How to Keep Your Horse from Rushing the Jumps

 often as necessary to gain respect, rideability, and focus before and after the obstacle. Keep your aids smooth and your intensity low to develop trust, timing, and relaxation.

2. Build on the first exercise by setting a line of poles and riding downward transitions in between them.

3. Practice cantering over the line of poles, varying the number of strides in between the poles by adjusting the length of your stride.
When you are sufficiently warmed up, and your horse feels relaxed enough to try a jump, try these exercises.

Over Fences

1. Start with a single trot pole, or three trot poles (4.5 feet apart), set approximately eight or nine feet (depending on the length of your horse’s step) from the base of a cross-rail. The trot pole(s) will help regulate the pace and assist you and your horse in reaching the ideal take-off distance.

2. When your work over the first cross-rail becomes consistently good, add a second jump several strides away. Start by trotting in and out, proceeding to trotting in and cantering out. Practise adding a stride down the line before you canter it on stride, and use downward transitions or circles in between the jumps to re-establish a quiet rhythm as needed.

3. Grid work is a useful tool that helps horse and rider learn balance and rhythm. Because the distances are set, you are really able to focus on your position and delivery to the jumps.

Take the time each day to get your horse comfortable with his job. Jumping many small jumps will help lower his anxiety and build his confidence. If you take the time to instill this trust early on, raising the jumps later on should not create much more excitement.

It’s also important to make sure your horse gets exercised sufficiently on the days leading up to your jumping lessons. Excitable or nervous horses benefit immensely from routine, and gather far too much anxiety and energy that needs to be expelled after having multiple days off.