Dressage horses jumping good or bad??

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spacefaer

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Do you think it is a good or bad thing to jump dressage horses?

and if they are jumped as young horses at what point in their training should they stop?

Do you think it is beneficial or detrimental to dressage horse's value if he can/does also jump?
 
I don't ride/compete at a particularly high level dressage (novice out and about and elem/medium at home at the moment) but I am old enough to have always been taught that jumping should form part of a horses education for all sorts of reasons - athleticism, confidence, variety, building up strength. Just like a horse which jumps should still be worked on the flat - the two go hand in hand.

However, there has definitely been a trend for only doing 'dressage' with horses, and not just those at a high level where you can't afford to take the risk. It's hard to buy a horse which is good for dressage and one which has been started over jumps as well. In the end I bought a horse which had been brought on to event - we've had our issues but none of it related to his jumping or dressage ability. At 9 he can now comfortably jump 1m to 1.10m and do all the pretty dressage stuff at home, and we're now working on quality, and style. As long as I don't hold him back he should easily to advanced medium (possibly a bit further). BUT we have taken our time and I am in no rush... not everyone has that luxury and maybe ultimately it is the fact horses mean money that has changed the training ethos.

ETA - to answer your questions, Good, not sure probably depends on their ability and where you want to get to but I would argue that jumping should still form part of their exercise even if it is only over small jumps/cavaletti and probably detrimental in the current market but it shouldn't be.
 
Thanks anuvb - pretty much what I was taught!

My hunting-loving, dressage-indifferent OH says that horses should be multi discipline in their training at least for their athleticism etc as you posted.

He says that so many of the dressage horse injuries could be avoided by reducing the repetitive strain on their limbs and brain. ...
 
Unless you are aiming for top class international level I think doing a variety of work including jumping is very beneficial. Also adds value if they don't make the grade and you wish to sell on.

A good compromise for horses who only compete at Dressage is to stick to some basic jumping grids.( i.e A cross fence, 1 stride to upright, 2 strides to spread. Obviously building up to that in a session!) This kind of jumping leaves little room for the horse to get over-faced or frightened yet gives fabulous benefits for strength, confidence, balance and can massively improve the canter.
 
I think it's beneficial, as the muscles they use for jumping are pretty much the same as they use for canter, so can improve canter, and general strength, a lot. I think it helps with sure-footedness and balance as well.

Mine, however, is absolutely phobic of coloured poles, so although we do the occasional little log out on a hack, he gets very very wound up about jumping and I can't get any sense out of him. :o It doesn't seem worth the stress on his part.
 
I was wondering as I have a horse which I bought as an eventer but he's doesn't find xc fences inviting :-)

He always jumped when I rode him, went to a rider who continued jumping lessons (he's never competed) & he's quite competent (schooling up to about 3'9)

He then went to a rider who didn't jump him as she felt his dressage training was more important. He's established PSG & has been placed higher.

I now have him back to sell. I'm not a dressage oriented rider (my main interest is hunting atm) and I was wondering if it would be of benefit to get him over some poles? Whether it would increase his desirability in an increasingly picky matket?



)
 
To be honest if he is working at that level being able to pop a jump isn't going to devalue him as long as his dressage work doesn't suffer. In fact he might welcome a change. I know my horse is usually better on the flat the day after a jump. Give it a go... as long as the owner is happy then it can't hurt.
 
Many feel the need to wrap dressage horse in cotton wool never jumping them never hacking them or if they do only in walk
These horse often suffer severe limb injuries as they are not conditioned properly a horse that is hardy and strong will always be healthier than one that is cossetted so in my view every horse should be versatile and do everything so all the muscles are worked properly and the leg bones, tendons etc are hard and tough.

They are usually pretty bonkers and suffer a lot of stress habits too
 
Lol windandrain! Thankfully mine is very level headed! He's always hacked. I remember taking him for his first ever hack when he was 3 - solo as I had no one to hack with - meeting a digger with a massive rattling bucket on the front and him marching past like he'd been doing it all his life! He hacks across fields too

Think I might give him a cross pole tomorrow and see what he thinks (If I can find a jump saddle to fit - I'm not doing it in his Amerigo lol!)
 
Jumping is good for them. :) It's a change, can be less intense work then dressage and it uses/stretches slightly different muscles.
 
My mare always feels more free over her back the day after she's done some jumping. I only compete dressage now but try to jump once a week or so. Not as seriously as when we were eventing but a 3ft course or little grid or something.
Definitely good for the brain too, keeps her fresh and forward thinking :)

No idea re valuation but can't see why it would be a bad thing ;)
 
The yard I trained at in Germany jumped all the horses, including the Grand Prix horses, both in the school, and over logs out hacking. They also had regular gallops to allow them to let off steam. They enjoyed it immensely, and it didn't appear to affect their training.
 
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