Schooling solutions

Say goodbye to refusals

THERE’S NO FEELING quite like soaring over a jump on your horse, but euphoria soon turns to despair if he refuses. Riding a horse who frequently refuses not only dashes any hopes of a clear round, but it can also knock your confidence. If this sounds familiar, it’s time to take everything back a step and re-establish the basics, says showjumping coach Jemma Whitlam. The following key exercises will soon get your jumping success back on track.

Identify the problem

According to Jemma, there are three main problems that could be causing your horse to slam on the brakes ahead of a jump:

1 Poor canter quality

“One reason is that the quality of your canter isn’t good enough,” she says. “Often people are in a rush to get to fences, but it’s important to slow things down and give your horse time to think. You want a canter that’s big and bouncy, rather than flat and fast.”

2 You’re in the wrong position

“Another problem could be your jumping position. A lot of people see a stride a long way from the fence and fold too early. It gives your horse the opportunity to go out the side door.”

3 Your horse is spooky

The third reason could be that your horse is spooky. Perhaps he’s happy with a simple cross-pole, but not so sure when it comes to adding in fillers. “A lot of people forget about the process when it comes to increasing the difficulty of jumps,” explains Jemma. “They might try a different type of fence for the first time by charging at it. It doesn’t give your horse time to think and he backs off. You need to approach new fences in a controlled way.” Over the page, Jemma explains three simple exercises to tackle each problem and help you go clear every time.