feeling inspired after watching comp!! How long to retrain??

[Quartz]

went to watch my club in a cross country competition today for the first time ever!! Took my two little girls and we had a great day out. Really enjoyed it and it's really inspired me to give it a go too!! Shame I can't even jump a course of show jumps with my horse!!! But now its given me an aim, so will take it slowly like my instructor has said to retrain him with jumping and then hopefully get there.

How long does it usually take to start from the beginning a retrain a horse? He's 7 so I'm sure we can do it. I was thinking round about a year, maybe aiming to try a small comp next summer?

 

[Jennyharvey]

Always depends on the horse. Has he ever jumped before, or will this be the first time?
It depends how quickly he picks it up and how confident he is. I think to aim to compete him next summer is a good plan, just so you can take your time with him. He may be fine to compete earlier, but its really up to him and how quickly he learns.
Be patient, and work on building his confidence, and im sure you will get there. Best of luck.

 

[Quartz]

Always depends on the horse. Has he ever jumped before, or will this be the first time?
It depends how quickly he picks it up and how confident he is. I think to aim to compete him next summer is a good plan, just so you can take your time with him. He may be fine to compete earlier, but its really up to him and how quickly he learns.
Be patient, and work on building his confidence, and im sure you will get there. Best of luck.

He competed when he was 4 at level club 1 (lowest being club 4 highest club 1). He would go lame after so was retired at 5!!! Since I've had him have only tried him in the school environment and he just sticks his head down and takes off after each jump. This is where the retraining is coming in. He will jump anything and never refuses but just freaks out after. I think he was pushed too quickly when he was young, and am hoping to start from the beginning and show him he can enjoy it and he will come good.

 

[Jennyharvey]

He competed when he was 4 at level club 1 (lowest being club 4 highest club 1). He would go lame after so was retired at 5!!! Since I've had him have only tried him in the school environment and he just sticks his head down and takes off after each jump. This is where the retraining is coming in. He will jump anything and never refuses but just freaks out after. I think he was pushed too quickly when he was young, and am hoping to start from the beginning and show him he can enjoy it and he will come good.

He sounds fun to retrain lol.
I think going back to basics might be good for him. Trotting poles, cavaletti(sp), grid work, making sure he stays in trot and comes back to you straight away. Circling before and after the jump can help to keep him slower, and listening to you.
Make sure hes in a nice kind bit so that he doesnt get hurt in the mouth if he runs off, do lots of exercises to get him to respect what the bit means instead of upping the brakes.

Perhaps staying in trot for a few months, as this will teach him jumping isnt something to get worked up about. Only when he trots over the jump and comes back to you, try cantering over them.

Im sure you will do great, so best of luck and enjoy it.

 

[Quartz]

He sounds fun to retrain lol.
I think going back to basics might be good for him. Trotting poles, cavaletti(sp), grid work, making sure he stays in trot and comes back to you straight away. Circling before and after the jump can help to keep him slower, and listening to you.
Make sure hes in a nice kind bit so that he doesnt get hurt in the mouth if he runs off, do lots of exercises to get him to respect what the bit means instead of upping the brakes.

Perhaps staying in trot for a few months, as this will teach him jumping isnt something to get worked up about. Only when he trots over the jump and comes back to you, try cantering over them.

Im sure you will do great, so best of luck and enjoy it.

Am going to be giving all this a go, problem with him is he won't stay in trot. But again comes back to reteaching him. He also does it with poles on the ground as well!! Hes a loony, but I know we will get there. There are some videos in one of my threads of my instructor jumping him, unfortuantely you can't get a good idea of how strong he is as shes a brill rider.