What works better? Halts or circles??????

[Hunters_Kick_Butt]

So I have a Tb that likes to get fast after jumps. What will work better to get the horse balanced and slow? Halting after the jumps or doing a small circle? When I go to halt my horse after a jump I really have to sit up tall and pull on the reins quite tightly which can get tiresome as a rider so I would prefer circles but idk??? What's the best?

[CBoylen]

It depends on the horse and the situation. Some horses relax when you circle, some get more anxious and faster. Some react to halts by slowing down in anticipation, some anticipate the halt by getting quicker on landing or becoming crooked and anxious. You have to experiment.

[SuZQuzie]

I vote for a properly executed SMALL circle. Think 6-8m in a slight haunches in so that you have a good bend around the inside leg. The circle is executed by the outside aids, not cranking on the head, which will only get the shoulder and haunches to fall out. The idea is that the circle is harder to do than run off. Teaching a horse that they get a break every time they run off is not going to solve any problems. Plus, the circle will force the horse to fight the circle instead of your hand, maintaining a soft mouth.

But, I have to wonder, what is causing the horse to run off in the first place? For literally years, I had trouble with my horse taking over before fences. I finally came to the realization that I was causing the take over by inadvertently sending my horse off with my seat. I know try to maintain a fluid two point throughout my jumping. By "fluid," I mean to indicate that, not only due I use a hunter-type two point at times, but I always stand nearly straight in my stirrups to rebalance as needed, plus every other position in between that does not involve my butt in the saddle.

You could very well be accidently sending your horse off on the landing with a driving aid on the landing. I'm not saying that you are slamming your horse's back (though you could be; I don't know you or your riding ability), but just you coming back into a fullseat could be enough to set your horse off.

[hydro101]

well i posted a nice reply then the computer screen quit. great.

Short version... unless others dont fill in eventually... if your horse lands with a big stride and just isnt slowing down, a good few halts on a straight line should help him respect your littler half halts. Do your couple of fences and halt in a straight line after the last fence (before the corner). Do the same set of fences and halt twice, the third time around, after the last fence instead of halting before the corner just ask for a half halt. I bet he slows down and gives nicely

However, if he's landing nicely and increasing pace (gunning) after the fence my instinct is it is reactionary (spur on landing, heavy seat, bad back, anxiety of horse, some things mentioned above etc etc). In that case i'd try to isolate what you think is causing the increase in speed after the fence and circle until he 'calms back down'.

Horse at our barn was a 'bucker' for a long time and truly was dangerous. Bucking like 'i want to hurt you' and only about 3 strides after she'd jump fences. Off chance decided to see a chiropractor and the doc said it was the worst back she's seen in years. :/ Just a little story.

I hope that helped!

[xxreddxheaddxx]

both, id start with the halt and then as your horse progresses move on to the circle. and its supposed to be tiring.no one ever said riding was easy.

[RugBug]

It depends on the horse and the situation. Some horses relax when you circle, some get more anxious and faster. Some react to halts by slowing down in anticipation, some anticipate the halt by getting quicker on landing or becoming crooked and anxious. You have to experiment.

You have to find out what works for your horse. I've ridden some that did best with a halt, others with a circle and some that needed a combo.

[RyuEquestrian]

Agreed with the above, however, I rodea horse that had clearly been halted after fences and the result was horrendous. She almost broke my nose after fences. It took months of gymnastics and flatwork before she relaxed and realized that I wasn't going to be pulling on her mouth.

[wildhorse188]

I would change it up each time so horse doesn't start to anticipate. Halt, circle, go in the direction opposite you would normally go, back up, ask for a downward transition (to trot or walk, not necessarily just a halt). Bonus, it keeps it interesting for both of you and keeps the horse's focus on you. Good luck!

[naturalequus]

So I have a Tb that likes to get fast after jumps. What will work better to get the horse balanced and slow? Halting after the jumps or doing a small circle? When I go to halt my horse after a jump I really have to sit up tall and pull on the reins quite tightly which can get tiresome as a rider so I would prefer circles but idk??? What's the best?

I'm going to suggest the same I did in your other post, OP, because it is not strictly about halts or circles. You need to address the root issue:

He hasn't been ridden very much in the past few months, he is not in condition, and yet you are asking him to jump over 3', balanced? Unfair. He is going to rush afterwards as he struggles to balance himself. Condition him first (for several months), then return to jumping, and increase the jump height slowly (including plenty of gymnastics as part of furthering his conditioning) and when he is balanced over smaller heights.

I've got an OTTB, one of my jumper prospects, who used to rush particularly after as well. At the time, I was only popping him over the occasional jump to gauge where he was at and what he was capable of, and a bit for kicks Continued the basics and forgot about jumping for the most part - condition condition condition, and developing that brain (eta: by saying "developing that brain" I am talking about going back to the basics and creating a quiet, relaxed partner). We have started actually schooling jumping now and he is wonderful.

After that, it's what works for your horse. I would even suggest gentle H/H's (simply closing your hands and sinking into your seat, then re-opening your hands) along a circle Don't reef on his mouth to halt after a fence. If you're going to halt after a fence, sink into your seat and softly bend him into a halt. Work on transitions down without fences, then with. Do what works for your particular horse. But first, you need to address his balance and conditioning in general (and perhaps his mind - ie, relaxation and partnership) - the root issue.

[Lucassb]

My approach when a horse rushes is to make the exercise simpler... so for a horse that rushes after a jump, I'd go back to a simple pole on the ground. In fact, I'd probably throw several poles out around the arena, and incorporate them into my regular flatwork.

I'd literally start by walking, maintaining all the qualities you'd want when jumping: staying straight, relaxed, and in front of your leg. Once the horse was bored stiff walking over the pole, I'd repeat the exercise at a trot, and then a canter, working the poles into my daily flatwork until they were totally a non issue.

At that point, I would make a tiny cross rail and incorporate that into my flatwork, along with the poles. If there was any hint of rushing or even just a loss of relaxation, I'd just quietly repeat the exercise along with the poles until the horse was more or less yawning with boredom.

Then I'd slowly work my way back up to whatever level I'd encountered the problem with the rushing... taking it one slow step at a time.

[hntrjmprpro45]

I am a huge fan of variety- both upward and downward transitions mixed with circles or different sizes and in different directions. This has been the best method for me when working with a horse that anticipates.

Similarly, a good exercise for a horse that cuts in or leans in the corners is to canter straight to the rail then drop down to the walk and turn outwards. Sometimes I'll warm up my hunters by trotting down the quarter lines and turning to the outside- it's very effective in making them sit back and square up.

[doublesstable]

Agree with simple. I have been taught from the school of thought that circles are not to be done expecially with Hunters. It teaches cutting in.

I haven't see your horse so hard to give my thoughts on what I would do... but interestingly forward is what I would do. Just keep cantering with a soft relaxed hand, body, leg and mind - thinking relax; relax; relax - keep doing it until the horse softens and relaxes (for example keep going around an x making sure you are going deep into your corners, big and sweeping) - when he does it relaxed and the way you want, pet him and make a big deal that - YES this is what I want.... and call it a day.... they get it pretty quickly.

Edited to add - most of the time when a horse rushes - it's the rider jumping ahead.

[justridin']

um, neither?

An inkling may be found in what happens on the approach, and over the jump?

Generally, it's about a rhythm, and a balance that the horse can hold with your aids applied (accepted?) and then something that gets him or her to pay attention afterwards. For me, that's a transition- I like how htrjprrpro said it- "variety".

so, maybe it's about doing flatwork that will produce a relaxed obedient horse (circle the hunters all you want, kick their lazy asses to the rail and make em slow down and stay there) on the way to the jump?

And then the same relaxed obedient horse will respond to aids it knows on the backside of the jump?

no. that seems, um, logical. gotta be something else. Let us know how you make out...

[Zenyatta]

Teach your horse to half halt.
This may take some time, but well worth the effort.