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.

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).

If this happens frequently, the horse will associate the pain with the jumping effort itself, and may begin to refuse.