How do i slow my horse down while jumping?

Question

Whenever i jump my horse, she always rushes towards the jumps. Ill trot them, and she gets fast, and uncollected, and sometimes even canters a few strides before them. Then we get really big spot, and it ends up badly. Is there any way to stop this? I know she knows what she's doing, because she was n the florida circuit. I think she's more of a jumper that a hunter. And the thing is, i was just learning how to jump when i got her so I'm not sure if its bad that i wasn't all that good at jumping, or is it better? Thank you for any ways to slow her down, or exercises.

peace && love

Answer 1

She may know how to go over a jump but she was never taught her flat work. You need to go back to the basics of ground poles and cavaletti and small cross rails. You described and out of control horse, which is dangerous especially for a jumper.

Answer 2

my horse used to do the same thing. Its probably a good thing that you were learning to jump, as this way you can learn together. i used plenty of half halts approching the jump, only releasing pressure on his mouth as he was about to take off, to allow him to check his stride. while schooling him over jumps, i used to use plenty of circles; i'd ride him at a fence as if to jump it and then i would occasionally circle him round before we reached it. this way, he seemed to realise that just because we were approaching a fence, it didn't mean we were going to jump it. it meant that he had to think before he jumped and eventually he stopped rushing fences. hope it goes well x*x

Answer 3

Give and take with the reins. Circle everytime she is going to fast to a jump.

Answer 4

Try sitting deep and halt right after the jump and then keep a good contact. Or work on flat work a bit more.

Answer 5

half halt

Answer 6

Make sure to give her some guidance before the jump, like play with the reins a little and give gentle tugs before the jump. If she keeps rushing the jumps, circle her in front of the jump so she knows that she has to listen for your commands before she jumps.

Answer 7

Pull each rein back and forth slowly, I call it seesawing. It will slow her down, or we hope it will. Also try talking to her, saying easy girl or easy easy. Thats how I get my horse to slow down.

Answer 8

before the jump pull her nose in; play around with the reigns. And you might want to lower your hands so her heads lower so shes a bit calmer. but in the end it all comes down to give and take. before the jump tighten up the reigns so she knows something is coming. Just prepare her for it and itll get better

good luck (:

Answer 9

You could also try and put several ground poles before and after the jumps, that way she realizes she has to go slower or else she'll hit them.

Answer 10

I ride horses like this all the time.

To get your horse to slow down when jumping:

-Half halts are your savior! When approaching the jump, be sure to be giving little half halts (Half halts are when you pull back, then release, then pull back, then release, not really a full-fledged halt) Sometimes when you are just pulling back, the horse adjusts to the pressure and ignores it.

-Have a calm, soothing voice to quiet down your horse. Like say "woahhhhh" to your horse when you approach the jump. If you're calm, they're calm.

-If your horse gets too out of control, do the jump again but at a slower gait. Like if you were cantering the jump, then just trot it. If you were trotting, then walk it.

I hope this helps!

Answer 11

ok first you need to help her with guidence, a lot of horse's speed up because they are nervous but many other reasons why. Give her a firm rein (not to tight) to show her you are guiding her. Also make sure you are giving her just enough pressure when going over the jump to encourgae her to go over it with ease but without telling ehr to speed up. i Know tricky but just give her a firm grip with your leg but not a obsessive amount :) also make sure your rein is firm so you can steer and slow her down if she starts speeding up but jsut enough so not to confuse her with pulling her up :)

GoodLuck