circle or two around the school and get her listening to your aids. Schooling is important and she must learn to be obedient to your aids. Lots of transitions in the paces and figures (serpentines, circles, etc) will all help.

Mares tend to be very buzzy. Mine certainly is and she can get very strong when she's excited.

Rushing fences can be due to fear or because the horse is excited. If there is nothing wrong with her physically (teeth, back, etc) or she hasn't had any bad experiences jumping it could just be that she just loves her jumping.

I'm still learning with my pony.

[ros]

If you have access to a jumping lane - at least four fences is good - it can often steady up a rushing horse. As my previous instructor said (jumping was his thing) "let the jumps back them off" - meaning, just sit back and let the horse steady himself, which he'll tend to do if he has something more than a single fence to think about.

[myEllie]

My horse absolutely loves jumping, which is a good thing, but she tends to rush jumps, which isn't so good. What I do, is to set up a lot of jumps in the arena. Even if you are not going to jump that day, work around the jumps. Walk, trot, and canter circles around them, weave in and out. Then if you are jumping, just come out of a circle and go straight over the jump. Vary the jumps you go over and from which direction, so your horse doesn't learn to anticipate anything. Also, if your horse does start to rush the fence, circle around it. From my experience, if the horse wants to really jump, and yours sounds like it does, it will not teach them to refuse. Of course, you want to make sure that your saddle and bridle fit correctly and that the horse isn't in any pain that would be causing him to rush fences.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

well...i ride a horse who is a GREAT horse but is VERY fast and exited about her jumping. i would just do a lot of half halts...go to the jump at a trot or a canter...if she is really taking off (scence she is having problems i assume you arn't jumping big fences) i am guessing you are doing x-rails-2' if you are going higher maybe you are rushing her?

if she starts rushing make her walk up to the jump take it from a standstill or something....this may back her off for you
~nikkI~

ps, troting poles are great exersizes

[Anja]

Hi, I ride a 13.3hh welshie X and I find if he rushes sometimes to I dont bother to hold him back because if I do he gets upset do I let him have his head (( we are normally jumping kindy hight)) and I find he clears it and jumps perfectly ((strange I changed his bit over and he loves it but it is a harder bit)) also does anyone have any flat work tips I find If he hasnt been ridden for 2 days he just wants to trot/canter off also I cant over load the fornt of my ponys saddle as he will refuse and run throw it
maybe you could try your horse in a different bit?
Anja

[Maci]

I used to ride an Arab x who loved jumping and always rushed her fences. I found that half halts before the fence works, as does ground poles. Try starting from the ground up- make sure you have her attention in ground work (she listens to you, goes on the bit and really works "through"), then do low poles, etc. If she starts to rush before a jump, half halt her and try to set her back into a head set. I wouldn't recommend turning her away into a circle infront of a fence, if she starts to rush, because that might teach her it is okay to refuse/shy if she doesn't feel right, but then again, try not to let her jump it all hollow and unbalanced. Circles and any kind of bending helps get the horse into the right head set and listening.

Good Luck!
Maci :)

[PJay4]

I ride a 16 hh thoroghbred who loves jumping.
He tends to race before a jump, and it can make you nervous because you don't have long to think about it.
What I found helped was holding his head so he couldn't race until 2 or 3 paces before the jump, then about 2 paces after the jump, I'd pull him up again.
He learnt then that he wasn't aloud to race at them, and with some practice he's now a great jumper.
Hang in There,
PJay4:D

[bannerlover]

It can get nerveracking...I've fallen off many times on a horse that rushes. Its also dangerous- last week the horse I was riding rushed and ran into the arena fence. Try collecting to the jumps, and stopping about 2 strides after. Also, if you have access to some caviletti and your horse is good on the lunge, try lunging her over some gymnastic exercises. These are good because its almost impossible for a horse to rush through them without running into problems. I recomend 4 bounce jumps (crossrails) followed by a oxer or vertical. This works wonders!!! Also, as she gets better, try raising the jumps so the exercise might go like this :(all with a bounce) crossrail - small vertical- crossrail- larger vertical - crossrail-two strides to next jump with a pole inbetween- oxer. Try lunging her through it before you jump her over it. It should slow her down and let her focus on her jumping and not her speed. It worked wonders with a few of my trainer's horses. It also it good for their jumping skills.

Also, if you are working in combinations, try stopping inbetween and then letting your horse trot to the next jump.

[bettina1270]

All the exercises mentioned sound good, but be careful with bounces. These ask a lot from the horse, and require a lot of flexibility and strength from a horse's shoulder muscles, so I suggest starting off with two crosspoles at a bounce, with a stride to a vertical.