At 18:53:38 on 29.09.10, Eynna wrote:
I ride some really good horses but quite a few of them get really excited whil jumping! I know I start the lessons with my reighns too short but even if I stop that I get worried because I can never stop them!! PLEASE HEELP!!!???

At 21:09:07 on 29.09.10, ToriSilverson wrote:
usually short reins with a horse tells the horse that its going to do something so it can make a horse more excitable. the best thing to do is to let your reins out and give your horse a pat on the neck, and talk softly to him he should calm down. also short reins can show tension of yours to the horse which in turn will make the horse tense. with my horse a pat on the neck will slow him down lots, and theres a riding school pony that u do not use your reins to stop him or he goes faster, you have to pat him or use ur seat. hope this helps.

At 23:59:50 on 02.10.10, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
Grenville really pulls into a jump but doesn't speed up. he used to pull then i pulled, then he pulled back, got tense and knocked the jump or threw me off balance. i sorted this out by forgetting about pulling on his mouth and sat deep concentrating on keeping him calm and 2 strides out i would check him but push at the same time like a wake up call and lighten my seat- he jumps no problem. it is all about relaxing. i am so used to jumping Gren now i point him at the jump and he sorts it out. he can jump better than me or any person so who better to get me over it? i am sure if you relax so will the horse you ride and your confidence will grow so you will feel able to trust your horse to get you over the fence safely. if the horse you ride doesn't feel your confidence in him he will be unconfident too so he will rush to get over it asap or just not jump it. hope this helps and makes sense :)

At 21:06:29 on 09.10.10, EventingArab4Ever wrote:
My horse used to have a problem with rushing fences. He would speed up to the jump and and jump very flat, and I would be pulling on his mouth the whole time. My instructer informed me that pulling on his mouth was doing nothing but making my problem worse. She told me to sit waaaaaay back and very deep in the saddle, push my hands forward (not enough that there is a ton of slack in the reins, but just enough to have light contact with his mouth.) and just let my horse be. This works really well if you have a rusher!! It helps them balance and not jump flat, and also helps you relax and focus. Cheers!-----Amelia and Cowboy :)

At 17:58:04 on 17.10.10, Amberlover wrote:
My horse Max pulls all the time.My Addvice is sit up and sit deep and half halt as you approch the jump.Also try walking up to the jump with the horse and make sure its small and walk over it then try troting poles then raised poles.Good Luck Gayle and All horses + Max

At 13:27:13 on 19.10.10, kibby wrote:
does he rush in his flat work?

At 21:07:09 on 22.10.10, dixierider wrote:
You bit can make a HUGE difference! With a "pushy" horse I school in what they call a "wonder bit". For you hard core jump riders that think western riding is just for cowboys- hear me out. This bit comes from the Barrel racing world and works with a graduated leverage system. It is basically a twisted wire snaffle. The mouthpiece slide along the rings that has stoppers and a shank. It has worked on many a horse for me. Just remember it is a modified gag so it is not for beginners. Light hands are required. I usually only have to school a few times with it on a level headed horse. Other horses (especially my hard headed Welsh)may take longer. It is by no means a severe bit so don't be afraid of it. Give it a try! I use one with a copper mouth on my horses. I have been using it for years on horses and ponies with very good results. I have included a picture of the one I use.

At 21:10:33 on 22.10.10, dixierider wrote:
I have noticed that the pic I posted of the bit had the rigs flipped forward. They photographed it backwards! Oh well, just remember the shanks bend toward your horse. Hopes this helps!

At 06:50:17 on 14.11.10, bazz94 wrote:
I rode a pony earlier this year who rushed at the jumps and my instructor got me to have the jumps low (40cm) and walk over it by using seat (sack of potatoes in your bum) and breathing and making sure you don't 'pike' your body and she also got me to ride around the jumps until he was calm and then jump and then if he jumped calmly we would rest, if he rushed we would ride around again, only trot the jumps. The rushy ponies will teach you the most, Snoopy (the pony i rode) did.

At 20:04:50 on 14.11.10, Natasha wrote:
Circle them before the jump lots of times, then when they arent expecting it point them towards the jump that way they wont rush