TROUBLESHOOTING: Your horse may stop and step from side to side at the edge of a down-bank, but try not to let him back up and don’t circle. Let him think and give plenty of rein to lower his neck while squeezing with your legs. If he tries to take a big leap, just grab mane and hang on! He’ll probably jump it much more gently the next time.
When trying a bank for the first time, start with a very tiny one—under 2 feet. Begin by going up the bank at the trot on the first try, since that will be the easiest gait for your pony to have time to think and enough momentum to easily hop up. Trot down the bank at a controlled pace and sit up straight, as opposed to leaning your body forward like you would over a normal jump. Let the horse slip the reins through your fingers as he lowers his neck and hops down.