First jumping class - too soon?

[cob&onion]

When did you first take your horse out jumping small courses? how much had you done at home and what height did you start off at?
My cob is 5yrs old and been back in work a while now after a year break. She is 15.1hh.
The jumps we have been doing are tiny x poles and she just trots over them rather than popping them? (if that makes sense) am thinking of raising them slightly. We use the jump blocks and we are using the 2nd notch up as a straight or the 2nd from top as x poles.
What sort of size did you start jumping after they have got the idea?
Are flat work is improving by the day - although understandably she is a bit unbalanced in canter so i don't want to throw her at anything big that we can't pop at a trot if need be!

Also there's a very novice working hunter class a week on Sunday which am very tempted to enter for the experience of jumping a course. I am planning on jumping her a little more in the school mid-week and set up a small course of baby fences. She seems to enjoy it and doesn't bat an eye-lid. I don't want to completely shock/scare her though by entering this class.......what do you think?
The course is 50cm, 60cm, 70cm or 80cm - am thinking the 60cm course?

 

[Lolo]

If it's her first jumping show, and she's not jumped above 60cm, I'd be tempted to stick with the 50cm for now, so it's miles inside where she knows. But I'm a bit wimpy about this sort of thing, and go for the long and slow approach!

 

[Mavis007]

It depends on the horse's natural ability and your confidence. With big wbs I have always taken them to clear round jumping 1st (after just schooling around a course of fences somewhere) and gone some riding club group lessons to get them used to jumping with other horses around in a more controlled environment. I did 70cm then 80cm and the next outing was a British novice if all going well and no issues! But for a big scoped wb this is still easy. For a smaller horse or pony or if you have not done much, stick well within your comfort zone to start with and then just see what happens! Schooling around a course or clear round is very useful to start with in case you have problems. You don't want to teach them that if they stop twice they just leave!!! Good luck, I hope it goes well

 

[Daytona]

My lad had done a few small jumps at home, his first class was a 80cm BS class he went round it fine just trotted mostly. That was about 4 weeks after he had started jumping.

 

[FAB1]

Hi CandO I think as above - Its better to stick to your comfort zone the first time you go out - don't forget a lot of the bigger scopey horses are more comfortable jumping slightly bigger as well - If you've been sticking to smaller then thats the best way to start - remember things do change at shows too, theres a lot for young horses to look at and take notice of, so if you start smaller and you have a wobble it won't be a bad thing. Like someone else said as well - clear round is a good place to start - you can take your time and doesn't matter if you make a mistake. Since your horse has had a fair amount of time off as well and youre not overly sure about heights etc, id start small, also if its unaffilliated you may find sizes slightly vary etc so smaller might be a safer bet for both of you for first time - good luck though sounds like you'll have lots of fun.

 

[cob&onion]

Think i will go for the 50cm class then thanks for the advice.

We will be in with all the little kids on ponies

 

[Daytona]

Good luck and let us know how you get on

 

[FAB1]

Think i will go for the 50cm class then thanks for the advice.

We will be in with all the little kids on ponies

Lol no shame in that !!! good luck let us know how it goes!

 

[cob&onion]

The clear-round starts at 9 - 10am - we won't be there till 12ish as thats when our classes start. Looks like the 50cm working hunter class is on then, just hope the weathers nice for sunday

 

[showpony]

I read this somewhere recently...

Start at a level at a show one step below what you are jumping at home,
Then when you feel you want to move up a level do one more at the current level for confidence purposes for both horse & rider.

Good advice I think

 

[Nightmare before Christmas]

Had my just gone 5 year old for 3 weeks. Took him to his first show and jumped the british novice (90cm first round) last weekend

 

[showpony]

Good for you but horse has obviously jumped a fair bit??

Op's horse has had a year off so just starting back..

Had my just gone 5 year old for 3 weeks. Took him to his first show and jumped the british novice (90cm first round) last weekend

 

[Nightmare before Christmas]

Good for you but horse has obviously jumped a fair bit??

Op's horse has had a year off so just starting back..

Hes jumped a few times under saddle before I had him round a small course at home but very green. Hes green at grass but I am used to that and can ride them through it. Depends how experienced you are I guess. This was his first ever show

 

[ester]

OPs horse is also slightly less bred for the job... apples and pears?

cobandonion I mean that in a nice way, good luck and do report back

 

[cob&onion]

OPs horse is also slightly less bred for the job... apples and pears?

cobandonion I mean that in a nice way, good luck and do report back

she sure is!

Thank you, and will do

 

[ester]

I reckon comparatively you're on the same plane if you worked it out as a percentage of what they have loosed-jumped and at her age especially as WH courses can be a bit randomly built/have spooky things I think jumps you can trot over if necessary will be ideal.

I just don't envy you getting her clean

 

[Nightmare before Christmas]

OPs horse is also slightly less bred for the job... apples and pears?

cobandonion I mean that in a nice way, good luck and do report back

I am sure OP will be fine whatever she decides to do

Good luck OP keep us updated

 

[SusieT]

My only advice is that even 50cm are probably going to be straights- you should probably jump straights on her at home first! If she's confidently trotting over tiny jumps I'd be sticking them up to proper x poles, then a small straight and no reason why she shouldn't start jumping 70cm very quickly unless she's nervous.
(And most people wouldn't take a green as grass youngster out unprepared as the liklihood of failure is high and potential to wreck nice youngsters.)

 

[cob&onion]

We did the class, was very quiet i think we where one of 2 entries. Some of the fences where quite different to what she was used too, she trotted up to them, stopped, then cat-leaped some from a stand-still, especially the scary gate ones and the straw ones the others she approached at a nice stead trot.
The judge let me finish the course despite a few refusals, the important thing was she went round all the jumps and did the course.
the cob did well for her first time
We also came away with a 3rd in the cob class and some lovely comments from the judge

 

[Nicnac]

Well done! Onwards and upwards - sounds like a great experience

 

[TuscanBunnyGirl]

We did the class, was very quiet i think we where one of 2 entries. Some of the fences where quite different to what she was used too, she trotted up to them, stopped, then cat-leaped some from a stand-still, especially the scary gate ones and the straw ones the others she approached at a nice stead trot.
The judge let me finish the course despite a few refusals, the important thing was she went round all the jumps and did the course.
the cob did well for her first time
We also came away with a 3rd in the cob class and some lovely comments from the judge

Well done Sounds productive!

 

[windand rain]

Well done and I am sure you both learned a lot from the experience