Refusals and runouts

A runout occurs when the horse quickly moves sideways to go around the fence instead of jumping it, without stopping forward motion.

In show jumping and the stadium phase of eventing, a refusal is worth four penalty points.

[2] There are several reasons for refusals, and therefore a rider must try to identify the problem before reprimanding the horse for their disobedience.

Rider-based reasons Physical problems If a horse has begun to refuse frequently when before it was willing, a veterinary exam can be performed to rule out pain.

When pain is ruled out as a factor, rider error is a very common cause for refusals; poor riding may place the horse in a position so that he physically would find it extremely difficult to clear the obstacle (such as too far or too close to the jump).