Does a horse need to go on the bit w-t-c before jumping?

A

Ahrena

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 June 2007
Messages
1,891
Visit site
Just wondering how you guys think of how good schooling needs to be before you can jump.

I havn't jumped my girlie properly for about 6 months now to work on her schoolign, half way through she flew off the handle so she had a holiday and is now coming back rather quite nicely. But she's not coming round in canter - yet -.

She isn't ready to jump yet, I know, because she's still tense and rushes in her canter, but the way my [dressage judge] instructor goes on, it makes me think her schooling needs to be PERFECT before I can jump.

Just wondering how you guys see it? I was thinking I could jump her again when she relaxes in canter even if she isn't in an outline.

I take my GCSEs this year so was really looking forward to a summer of shows and fun, but she's hopeless at showing (way too exciting, she bronks and takes off all the time lmao, cantering in a group is impossible apparantly) and in my 3 months of holidays I don't /really/ just wanna do dressage..I mean it could be YEARS before her flatwork is perfect.

I know shes not ready yet, and i was planning on restarting her jumping so like 6 inch cross poles from trot first but...what do you think?
 
Personally I think as long as shes calm, balanced and fit enough an outline is not necessary. So long as you have excellent control etc. I dont think any of my horses knew what an outline was when I bought them and yet they could jump anything
smile.gif
 
No, I don't think she needs an outline (as in working through her back absolutely correctly), but you need to have good communication through the bit. Having an outline is certainly desireable, especially the bigger the jumps get, as she'll be using herself better, so it's something that no doubt you'll continue to work on. But frankly I would say that balance and rhythm are more important at the outset. If she is still desperate to run off with you though, you migh to avoid jumping until you've got that sorted because it'll just razz her up more.

Perhaps you could find a instructor that's a bit more into jumping, and alternate your lessons between the two. That is the trouble - sometimes instructors can get a big hung up with their own discipline, without seeing the bigger picture.
 
i would say no as long as is in control and not running off with head in air! obviously the better the flatwork gets then the better the jumping will get but so long as you not planning on the hickstead derby i can't see it posing too much of a problem in the short term. sometimes i wonder if they are in too much of an outline going into the jump how can they see where they are going given they have eyes on the side of their head!!?
 
I agree. As long as she is calm, balanced and going forward in a nice rythmn she should be able to jump. In fact it might help her flatwork, especially with poles on the ground.

My favourite horse would never jump on the bit, I had to leave quiet a loose rein and he jumped very well round Newcomers and Pre Novice courses - not good for the dressage marks though!

I'm sure you'll find the right balance of work with her - after all they are meant to be fun.
 
I agree with tegoz_marianos . You don't need an outline for jumping at all. As long as your flatwork is good enough that you can control speed and direction and she's fit enough you should be fine. In fact it may well help your flat work by keeping her interested. As they say "Variety is the spice of life". Keep them small and as long as she's not going a million miles per hour you should have fun!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Rule No.1

Never take instrucion on jumping from a dressage instructor...

grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Trike has NEVER gone in an outline in the two years I`ve owned him...


He hasn`t had a fence down (BSJA) since April 2007
wink.gif
 
Thanks guys hehe.

That's what I thought - I know she isn't ready to jump yet because she's still rushing, well not more than the odd pop out of trot anyway, but it got me really down about the way she was talking..Like I can't put exactly what she was saying down, but the way she was talking was just making me think...god it's all uphill.

I mean don't get me wrong, my ultimate aim for us is to do BE, but the thought of what is gonna be the longest/best holiday of my LIFE spending it all on the flat is...a little depressing.

I did think that, I know when I got my other girl she didn't work in an outline and I always jumped her, fair enough her jumping became better as she went better on the flat but..I mean we're both teenagers really, I'm 16, she's a 7y0 Hackney x Welsh and I just want to have fun - not that I'm gonna wack up 4 foot fences and gallop over them mnd :P

Feel better now, her rushing is improving session by session so might not be too long before we can pop a fence or two.
laugh.gif
 
My horse doesn't always work in an outline and is still fairly unbalanced in canter, but I could tell he was getting a bit bored with dressage so I have started taking him out to clear round jumping classes 2ft and under and he loves it! I just jump out of a trot and if he lands in canter I will keep him going for a few strides and then back to trot for the next jump. This level of control has made him easier to ride on the flat - he no longer rushes and his canter is definitely improving. When I school him I now put a couple of poles up and a small jump and i find he goes on the bit a lot easier because he has learnt that if he is a good boy and does his dressage bit nicely he gets to go over the poles and the jump at the end as a reward!
So yeah I think go for it - just keep everything relaxed if your horse loves jumping as much as mine does you may find your dressage/flatwork improves because they are more keen to work!
Good luck and enjoy the summer :-)
 
I echo what has been said above and also that i have found when working sus that the more he has jumped the better his flatwork has become.

When he was not jumping and was having lessons 5 days a week he was incredibly unbalanced in his canter and since he has been jumping he has become much more balanced in his flatwork.

I have been told before that flatwork improves your jumping which i agree with but i also think that jumping can also improve your flatwork..

smile.gif
wink.gif
 
Flash's jumping has improved as his flatwork got better, but jumping also improves his flatwork, he's a lot more enthusiastic about jumping and having a more varied routine keeps him interested. Simple jumping exercises like little grids might also help stop the rushing by making him sit back a bit and think?
 
[ QUOTE ]
sometimes i wonder if they are in too much of an outline going into the jump how can they see where they are going given they have eyes on the side of their head!!?

[/ QUOTE ]

They can't anyway... because of the position of the eyes the horse has a blind spot directly in front of it. When you get close to the jump the horse is no longer able to see it and works by memory and rider aids
smile.gif


I have found dressage books that suggest some jump work actually improves suppleness and impulsion of the dressage horse. I can see how it would to be honest, and a bit of variety would do the horse good.
 
Ah cheers guys! It was just before she flew off the handle my instructor said not to jump her, and she was actually going really well then so I thought god it's gonna tae months to get her back there, and then if that's still not good enough..

Thanks
laugh.gif
 
my instructor had me trotting into a small jump and if he landed in canter keep on for a few strides before bringing him back to trot, as someone above has said. Thats been one of the things that has really stopped F rushing canter
laugh.gif


Have fun!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top