Acceptable age to free school/jump

[SpotsandBays]

What do you guys consider an acceptable age to free jump a horse? I have a rising 3 yr old and I’d like to see what shape he makes over a fence. Not a big one! Just maybe something like 70 (edited, removed 80. Would probably just be a cross pole to be honest!) a couple of times? (Literally just one session). I know he CAN jump as he’s jumped out of the field ?, but I didn’t see it and would just like to watch how he goes.
Is 3 an acceptable age or when would you? I’m not in a rush to see, and don’t mind waiting at all I’m just curious.

 

[blitznbobs]

My 9 month old filly just jumped out of the field - is that free jumping?

 

[SpotsandBays]

My 9 month old filly just jumped out of the field - is that free jumping?

Brilliant ? mine did it last year when he’d not long turned 2!

 

[doodle]

The loose jumping competition is for 3 years olds. I am out of date but there used to be a place that did loose jumping schooling evenings to prepare the horses for it. It does seem to be huge jumps tho and i am not sure how much choice the horse has about it as the lame is set up, people “encouraging” the horse etc.

 

[SpotsandBays]

The loose jumping competition is for 3 years olds. I am out of date but there used to be a place that did loose jumping schooling evenings to prepare the horses for it. It does seem to be huge jumps tho and i am not sure how much choice the horse has about it as the lame is set up, people “encouraging” the horse etc.

Yeah this is the thing! I’ve seen lots of videos of 3yr old in these competitions, and also of 2YR olds doing it I guess for advertisement. Big big fences too! I just want to see what he picks his feet up like. I know he can because he regularly throws acrobatic movements in the field ?

 

[doodle]

I think I would be perfectly happy with a 3yo having a play at home. But I would very much gauge if they are enjoying it. Fine needing a little encouragement to work out they need to go over but if it got to lanes being closed in and lunge whips i would leave it. 70cm isn’t big. (Sayes her who dosnt jump!)

 

[SpotsandBays]

I think I would be perfectly happy with a 3yo having a play at home. But I would very much gauge if they are enjoying it. Fine needing a little encouragement to work out they need to go over but if it got to lanes being closed in and lunge whips i would leave it. 70cm isn’t big. (Sayes her who dosnt jump!)

Yes definitely will make it nice and fun with lots of praise. I won’t be chasing him!

 

[doodle]

I will add at this point I am not an expert and quite possibly talking out my behind as I have never done loose jumping myself ?

 

[windand rain]

My highland foal used to jump the jumps for fun when she was loose in the school. As long as its not forced I dont see the harm

 

[SpotsandBays]

My highland foal used to jump the jumps for fun when she was loose in the school. As long as its not forced I dont see the harm

Yeah it won’t be forced! He’s my baby and I’m really precious about everything with him ?

 

[IrishMilo]

Late three, early four for me. Hate seeing 2/3yr olds going over fences again and again. It puts me off buying.

 

[muddybay]

I would say 3 but not too high! Don't want to put them off

 

[dorsetladette]

I can't see that a few minutes loose in the school with a little direction is much different to the shapes he'll be pulling in the field? My yearling uses the sheep as hurdles as he's belting round the field.

 

[Birker2020]

What do you guys consider an acceptable age to free jump a horse? I have a rising 3 yr old and I’d like to see what shape he makes over a fence. Not a big one! Just maybe something like 70 (edited, removed 80. Would probably just be a cross pole to be honest!) a couple of times? (Literally just one session). I know he CAN jump as he’s jumped out of the field ?, but I didn’t see it and would just like to watch how he goes.
Is 3 an acceptable age or when would you? I’m not in a rush to see, and don’t mind waiting at all I’m just curious.

This is from British Breeding and explains about loose jumping - my friends horse did this as a three year old in the BEF futurity at our local riding club. He ended up being third best potential event horse in the country as a two year old in our region but with the three year old class when he was three I don't think he got placed as it all went pear shaped on the day and he was really reluctant to jump anything at all, so dissapointing.

We had taken him beforehand every week for about six weeks for a 30 mins practice session to a local indoor school establishment which my friend hired and we set up a lane of loose jumps for him which he did really well. You need a few helpers to help you, one to set 'free' and one to catch at the other end and one or two mid way for encouragement. And your distances need to be spot on too with good boots on for protection. He was 17hh and was jumping around 3ft - 3ft 6.

https://british-breeding.com/futurity/useful-information/how-to-present-your-horse

 

[mariew]

Around where I was in Essex the show jumpers started early, they were doing courses by 3 and are jumping big courses by 5 or 6. It felt really early for me.

 

[TheMule]

My two had two little goes in the Summer of their 2yr old year- trotting behind an older horse over a single small fence just to give them a little idea. They both then jumped loose 3 times at 3 and are yet to do any at rising 4, but I'm happy they've got the idea so probably won’t do any this year until they're ready to pop a fence under saddle

 

[SpotsandBays]

Late three, early four for me. Hate seeing 2/3yr olds going over fences again and again. It puts me off buying.

Yeah that’s fair enough! I get what you mean. This would just be the once for my viewing, I don’t intend on actually jumping him until he’s 4/5

 

[SpotsandBays]

I would say 3 but not too high! Don't want to put them off

Honestly it will probably just be a crosspole at about 70! He’s 16.1 so is a tall boy ?

 

[SpotsandBays]

This is from British Breeding and explains about loose jumping - my friends horse did this as a three year old in the BEF futurity at our local riding club. He ended up being third best potential event horse in the country as a two year old in our region but with the three year old class when he was three I don't think he got placed as it all went pear shaped on the day and he was really reluctant to jump anything at all, so dissapointing.

We had taken him beforehand every week for about six weeks for a 30 mins practice session to a local indoor school establishment which my friend hired and we set up a lane of loose jumps for him which he did really well. You need a few helpers to help you, one to set 'free' and one to catch at the other end and one or two mid way for encouragement. And your distances need to be spot on too with good boots on for protection. He was 17hh and was jumping around 3ft - 3ft 6.

https://british-breeding.com/futurity/useful-information/how-to-present-your-horse

Oh thanks for the link! Will check it out

 

[SpotsandBays]

Around where I was in Essex the show jumpers started early, they were doing courses by 3 and are jumping big courses by 5 or 6. It felt really early for me.

Yeah that seems like a lot! I intend on extremely lightly backing this year and then fine tuning in his 4th year. Might consider a jump or two depending on his maturity but I don’t think it will be courses that’s for sure!

 

[Leandy]

I'd leave it until you have him under more control to be honest. I wouldn't be doing this until I had them on the lunge and they had an idea of voice commands and moving away from the whip and knew basically what to do. Whilst I can't see that hopping a few small fences as you suggest is going to do any physical harm, you want to set them up for a good and successful experience. I'm by no means an expert on loose jumping but I would imagine that the purpose of the lane and sufficient helpers etc is not to force them to jump but to make sure that they are in no confusion as to what is expected and the need to go over the fence. The last thing you want to do is to try it half heartedly and teach them at an early age that there is the option to stop and not jump. That is not the same as forcing them to jump.

 

[ycbm]

I'd be perfectly happy to loose jump [or lunge over a jump) a 3 year old a little to get an idea whether they're a natural or are going to take more training when older. And for something something different to do now and then.
.

 

[SpotsandBays]

I'd leave it until you have him under more control to be honest. I wouldn't be doing this until I had them on the lunge and they had an idea of voice commands and moving away from the whip and knew basically what to do. Whilst I can't see that hopping a few small fences as you suggest is going to do any physical harm, you want to set them up for a good and successful experience. I'm by no means an expert on loose jumping but I would imagine that the purpose of the lane and sufficient helpers etc is not to force them to jump but to make sure that they are in no confusion as to what is expected and the need to go over the fence. The last thing you want to do is to try it half heartedly and teach them at an early age that there is the option to stop and not jump. That is not the same as forcing them to jump.

Yeah that’s a very sensible way of looking at it. Good idea about the understanding of a whip etc!

 

[lolabelle36]

My two had two little goes in the Summer of their 2yr old year- trotting behind an older horse over a single small fence just to give them a little idea. They both then jumped loose 3 times at 3 and are yet to do any at rising 4, but I'm happy they've got the idea so probably won’t do any this year until they're ready to pop a fence under saddle

Mine also usually get to pop over something at 2.5yrs, just to see what I've got. Then they dont do anything till 4yrs when they usually trot a few cross poles before coming back to jumping as 5yr olds