When you are jumping lots can go wrong? How to fix? Well, keep reading!

But before we go any further, this article assumes that you are riding your horse correctly. In other words, you are using your aids correctly, you are in the correct two-point jumping position, your head is up and your eyes are looking where you are going. You are also releasing your horse correctly and are not pulling on his mouth during any part of the process. Okay, so now that you are perfect, let's work on that horse of yours!

We are going to specifically talk about refusals and runouts, which can be shelved under the broad category of yes, you guessed it, disobedience! What do you do when a horse disobeys at a jump? Well, you need to do two things. First, you need to handle the refusal or the runout in an appropriate manner. Second, you need to figure out why he refused or ran out so you can prevent it from happening again. A horse who disobeys at a jump can quickly get into a bad habit that can be hard to deal with. Don't treat disobedience at jumps lightly. Instead, deal with the issues as they arise.

Handling a Refusal

If your horse stops before a jump, the first thing to do is keep your balance, eyes up. Sit up straight, and maintain control. Next, bring your horse to the middle of the jump and let him have a good, long look at it. Don't allow him to turn away from it, or jump it from a standstill. Hold him back a bit but squeeze your legs and cluck so that he understands that as he approaches the fence, he is to think "forward." Finally, turn your horse around and attempt the jump again; don't forget to squeeze with your legs and cluck as you approach the obstacle.

Handling a Runout

Handling a runout is different from handling a refusal, because you need to gain control before you are able to correct the runout. Sit up deep and tall, and stop your horse. Then turn him around in the opposite direction that he ran out. For example, if he ran out to the left, turn him to the right. Next, ride him right up to the middle of the jump and make him look over the middle of it. Use your legs and a cluck to get him thinking "forward and middle." When you turn around, turn the way that will correct his runout ideas; left if he ran out right, right if he ran out left. When you approach the fence again, keep your eyes on your target over the middle of the fence, and take care not to approach too fast. If he starts to run out again, be ready to steer sideways. Putting your crop in the hand he ran out toward may keep him from running out that way again.

Troubleshooting

Next, you need to figure out why your horse refused or ran out so you can correct the problem. Here are some common problems, followed by their solutions.

Problem: Rider error. You didn't bring him in straight, or you didn't use your legs. You dropped him, or you pulled him in the mouth.

Solution: Ride a better approach. Use your legs and eyes, and release correctly.

Problem: The jump is too big or unfamiliar.

Solution: Lower the jump; let the horse get a good look at the jump.

Problem: The ground is slippery.

Solution: Never jump in bad footing!

Problem: The horse got off balance, or had such a bad takeoff he didn't think he could make the jump safely.

Solution: Try a better approach, paying special attention to balance.

Problem: The horse is lame or sore.

Solution: Never jump a lame or sore horse! Call your vet instead.

Problem: You are afraid of the jump, and it is affecting your horse.

Solution: Build up your confidence before you ask your horse to jump. Your horse can read your emotions, and will be hesitant if you are.

Problem: The horse is inexperienced, or has lost confidence because of a bad experience.

Solution: Build your horse's confidence by working slowly over small jumps. In this case, correct riding on your part is very important!