[GaLaHaD001]

I posted before about how my horse was rushing jumps but now he goes to slow. He insists on walking the jumps when I ask him to trot. These are pretty low jumps too, just small crossrails. Right after he walks over the jump he'll trot. I don't get why he doesn't just trot it. Wouldn't it be easier to go faster?

[Bruce Wiley]

You need to establish yourself as the proactive director on where, when and how you want him to be on this course, you must the visionary and you must give him clear direction.
If he is ignoring you, then you need to gain his control, respect, trust and leadership.
This isn't beating him up or getting mad at him, it about having that mind to continue working until he understand what you want and doing it correctly everytime.
Get him into the routine or habit that you're the leader and you want him to do the walk, trot, canter when you ask for it and thats all and no heart feeling.
Lunge line him so he learns that, it your idea to do it this way and not his.
Horses realize this when we're attach to them, telling them to do this, now move this way, speed up, now slow down, then stop over here like when you're in the saddle.
I hope this helps.

[SaddleCutie]

Most importantly, you need to establish who's in control here. With horses, as they are such huge and strong animals, you need to let your horse know from the beginning that you are in charge, and what you say goes.


Don't let him walk over the jump. If you want him to trot, he has to trot. Make sure that you aren't hanging on his mouth and keep him from moving forward. Squeeze with your calves when you want him to go forward. If he doesn't listen, squeeze harder so that it is clear what you are asking him to do. Click your tongue and encourage him. He should go. If he doesn't, give him a little kick. If he still doesn't listen to a kick, give him a light tap. You should be able to get him to trot though without resorting to kicks and taps, but this way he'll learn that he can't get away with just walking.


Once he does trot, praise him and pat him. Take him around the ring for awhile to get him relaxed and moving forward comfortably. Establish a consistent rhythym and don't change from it- count it in your head. You want a forward trot with impulsion- this means that you don't want a speedy, out of control, sloppy trot. You just want him moving forward and in control.

Then, take him over some ground poles. After doing this for awhile, you're ready to take him up to his first jump. Keep the consistent rhythym. Once you're on the straight line for the jump, look up and over it and squeeze him forward. Something that is important to remember is not to nag him- don't keep banging him on the sides asking him to hurry up. If he's moving forward with impulsion, you're fine. Try to stay relaxed, and you'll do great. Give a generous release over the jump.


I hope that this has helped. When he does trot over the jump, praise him and tell him what an awesome boy he is!


Good luck!

[Magzinator]

Use you heels and then if he doesn't respond get a crop to reinforce it. This is what I do atleast.