I have successfully coached hunter \ jumper for 25 years.  I have a new student who used to galloped racehorses.  He now wants to rider hunter \ jumper and some eventing.  However, the way he rides seems to cause his horse to ride behind the bit.  His horse pulls down on the flat and now jumps ahead of its shoulders... riding behind the bit to, over and after the fence. It is starting to get very dangerous!!  I have tried to research this problem and I think it is caused by the rider balancing off his hands.  I believe this may be a result of the riding style the rider used to gallop racehorses.  The rider says it is because I want him to shorten his reins.  When he rides with a longer rein, he gets left behind over the fence because he will not ride into a forward seat.  This is the first time I have had to deal with a problem like this.  I've checked the horse's bit and it fits well.

 Does anyone have any ideas how to fix this ?

I would love to hear of any exercises that might work !!  

Thank you.

 Leita :-)

I think the best fix for this would be to give this rider lessons on the lunge line to get his hands completely independent of his seat.  Does the horse get strong?  If so, the rider may be having trouble trusting his horse enough to let go of his face.  When the hands become a problem, it is usually best to take them away.  On the lunge, make him ride in two point with his arms out like an airplane.  Make him sit deep into the saddle while rotating his arms in big circles.  Make him ride with one arm straight up in the air and then the other.  When he is ready, take him over some small cavaletti to get him used to following his horse without using his reins.  Work on getting him to change the horses gaits from collected to extended with just his legs and seat aids.  There are a million things you can do on the lunge to help with this problem.

Racers don't have to use their seats when they ride.  I could see this being the reason he relies on his hands to control the horse.  He needs to have his hand taken away from him and really focus on riding the horse with his seat and legs.

Hi and welcome.

I'm not a trainer and don't pretend to be but my first thought is when ever there is any kind of balance issues are to put them on a lunge line. Have him work on balance without using the reins. Put him over ground poles. And if you feel its safe, put him over small jumps on the lunge line too. And have him do lots of flat work to find and feel the horse on the verticle.

How long has he been riding with you?

Leita Lawrence:

When he rides with a longer rein, he gets left behind over the fence because he will not ride into a forward seat.

Definitely sounds like he's using the reins to balance AND overdoing the contact.  However, if he can't maintain a forward seat (two-point?), he shouldn't be jumping.  Although he has the experience riding, he might not have the tools for proper equitation and balance to be able to use his seat and legs effectively and maintain a two-point, without balancing on the horse's mouth.  Riding with a shorter rein should NOT cause him to hang on the horse's face if he's properly balanced.

As has been suggested, lunge line lessons would be a great start.  He needs to relearn balance and how to use his seat and legs for cues.  Have him practice his two point, with and without stirrups.  While he's in the two-point, have him move his hands up the neck to simulate the crest release and ride that way for a few strides.  Can he do it?  Also, check stirrup length.  He might be unable to balance himself if his stirrups are too short.  

When he's riding on his own, have him practice transitions within gaits without relying on his reins.  That will help him get used to using his seat and legs and not rely on his reins.  Practice proper downward transitions for the same reason.   

Good luck and I hope you can help him!

I agree -- take reins away, put him on the longe line and have him practice there until he can hold an independent two point at all three gaits.  Also, off the longe line, practice without stirrups, keeping a light, loopy rein.

Thank you for your ideas. 

He has been riding with me for 1 1/2 years.  The first several months were spent trying to find the right horse.  This problem showed up when he got a new horse and starting riding regularly over the winter.  Before Christmas we worked on grids, so the problem with his hands didn't show.  Now .. after lots of cold weather  when we couldn't ride (Western Canada), we are working on courses.  The problem showed up because (I think) he now has to control around the corners, etc. and so is over riding with his hands which leads to the problem at the fences.  He is a tough rider to teach and does not easily take advice.

Thanks to all who emailed back advice.  He is not a rider who would accept that he needs work on the lunge line, however, I will try some of the other ideas. 

Thanks again.

 Leita :-)

 So he'll pay you money for your advice but then not take your advice? Hmm. 

When I was first learning to jump I had to go over a line with my arms stretched out to the sides. Can you have him do that?

Leita Lawrence:

He is a tough rider to teach and does not easily take advice.

That's what I was afraid of from your first post.  

It really sounds like he needs more work on the flat.  If he feels he has to use a lot of hand to ride the corners or get the course pattern correct, he needs to work on his dressage between the fences.

If he's not willing to work on the longe line, try setting up courses with only poles on the ground to simulate the jumps.  That way, he won't be punishing the horse over the fence and souring the horse to jumping.  Have him concentrate on riding the course without so much hand.

Best of luck!

Remind him if he wants to event, then he'll have to do dressage, and to do dressage he'll have to learn to use his seat properly.  And the way for him to properly learn to use his seat, is to lose his stirrups and reins for a while. 

Good luck.

Spotted Pony