While many people associate driving a Ferrari with happy things, most riders know that ‘riding’ the Ferrari of the yard is not that enjoyable at all! Riding a horse who rushes and runs everywhere is usually frustrating and challenging!
And, assuming that you have ruled out physical issues, if your horse is rushing and racing, it’s time to focus on retraining. This will not be an easy process, it will take time and patience on your part while you go right back to basics. And it will require you to look at yourself and your horse.
Start With You
One of the frustrating elements of working with this challenge is that, often, your riding might actually be reinforcing your horse’s undesirable behaviour! This is especially true if you’ve been riding this horse for longer than a few weeks or months.
Take a moment to evaluate your riding position and aids – without judgment. Have you begun to ‘modify’ the basics of your position & posture because you’ve been riding a ‘rusher’ for some time?
Are you gripping with your legs, leaning forward, or relying heavily on the reins? This last one, especially, can all become ‘side-effects’ of riding a horse that rushes. And because all of these habits can signal tension to your horse, they actually often contribute to the rushing! Start with yourself first and correct any issues there before turning your attention to your horse.
Your Position & Posture
Consistency through your aids is key when retraining a horse with ingrained habits. This is really difficult to achieve when your posture or position is working against you. Start with your posture; are you sitting tall with a secure seat and steady lower leg?
From my own past experience with a ‘rushing’ pony, I found that my lower leg wanted to creep forward – all the time! This obviously affected everything; balance, posture, aids, ‘quietness’, etc..
Working to correct this challenge took time, patience, and a commitment to focusing on myself. Part of this was because of riding this way for so long, it felt ‘better’ that way! So, I had to not only physically retrain my lower leg, but also my mind and thoughts about what was ‘comfortable’. Every time I moved my lower leg to where it should be, it felt awkward and uncomfortable. I think this took longer than the physical retraining! However, I managed to do it, so I’m pretty sure that you can as well and that it will be well worth the effort.
Balance Your Aids
Unfortunately, when a horse feels like it’s always running off with you, the natural tendency as a rider is to pull the horse to stop! And, along with that forward lower leg, this means that, over time, riders can develop an overdependence on their rein aids. Coupled with little to no use of all of the other available aids!
This over-reliance on the reins can lead to a “tug of war”. And it only further reinforces the rushing and running behaviour. It’s a vicious cycle!
Again, this comes back to you and first changing your habits. Aim to integrate all your aids, including seat, legs, voice, and weight, into your communication with your horse. By using your entire body, you can begin to more clearly explain things to your horse. And help your horse to begin changing as well.
Transitions & Half-Halts
Okay, so once you’re clear on what you’re doing in the saddle and have corrected any habits that need work, then you can turn your attention to your horse. Start with simple transitions between walk and halt. Practice keeping these transitions light and relaxed.
If you’ve been using one aid too heavily (usually the reins or hands), this is an opportunity to begin incorporating all of your aids into each ‘ask’ or ‘question’ you have for your horse.
Think about creating and using softer, more synchronized, and holistic ways to ask the same question. And keep in mind, if you have been riding a certain way for any length of time, your horse will need time to adjust to your new way of riding. Meaning that both of you will need time to adapt to doing things differently.
Essentially you are both learning a different language when it comes to applying, understanding, and responding to aids. This will take time.
Simple School Movements
Once you have begun to feel that there is a rhythm and understanding to this ‘new’ approach, you can start to test it by introducing basic school movements. Think about simple patterns such as serpentines, loops, or figure-eights to help both of you maintain focus and balance.
These movements will help to keep your horse’s attention focused on the job at hand. And they will allow you to reinforce your ‘new’ aids while encouraging responsiveness.
I am going to strongly suggest limiting things to walking and halting initially. Think slow and steady for both rhythm and tension levels. The key here is to reinforce your more ‘holistic’ approach to your aids. All while your horse learns to enjoy working in a slower and more relaxed way. Clarity and control rather than speed!
Focus on Quality
Finally, while working on these simple school figures, notice the quality of the walk. The walk is a powerful gait for training. And if your horse has a habit of rushing, there’s a good chance that the walk might be choppy and tense.
Think about encouraging a steady, four-beat rhythm. Another way to think of this is to look for longer, more relaxed strides. Notice how your seat, especially, can help your horse to create this.
It seems so basic and simple, but being able to establish and maintain a good-quality walk with consistent rhythm and tempo will lay the foundation for so much more. It will help both of you to ‘come back’ and work together, especially when you begin to introduce trot, and later canter, into your work.
Progression to Other Gaits
Finally, once you have reestablished your own position, posture, and aids. And your horse is willing and responsive to them, you can start to move up a gear or two. This will simply involve working on the same exercises at the trot, and eventually the canter. Keep it simple, but consistent.
Remember, rushing is often a long-standing habit, so this process will take time. Control what you can first; you. And then help your horse to understand your ‘new’ way of using your aids.
When you give both of you the time to retrain those old habits they are more likely to stay. The key is being able to maintain your ‘new’ way of going without reverting to the old habits and ways. Especially when things go off plan – which they will!
Avoid Quick Fixes
And a quick word of warning… Quick fixes rarely work in the long term. Yes, often changing a piece of tack or equipment can sometimes yield a quick response… This response is usually a band-aid solution. At the first signs of pressure or stress, it will come off!
Consider whether your horse’s rushing stems from fundamental training issues. A bit or noseband swap might offer temporary relief, but true improvement will come from consistent retraining.
Remember, building lasting change takes time. Retraining both you and your horse to respond in calm, controlled ways requires patience. Expect setbacks, especially when new or unexpected situations arise. Over time, both of you will begin to default to these new, calmer responses—even when things go ‘sideways’! This retraining process is the foundation of a lasting change that allows for safe, confident, and enjoyable rides.
Happy Riding
Lorna
Re-schooling Rushing Jumps on the Flat
If you have been struggling with this challenge, the month of October 2024 in Daily Strides Premium is dedicated to working on this. This episode is the first lesson from a week of audio horse riding lessons titled “Re-Schooling the Basics for Both Horse & Rider on the Flat”.
In this group of lessons, we begin working towards re-training a horse who is rushing fences by working on the basic aids, responsiveness and, equally as important, how the rider thinks.
Remember, re-shooling a horse usually involves also re-training the rider to think and act differently as well. The horse will respond better if the rider changes their approach and is consistently correct in what they are doing and asking…. These lessons will help you to develop better habits and responses.
Happy Riding
Lorna
Similar Episodes to Help with this Topic
Online Training to Help Your Riding
Connect with Lorna online:-
-
-
-
- Connect in the Daily Strides Podcast Online Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailystridespodcast
- Connect in the Virtual Stable Lounge Private Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1499737810323191
-
-
