One H&C user wrote in for help with her cob, who always wants to rush back to his equine friend during jumping sessions.

"Whenever I jump my cob, and my sister and her horse are in the arena on the other side of the jump, my pony always goes too fast. He is starting to make me feel nervous and scared when I'm jumping."

The H&C team replies: 

"It sounds like your pony is just desperate to get back to his friend. When jumping, it can sometimes help encourage a young or nervous horse to jump them towards the gate, or towards another horse, and people often use a more mature or brave horse to give leads over fences, but in your case, you want to discourage your pony from automatically heading towards his stablemate.

I would suggest you ask your sister to bring her pony to the same side of the jump as yourself before you start jumping, and make your cob jump away from his friend instead. After the fence give him something else to think about, ride a circle or do some transitions and praise when it is done sensibly. Then walk your horse back towards his friend and your sister.

We have to remember horses are herd animals and love to be with their buddies. Practise on the flat riding away from your sister in the school with an upward transition in a trot or a canter. When you are at the furthest point and you have to head back towards her come back to a walk before returning. Give him lots of encouragement when he obeys your aids to ride away from the other horse, so your pony learns that this is a positive experience, as is riding calmly back towards him."