If you are hoping to show jump competitively or to pursue combined training
events, then you will need a horse who is comfortable with jumping solids. I
have never seen a course beyond Green As Grass that didn't have at least one
solid, and most have five or six.
Solids are jumps with flower boxes, brick walls, roll tops, gates or other solid
objects either underneath the rails or instead of them, and they can be
frightening for horses.
What most trainers don't understand is that you can't expect a horse to overcome
a fear overnight. Horses are "flight animals", which means that they run away
from perceived threats. Horses who are afraid to jump solids will typically
refuse or run-out on a jump to avoid whatever threat they believe lies beyond
it.
Continually pointing your fearful horse toward solids without first attempting
to train your horse to jump solids will simply teach the horse that refusing and
running out are acceptable behaviors. It falls under the same category of trying
things over and over again the same way, expecting a different result. It just
doesn't work.
First, you have to understand why horses are afraid to jump solids. Some horses
are terrified to jump solids because they cannot see the other side, and
therefore don't know what awaits them. Rails allow a somewhat obstructed--yet
relatively clear--view of the opposite side of the jump. Solids completely block
that view, and the horse has no idea what might be lying in wait.
Although color might also have something to do with it, this is the major
motivator behind your horse's fear.
That said, you must show your horse that there aren't any monsters, bobcats or
mountain lions on the other side of the fence if you want to train him to jump
solids. The safest way to handle that demonstration is on the ground so you
don't get hurt.
Tack your horse up and walk him or her out to the arena, as always. Take ten
minutes at each solid jump and walk your horse in circles around them. Let your
horse observe the solid jumps without the added pressure of you on his or her
back.
Most likely, your horse will skirt sideways as you approach the solid
jump--don't worry, that's normal. Just keep circling until the horse is able to
stand quietly right next to it.
Once your horse has determined that he or she can stand in close proximity to
the jump without suffering mortal danger, it's time to take the next step: get
your horse to touch it.
Horses investigate unfamiliar objects by nuzzling--and sometimes biting--the
surface. In fact, if your horse tries to bite the roll top or flower box,
consider the experiment a success. If your horse is reluctant to get any closer,
sit on or near the solid jump and touch it yourself while talking sweetly to
your horse. When he or she realizes that you aren't afraid, the process will
become much easier.
How you proceed from here is your call. My advice is to drag one of the solid
jumps into your round pen and lunge your horse over the jump rather than
attempting to jump it while on his or her back. I say this for two reasons:
First, your horse will be more comfortable experimenting without the extra
weight; second, your horse is likely to take a giant leap over the jump the
first few times, which might cause you to become unseated. Believe it or not,
when a person falls from a horse, it is often just as traumatic for the animal.
Reduce the stress by practicing from the ground.
This is a situation in which you are going to have to be patient. When lunging
your horse over the solid jump, don't bring the standards or rails into the
round pen. Get your horse comfortable with jumping the solid without any
additional objects in the way. Once he or she is comfortable with that, it will
be time to practice in the arena.
Additional Tips:
1. Spread it out. Don't be frustrated if it takes several days (or even several
weeks) to accomplish your goal with jumping solids. You will likely have to
start the process over with different kinds of solids, so be patient.
2. Follow another horse. You might have someone come out to the arena with you
and jump the solid right in front of you. This allows your horse to see another
horse accomplish the feat with no negative consequences. Just be sure not to
follow too closely.
3. Don't permit refusals. If, when you get back into the arena, your horse
continues to refuse the solid, go back to the round pen. Never teach your horse
that continued refusals are acceptable. It's better to go back to square one and
start over.
4. Get help. If you are a novice rider with little jumping experience, it might
be better to have a professional take over for a while. Permanent damage can be
done to a horse who is schooled the wrong way, so be honest when assessing your
ability to get the job done.

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