At 19:52:29 on 30.09.11, bambi9797 wrote:
Me and Filly just found each other in the summer. We are having a great time so far and are excelling with are jumping, pushing it to 3ft! There's just one problem. Her speed. As soon as the jumps come out, she's like a rocket! If I try and hold her, she gets faster and brings her head down/gets on the bit. If I leave her or give her her head, she always seems to stumble before the jump. What do I do?!?! HELP!! Amber xxx

At 21:45:32 on 05.10.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
make the jumps small (like little crosses) and do lots and lots of grid work in trot with trotting poles in between and spend as much time as you need doing it before making the jumps bigger etc, also horses usually rush fences cos they are tense and this usually comes from a riders tension so relax and your horse will too and instead of pulling/keeping a hold of her, check her every couple of strides instead

At 16:40:26 on 06.10.11, bambi9797 wrote:
Ok thatnks for the advice!

At 02:16:22 on 07.10.11, CeceG wrote:
What I was taught to do was to half halt instead of holding their mouth (sometimes horses lean into the bit and pick up speed) and if that doesnt work you can try keeping your filly on a bend.

At 18:08:31 on 07.02.12, OffTheTrack wrote:
Rather than hold her mouth, use your weight and voice to slow her down, and istead of pulling contiuously, pull then release, pull then release. Horses will lean into constant pressure, but they will back off from repeated pressure. Sit up, sit back, sit deep into the saddle and relax :) do some grid work like Jess said and do some schooling where you work on tranistions. Also, don't always go over the jump. When you're in the school jumping or in a field jumping, go towards a jump, then do a circle before going over it or going somehwere else. This way, she doesn't expect to go over every time, she waits until she's absolutley sure that's what you want. This should help with the rushing, because rushing is anticipation of the jump. If she doesn't know whether or not you're going over it, she will wait in he stride until she's certain, by which time the jump is within a nice few strides :) hope this helps and good luck! x

At 09:01:26 on 18.02.12, Flicka wrote:
Hi, how are you getting on? You know she can jump so I'd go back to improving the flatwork and get her responding to your weight aids so you don't have to use your hand which she will fight. With a rushing horse its easy to stop using your leg and overuse your hand-I know as I have a really forward mare, only trouble is she'll run at the fence and then run out at the last moment too-grrr! From what you say she's getting on her forehand which is why she trips when you let her run and have her own way. With a show jumper you really need to get her to take her weight behind. The half halt has really helped me. Also jump with a trot pole (s) in front of the fence which will slow her down and then put a pole on the landing side too-use things like this and grids that will make her think.