Hi all. Can anyone give me some advice for slowing down a horse that gets too fast and rushes jumps? I’m in a large group lesson that doesn’t allow for time to lunge or work the horse on a circle. The only advice I’ve gotten from the instructor is don’t hang on the reins which of course I agree with but what do I do instead?
Stop jumping? No, seriously: does this horse rush poles? Cavaletti? Crossrails? You need to step back to whatever the largest obstacle is that this horse doesn’t rush at.
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Is this a horse that you own/lease or is it a horse that you are only able to ride during lessons? Are you able to take private lessons for some more focused training?
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I looked back at your posting history to refresh my mind on your situation. In Oct 2022 you were in a disaster bucking bolting group lesson program twice a week and asking for advice on being tight and anxious as a re-rider adult.
Are you still in this program? I’m guessing yes from what you describe and the apparent uselessness of the instructor.
Horses rush jumps when they are anxious or in pain. So it’s not an easily fixed thing. Rushing, bucking, ducking out, can all be part of a larger problem.
In any case, if you are still at the same barn my advice is the same as previous. Get into a better program
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The fences could be set so that an instructor can have you circle in-between. If you’re the problem it would help you recover and relax, put more focus on a nice circle vs the next fence. It will allow you to sit up and rebalance. If the horse has learned, been allowed to rush, same for them ----- if not physical reasons.
Good instructors set people and horses up for success.
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Good lesson programs do not have habitual rushers as school horses. If you are not getting effective instruction that results in a noticeable improvement, then you are in a substandard program and you should move.
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Large group lesson with one horse jumping at a time, with all the other horses huddled up in a group in the arena? My initial thought is separation anxiety, and horse thinking “let’s get done as quickly as possible, my buddies are over there without me.”
I suggest testing this by taking a private jumping lesson. I bet you find the horse’s behavior changes.
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This horse needs a whole sale reeducation in the half halt and pace control from seat, which is probably more to bite off than you can chew in a group lesson.
Sommmmetimmees, letting go and riding like a chilled out ice queen works, but switching programs sounds like a better use of your time and funds.
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If you are bracing against the horse, you might ask your trainer if they would be comfortable with you trying “driving reins”—that is holding the reins between you thumb/index fingers instead of pinky/ring fingers. That should help to soften your arms.
Does the horse rush with more experienced riders?
My daughter got a warmblood who was stepping down from a great career as a 3 ft. hunter. She began to rush jumps with my daughter–but not when the trainer or an adult equitation rider rode her. It seems like the mare was used to a very educated, tactful ride. My daughter wasn’t at a level where she could give the mare the ride she was used to.
The trainer suggested taking private lessons where they really worked on improving the half halt and various other exercises. The situation improved but never was perfect. My daughter ended up switching to a large pony who could be spicy but was pretty “kid-educated” and forgiving, and my daughter’s confidence and enjoyment improved a lot.
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Nothing like waiting in line for your turn to jump in a large group lesson to make a lot of horses anxious and rushy. It sounds like this horse needs to step back and start on simpler jumping tasks in a non-group lesson setting. Is that possible in your situation?
Is the instructor capable of teaching OP how to use their body to produce effective half halts? Does the horse even know how and are they physically able to comply?
IMO and IME pairing a horse and rider that rush fences in group lessons results in one of two things, or both
- Rider loses confidence.
- Rider comes off and gets hurt.
Unfortunately there’s no majikal solution with a horse you don’t own, only ride once a week with an instructor that fails to instruct.
Wasting a tremendous amount of money on bad instruction on badly trained, unsuitable horses gets old. Even if you don’t get hurt. You may say it’s all you can afford but the truth is you can’t afford to continue paying for this.
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