From: Karen
Dear Jessica, I am hoping that you can solve an argument I'm having with my instructor. My horse loves jumping, so much that she is almost out of control when she sees a jump, and when I start riding her toward a jump she will charge at top speed. It's a little scary but very exciting and I am glad that she likes it so much. The problem is that I want to start competing her over fences, and my instructor says that she isn't ready yet and that running at her jumps doesn't mean that she likes jumping! I hate to have arguments with my instructor but we just can't agree on this. It seems to me that if Miss Bianca didn't love jumping, she would run away from the jumps instead of running toward them, doesn't that make sense? Help us please!
Karen (and Miss Bianca)
Hi Karen! I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with your instructor on this issue. Charging at a fence is NOT a sign of happy anticipation; it's a sign of nervousness and fear.
Your horse may be worried about jumping for any number of reasons: she may feel frightened of fences that seem high, she may be worried about pain in her back from a saddle that doesn't fit well, or pain in her back from a rider coming back down too soon -- she may be worried about pain in her mouth from a rider who gets left behind, or who doesn't let her head go free over the jump. Or she may have a physical problem that is made worse or brought out by jumping: a sore foot, a sore leg, or perhaps teeth in need of floating.
It might be a good idea to have your vet go over your mare carefully and find out whether anything physical IS bothering her.
It's true that some horses are frightened by jumps and react by stopping or running out, and at least these reactions make it clear to their riders that there IS a problem. But many horses react by becoming anxious and trying to get the jumping over with as quickly as possible, and these -- like your mare -- are the ones that seem out of control in their desire to get to the jump. This isn't enthusiasm -- it's fear!
If there is nothing wrong with your mare physically, and her tack fits well, ask your instructor to take both of you back to basics. You'll need to begin with elementary jumping or even pre-jumping work -- you must build your mare's confidence along with her physique, or you will have the "rushing" problem again. This time, take her education very slowly, make it as comfortable for her as you possibly can, build in a lot of rewards, and always leave her, at the end of a session, feeling very competent. Your instructor will have a lot of good exercises you can use, I'm sure -- and if she needs more, she is welcome to get in touch with me. ;-)
Jessica
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