[Trevor-Runner]

Hey everyone! I need your help with the horse that im partboarding, Maggie. Well, you see Maggie is a great horse and an awesome flat horse. She is very talented on the flat, which is great... but everytime someone tries to jump her, she goes INSANE. She can jump... She's been showing for ever in shows where she has jumped 3 feet. Her only problem is, her owner doesn't come up to ride her on a regular basis... I ride her 3 times a week and she is great but i'm not allowed to jump her yet. She needs someone that can jump her and really work with her, but she isn't calming down! What can I do on the flat to help her calm down for when I start jumping her? I have tried doing poles with her already, is there anything else I could do to help feel more confident for when i start jumping her? When she does jump she races towards the jumps and pops the jumps, making it really uncomfortable for the rider, obviously.It really isn't safe jumping her right now either, she's very fast, and seems like she has no breaks. Although she NEVER refuses, it just seems like she has lost her touch right now =( I really want to work with her and get her back into jumping, any ideas guys? Any advice would be great guys, i know you are all great with advice! Thanks so much =)
-Alana

[PiaffePony0412]

sounds to me like she has a major rushing problem. My horse had that when I got him, cept he like to throw in occasional bucks too! lol. Try this:

Set up some very small jumps, like 1' or 18" crossrails, go over them at the walk, as soon as you can afterwards, stop her. Even if she leaps over them, or if she just steps over them, stop her after, keep her stopped for about 5 seconds, and then reward her, 'goood girrrl!' etc.

Then try trotting up with a loooong approach to the jump. about 3 strides infront of the jump, walk. take the jump at a walk, repeat the stopping routine as I wrote above. If she won't slow down in front of the jump like you asked her, then turn her away, she doesn't need to jump it if she just WANTS to misbehave.

When your comfortable with her just stepping over the jumps in a manorly fashion, canter up to them with a long approach, and 4 or so strides before, trot. sit deeeep, half halt, give her room, DON"T pull on the reins even if you feel she is about to bound, if you pull on the reins thats totally counterproductive and makes her feel more restricted. Just move with her, and stop afterwards like you have been. Keep doing this and eventually she should get comfortable enough to trot over the jumps consistantly.

Tell me how it goes

Hope I helped!

[Kiwi Pony]

If you do jump her, or someone else does, this is what I would do:
For her rushing - Set up 3 or so jumps in a line, 5-6 strides apart, and circle between them (alternating to each side). Do as many circles as it takes until you do not feel her tense up as she turns towards the jump - if she does don't worry, just calmy circle her again. When she gets bored of the exercise quietly keep her straight when she faces the jump and jump over. Then repeat! Actually this is something you *could* do on the flat - work between the jumps like above, just without jumping them.
For her brakes (or lack of!) - Halt in a straight line from the jump (This can be hard if you don't have much room! But it really helps), and back a couple of steps if she was really bad. As she improves just halt her and have her stay halted straight until she stands relaxed. Then ask her to walk on and repeat the exercise. Don't worry if you have to be tough! She will get the picture that she MUST stop in a straight line, and all the better if you have an arena wall as a barrier.

[Wounded]

So far you have been given great advise, but horse dont rush just because they feel like it.
They do it out of pain, lack of training, bordom, or lack of discipline.
I would assume the last reason.

If when you are jumping and she rushes LET HER RUSH. Get over the fence and make sure you back up for all she is worth. BUT DO NOT resrtrict her movement over the fence!!!!! Do not yank on her mouth, and do not block her. Instead bring her to a complete stop, and then back, back BACK.

What will happen if you pull on her mouth is yet another problem: you will have a horse that rushes NAD refuses. That is an entirely new problem.

When approaching the fence do not tense up and block her. Keep sponging and riding as if it is nbot there. Do not make a big deal and most of all sit DEEP. Control her not only with the reins but your seat aswell.

[UnDun*]

Set up poles infront, trotting poles. Gives her something to think about, and she cant race over them to jump the jump. After the jump set up a couple of poles as well, she cant just land and run, she'll have to slow down to get over those as well.

[Trevor-Runner]

Thank you guys SO much!!! I will definitley tell you how it goes and use lots of your advice!

[CelticEventing9]

set up LOTS of gymnastics with tiny jumps and ground poles to regulate her stride, make her lenthen, shorten and respond to your aids FLAWLESSLY over these so she is more responsive and "there" when you jump her.
GOOD LUCK!

[Cast_No_Shadow1]

hmm i donno what to say but i hope someone heps u !!

[Lil.Red-Enza]

Hey Lan...It's moi...I understand your problem as I have seen Maggie do it many a times. Don't worry she will definitly improve with all your work..just take all this great advice and use it well =)...im HERE for YOU! =D