You’re cantering along, the jump firmly in your sights, getting ready for your horse to take off… When all of a sudden he begins to ‘veer’ a little off course. Before you know it, the jump flies past you, to one side… Your horse has, once again, proven that he is the master of running out at a fence!
Frustrating, right? Particularly when it seems to happen regardless of what you do. Or how you do it. In fact for many riders, it feels like they spend more time running out at fences than actually jumping any at all!
The unfortunate side of this is that the more confident your horse becomes with being able to sidestep a jump, the more often he will do it.
And the more he does it, the better he becomes at dropping that shoulder and ducking to the side.
Running Out…
Running out is a common problem many riders face when they begin jumping more demanding fences. Now, more demanding can mean 50cm to one person and 1m to another.
Horses who have learned to employ the running out technique rarely discriminate on fence heights and types!
However, what is important to note is that it generally happens when there is an actual jumping effort required.
For the rest of this blog post we are going to assume that you have eliminated all the obvious reasons that your horse might not want to jump; teeth, back, tack, soreness, sickness, being overfaced, tiredness etc. This blog post is about horses who have learned to use running out as an easier alternative to jumping the actual fence.
How Running Out is Different to a Refusal
Many riders confuse running out with refusals. Perhaps this is because they are penalised similarly. However it is good to remember that running out and refusing a jump are two very different things.
When your horse refuses, he generally stops in front of the fence. Think of a grinding, sliding halt.
Refusals can have many causes and reasons; many of which are to do with a horse not feeling confident or comfortable jumping the fence.
Running out, on the other hand, is when your horse maintains his forward momentum, however he changes course in front of the fence and simply canters or trots past the fence to one side.
It can sometimes also be caused by overfacing the horse, however I have found that most horses who become skilled at running out, do so because the rider is allowing it to happen…
Running Out and The Rider…
“What?!”, you say. “I do not ‘allow’ him to run out! He just does it himself and there is nothing I can do to stop him!!”
And that there is probably the biggest stumbling block most riders meet when trying to reform a horse who has mastered the art of running out. They try to fix it by working over fences or jumps
Almost all cases of running out can actually find their roots way back in the basic flatwork schooling, or lack of, in the horse. What generally tends to happen is the horse has been jumping quite happily, popping fences without question. But one day, for whatever reason, he takes a chance and dives out the side door…
The mere fact he was able to change course like that, usually without repercussions, is enough to plant a seed that perhaps – if the right opportunity presents itself – he can do it again!
The Path of Least Resistance
Sounds devious, but don’t worry, I am not suggesting your horse has some evil or mischievous tendencies; he has just found the path of least resistance and has decided to take it!
The downside to having a horse who has a talent for running out is that reforming him is often a long journey. This is particularly true if the rider he runs out with is the one accompanying him on this journey.
Again, this is because very often it is the rider’s lack of ‘riding’ that has given him the opportunity to take the side door to begin with. But, it can be done. It will just take a lot of consistency, time, firmness and pure concentration from the rider to get there.
Correcting the Rider First
So, as mentioned earlier, the rider makes all the difference when dealing with a horse who has developed a knack for spotting a side door and running out. It may be due to the rider getting into their jumping position too early. This is essentially dropping the contact. When the contact is dropped, your horse is left to his own devices. Again, if so inclined, he will take the path of least resistance or the easiest route!
Running out may also be caused by the rider not using their legs, seat and hands to correctly ‘channel’ the horse’s energy and direct it where they want.
Just like if the banks of a river are weak and the water runs out, so too will your horse if your legs are not being used to shut down those tendencies and keep him moving forward to where you want him to go
Riding a Line
The third most common reason I see horses running out is due to their riders taking a less than straight approach to the fence or jump.
There is no ‘line’ to the fence. Nothing connecting the approach to the getaway.
This often results in the horse meeting the fence at an odd angle. Which essentially opens a door and allows him to simply canter on past.
Approaching with Too Much Speed
The final reason I want to mention, before we begin talking about solutions is that the horse is allowed to become too fast to the fence. Due to the speed of the approach, the rider has no control over the horse.
All the energy is running out the front like a freight train. And just like that freight train; once it begins to derail, a whole army would find it difficult to get it back on track.
Working on ‘Over’ Rather Than ‘Around’…
So, now that we have placed the cause of the running out squarely in the riders court, we can begin working on how to re-school and reform the horse, so he goes over rather than around.
When we ride, we often hear the term between leg and hand. Put simply this means that the energy you are creating with your legs, is being directed to where and how you want it used with your hand. Now, obviously things are a little more complicated that that, however, the basic principle is true when riding.
When you’re dealing with a horse who likes to take the side door, the connection between your leg and hand is not a very strong one.
Simply put, there are holes there that your horse, if so inclined, can take advantage of. Begin by practicing how you channel this forwardness and movement in your horse.
Strengthening Your ‘Channel’
Focus on straightness throughout his body when being ridden, and on the level of responsiveness to your aids
Your horse should remain straight and true when being worked on the flat. If you find him becoming crooked or ‘veering’ when working, quickly and quietly correct him. He should then be responsive enough to your aids, particularly your leg in this situation.
I also find that working on the centre or quarter lines is a good test of this straightness.
From here, you can also begin working on implementing better half halts. This will help you to ‘steady’ things a little when you approach the fence.
Gathering Energy on the Approach
As I mentioned above, sometimes the approach to the fence is just too long, fast and strung out for you to keep the connection between leg and hand. The energy is all running out the front. This allows your horse to take advantage of this lack of direction.
Practice applying the half halt, while continuing to move forward where you want to go. It will help to ensure you gather the energy, rather than allow it to run out.
You may find that as you begin closing those ‘side exits’ that once existed for your horse and his energy, there is a lot more energy there underneath you which needs to be directed.
This is another reason why working on perfecting your half halts is vitally important, otherwise your horse may begin to run…
Using Ground Poles
Another thing you can begin practicing, before you attempt jumping again, is working over ground poles. This is good for both you and your horse. You get to learn how to ‘wait’ for your horse to go over the pole, before following him over.
Your horse has the opportunity to become familiar with the concept of working over the centre of the pole. Ride a perfectly straight line on the approach, over the jump and continuing on with the getaway on landing
Because you are channelling him between your leg and hand, all side exits have been shut. The only way forward is the one which you present by riding him straight to where you want him to go.
Running out is a frustrating and often costly habit where penalties are concerned. However, before you lay the blame at your horse’s door, it is one of those challenges that very often has its roots in the rider’s own tendencies.
This may be a bitter pill to swallow, however knowing that you may just be the reason also means that you are the key to banishing those pesky side dives and running out into the past; for good!
Happy Riding
Lorna
This podcast episode and blog post is an overview of this weeks topic, running out. The other four audio programs are step by step exercises and instructions you can listen to while in the saddle. They help you to begin working through this problem with your horse.
You can purchase the full 5 audio trainings for this topic HERE
It is like having a riding instructor with you in the arena. The lessons are simply downloaded to your phone and are then ready to listen to while you are in the saddle.
You can listen to the over and over again, until both you and your horse are popping the centre of those jumps; every time!
Daily Strides Premium
Daily Strides Premium is packed full of audio trainings you can listen to anywhere you can bring your phone (including on your horse). They will help you work towards your goal of having better conversations with your horse, both in and out of the saddle.
You will also be able to create a plan for your rides and review what has happened when you join in on the monthly ‘Review and Planning’ call. In there, you will go step by step through the month that was. You then take that information and begin planning out the coming month. When you will ride. What you will work on. And of course all aligned with your goals for you and your horse.
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In fact, I love working with riders who just ‘enjoy’ their horse; helping them to build and strengthen their relationship. No competitions necessary ;)
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