first canter and jump

C.C.T

C.C.T

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when should i take my horse for her first canter like what age and where should it be she doesnt like working in the arena also what age should a horse start jumping at???
 
shes three now n a tbx thought bout canterin now in a feild between bridges so she has to stop and cant bomb off and thinking bout jumping next year when shes four but dnt want to ruin her legs and back as she is still young just want to do whats best for my baby so i can get as many years out of her as i can and so she has a good long happy life x
 
Complex...

I would take into consideration her age, her build and maturity, that's physical and mental - and no matter what they actually look like, they aren't physically mature until they're at least six years old. Personally, if you're having to consider where you canter in case she bombs off, I'd be sticking to trot!

How long has she been broken for? Are you continuing to ride her on now, or will she be turned away and brought back into work at four? If you jumped her now, and blew her brain, or she went lame, would you feel happy with that?

Ultimately, it's your decision, but please consider her long term future.
 
this is her being brought back as she was turned away last year and the only reason i was worried about her not stopping is because she has never cantered before but she is very well behaved and trustworthy so she would only go into canter if i asked her too and i was reading a pippa funell book on breaking in youngsters for eventing and she said start jumping at 4 and compete at 5 whereas i was planning on jumping a 5/6 and competiting at 6/7
 
Utterly depends on the mental and physical maturity of the horse. Talk to a good instructor about it. Has she ever cantered on the lunge before? Is she balanced and responsive in the other paces? It completely depends when both you and her feel ready as well. xx
 
I don't tend to back my ponies until 4 as by this time most of their teeth have come through so their mouth is comfortable and they are a lot more grown up but not too strong.

Depending on how they progress they tend to canter 3 weeks after coming off the lunge but I have had ones ready to canter much sooner than this and others later. I also think the best place for first canter is in a menage with a surface so they are less likely to slip and are in an enclosed area.

They are ready to canter when the trot feels mostly balanced and not rushing and downwards and upward transitions are balanced and mostly responsive.

Have you got a good trainer who can help you with the process?
 
she has cantered on the lunge but not ever with someone on her and she has good paces the other day she did 4 strides with me but that was an accident and her canter felt nice and even and she seemed up for it the farrier and vet have both said that she can be bitted and riden but she is only riden once a week for about 20 minutes at the moment and it has been me riding her and my mum helping me break and back her ect x
 
C.C.T said:
she has cantered on the lunge but not ever with someone on her and she has good paces the other day she did 4 strides with me but that was an accident and her canter felt nice and even and she seemed up for it the farrier and vet have both said that she can be bitted and riden but she is only riden once a week for about 20 minutes at the moment and it has been me riding her and my mum helping me break and back her ect x
Click to expand...

What does your mum say then? xx
 
im 14 and my mum thought to jump at 5 but i told her what i reaad in the book and for cantering she said i could go for a short canter in the feild because she was with her older 'sister' in front of her x
 
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