Rebalancing a Strong Horse

When a horse rushes he is running and using the rider's hands as the fifth leg. In other words the rider is trying to support a horse that thinks that it is acceptable to lean on your hands, which it is not.

What the rider must do is to try and be soft in the contact. When the horse starts to go forward the rider needs to bring his body back slightly to let the horse know to readdress his balance, then take quite a strong half halt and soften as soon as the horse starts to respond. Repeat as soon as he starts to rush again and he will gradually start to realise that he is not getting the hand to support him and will start to carry himself.

In a perfect world a horse would go in a rubber snaffle with no martingale but that doesn’t always happen. You might have to find a bit that better suits your horse helping him to work politely into the bridle.

A good exercise for the strong horse is to circle and then ride him forward again .The moment he gets strong ride a small circle. Very often if horses get strong they are blocked and stiff on both sides of the head and neck. The circle helps break the block and will make it easier for him to become more balanced and steady.

Tim Stockdale

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Comment by NightFlight on July 16, 2009 at 10:03pm: Michelle - Pelham connectors are allowed in the jumper ring in Canada, but in the hunters only juniors are allowed to show in them. Adult hunter riders must use two sets of reins.

Comment by IrishRider on July 15, 2009 at 11:56am: Hi Tim. Nice blog. I had a problem with my mare rushing after jumps and circles really do help. I also had to figure out a way to work with my horse on the flat because we aren't allowed to jump unless we are in a lesson. So I had to figure out a way to work with her and simulate jumping, without actually doing it. So I would pick a line of jumps heading right towards the gate, which is where she was usually the worst and then I would take the poles down to the ground on both jumps so we still had something to go over. I started with a brisk walk over the first jump and then I would bring her down to a very slow walk as we approached the second jump. Do that a few times. Then I would trot to and over the first jump and then bring her down to a walk between and over the second jump. Gradually working up to trotting down the entire line, but making sure she was at a pace that I wanted. If I felt her getting quick I brought her down to a walk and we started all over again. Then we would canter-trot and eventually canter the entire line. This was after a few days of doing these exercises. But they worked and we have both improved quite a bit.

Comment by Michelle Synnot on July 10, 2009 at 6:10pm: Hey Tim..

My gelding is just as you described above... I usually ride him in a snaffle, but sometimes I need a bit more control. He goes very well in a Pelham, but I find two sets of reins quite cumbersome. Is it really acceptable riding/showing in north america with connectors? I see it sometimes in x country, but not so much in hunters and jumpers.

What do you think?