Jumping clinic

Geoffrey Pannell · Well Schooled

Jumping clinic

leigh1973 · Yearling

By "shank" I'm assuming you are referring to the rider raising his or her hands and pulling back on the reins during the jump, thereby causing pain to the horse through the bit? If so, I know exactly what you mean then. I am still a new student to jumping; been at it for 3 months now. At first, I had a problem with raising my hands or my elbows as I did the jump. Of course, I wasn't surprised when my horse would refuse the next jump, not wanting to feel the pain from me pulling on the reins.
I didn't want to cause him pain and I couldn't seem to get my hands right. I worked with my trainer, watched videos of other jumpers, and attended jumping clinics. Finally, the one trick that helped me to stop pulling on the reins and lifting my hands was to hold a section of his main (holding it like it was ponytail) throughout the jump. It worked perfectly. My hands were in perfect position and I did not cause any pain for my horse.

leigh1973 · Yearling

On the other hand, if the rider is demonstrating this cruel behavior towards the horse, perhaps she needs to find another activity. Apparently, some riders do not realize that they are causing pain to the horse nor do they care. The only solution is to keep them away from the horse.
Try talking to the rider and see if she did not realize what she was doing or if she was doing it on purpose.
Make her go back to basics to develop trust if necessary. Good luck with your next clinic.

Barbara F · Grand Prix

You were 100% right, Geoffrey! I might have gone even farther and asked her if she even liked her pony, and if so, how could she hurt him like that and punish him for her inability to do something. I just hate that kind of temper tantrum, in kids or adults!

I would also be interested to know who is training this kid.

Geoffrey Pannell · Well Schooled

No Jennifer, what this kid was doing was quite deliberate. When I say shanking, I mean jerking the rein backwards very sharply. She was quite certainly doing it on purpose .
I did ask her , Barbara, if she didn't like her pony, of course she said she loved her. I then pointed out to her that it's not way to get the horse to trust her. I sent someone to get a spare bridle and said to the girl that I wanted to show her what it felt like for the horse when she did this. I got the bridle and put the bit around the girls shin ( she still had her chaps on , so not against the bare leg) and gave it a good pull . " That's what it feels like for the horse, and I didn't do it any where near as hard as you did to the horse" I said. I CAN ONLY HOPE IT MAKES HER THINK NEXT TIME. Cheers and thanks for your input, Geoffrey
'

sedonasilver · Advanced

Hi Geoffrey,

Do you know WHY the girl was doing this? Was she just sitting on his back then ripping the reins back? Or was she attempting to 'control'/discipline the horse?

I have been told to do this sort of thing (but to a lesser extent - just with one rein, a short sharp tug) when my horse is being 'dead in the mouth' and wont transition down, to remind him that the bit is still there. He is in the process of learning to work in a frame and to bring his head down so after fighting the contact he can be a little heavy and ignorant. Obviously it wouldnt be an aid you would use all the time, but is there a time and a place for it?

Now before I get jumped on, I HAVENT actually done it as I thought it seemed a bit mean but the coach who told me to do so is a fantastic, successful rider and dressage judge with very happy horses.

My point is, is that perhaps this little girl has seen this behaviour demonstrated by another rider, or was instructed to do so at one time but doesnt realise the damage she is doing but repeating it?

-- Edited by sedonasilver on Monday 25th of October 2010 01:23:10 AM

-- Edited by sedonasilver on Monday 25th of October 2010 01:44:22 AM

Geoffrey Pannell · Well Schooled

I think she was doing it out of frustration, pure and simple. I don't doubt she had seen someone else do it, it's still abuse! Glad to hear you didn't . There is way to much emphasis on the rein and not enough on riding the horse forward to a contact these days.

Jackie Cochran · Advanced

Congratulations, Geoffrey, you did what any number of old-time Northern Virginia instructors would have done (elsewhere too, I'm sure.)
My own private theory is that this often happens because the lower leg is not stable, thus making the rider feel insecure from a weak foundation while the horse/pony is trying to obey the leg which is giving random unconscious signals.
Stable legs first (on loose reins), then introduce contact. Works out a lot better for the horse and it helps prevent the rider from picking up bad habits.

Dillinger · Yearling

That's great to hear Geoffrey! One thing I cannot tolerate is a rider taking out their temper on their horse's mouth. Unfortunatly, I see alot of coaches that encourage this behaviour, or riders who think this is the only way to get a response from their horse because they are not educated. Certainly if more people take action the way you did, we will have many more horses with happier mouths!

cjroyg · Well Schooled

I totally agree that it is wrong. You should pull gently and increasing the pull without letting go until the horse obeys and then immideatly reward by giving a lose rein. I also think that it was a good idea to show her that it hurts the horse by pulling the spare bridal on her shin. That has been one nethod my coach alwas used on me and I always understood and never did the mistake afterwards.