Q: How can I deal with my horse refusing jumps?
A: To avoid refusals or deal with them when they happen, try the following:
- Use a stepwise approach to increase the challenge of a fence or obstacle bit by bit.
- Don’t fight with your horse. Sometimes horses are just too frightened, or something hurts. These issues must be addressed first.
- Try guiding and placing poles to encourage your horse into fences he has not jumped or seen before.
- Use a shorter, energetic canter to keep your horse between hand and leg. This allows better control.
- Reward every small effort in the right direction – even if it is very small!