How to Train Your Horse to Jump Solid Fences

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Understand that it is in horse's nature to run away from anything suspicious or scary.

   And a solid fence or small wall can very well be scary.
   
   Therefore, be aware of your horse's ears, as they will show you when (s)he is scared (they will be pointing backwards), and when (s)he is about to try and escape. , Even if you usually jump quite high (say for example 1 metre), start with a way smaller solid fence (in this example, 0'6 metres), so that the horse will feel more confident.
   
   Keep practicing with the small solid fence until you notice that your horse is no longer afraid of it, and jumps it naturally.
   
   Then, you may move to a larger one., That is to say, as you are starting to warm up your horse, you can walk by the fence a couple times, forcing the horse to look at it, and smelling it if possible.
   
   This way, (s)he will get used to it faster., When approaching the solid fence, always keep a steady but controlled rhythm since the horse is quite likely to refuse the fence.
   
   Leaning slightly backwards and holding the reins tightly will also help encourage your horse to jump, and will help you not to fall if the horse happens to refuse to jump.
   
   When you are about two or three metres away from the fence, you may also press your heels against the horse, to push him/her forwards and encourage (s)he to jump., It may take some time before your horse learns to jump solid fences.
   
   Perseverance and patience are the keys to success!
2. 2

   Step 2: Start low.

3. 3

   Step 3: Show your horse the fence before you try to make him/her jump it.

4. 4

   Step 4: Use a controlled gait.

5. 5

   Step 5: Do not stress or get frustrated.

Detailed Guide

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