Ive got my first horse show on sunday im doing dressage and jumping but my horse sometimes runs out at jumps. Shes 19 so she knows what she's doing and the jumps are only 1.4 ft. She jumps some but then others she drops her shoulder and runs out. Shes jumped all of them before but im so worried that she'll run out! How can i encourage her to go over the jumps? I always give her lots of praise when she does go over them
Thanks
I ride a horse that runs out at jumps if you don't get your approach absolutely perfect so I'm used to running out!
Hold a crop on the side she normally runs out, keep a nice straight approach if possible and give her a nudge as you're going. Don't forget to have your rein tighter on the side she normally runs out and if you feel her going to run out tighten the other rein to prevent her.
Good luck at your show!:) X
To stop a horse from running out, you need to stop letting it run out! You know she's prone to it, so instead of dropping contact with your reins and planting your hands on her neck, you need to be ready with the reins to feel the first sign of a runout and REACT! Use your leg, seat and hands to keep her straight. Even my 9 year old was able to get this all figured out this year.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com I also agree with others who mentioned that it would be a good idea to have a vet check her to see if jumping is causing her any pain. With our oldest pony, I thought he was just stopping or running out because his rider was small, not clear with the aids, and not skilled enough to stop it. However, the pony also stopped when I tried jumping him (over tiny jumps), so I figured that although he didn't look lame or stiff, that something must be hurting him when he jumps, so retired him from jumping at age 28.
An approximate human to horse age would be that a 20 year old horse would be aprox. 66 years of human age.
Don't you think that a horse that old who has been great and carried children that only want to jump and jump more should be able to have an easy life for the rest of it and maybe just do some light rail classes or be retired.
It is sad when a horse is honest and good and then has to be made to just keep jumping.
Praise the good and scold he bad. Shes an old girl so she knows the story. If she runs out, take her in a small circle around the jump and boot her over it. let her know that you mean business! you would be amazed by how a horse will respond to being put in their place. Don't be nervous k. she will know right away. . and for god sake get angry when she runs out!
Hey.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com I have a gelding who is much the same. He has recently taken to trying to run out and i find it works if I keeping circling him back round to the jump till he goes over it. He soon gets bored and finds its more fun to jump it then get circling round. Try not to get angry but make sure she knows this behaviour isn't acceptable.
hope this helps and let me know how you get on :-)
At 19 years old maybe it is painful for her to jump, if she is not experiencing pain then she has a problem with the person on her back knowing less than she does.
