Free Jumping

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Deefa

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What age would you say was suitable for free jumping horses?
I have started leading my 2yr old Sec S gelding over poles on the floor (to keep him iterested in what he is doing as he gets bored) I just wondered when people thought i wouuld be able to free jump him over small jumps (no bigger than 1ft really) He is 11.2 and qiute mature in looks and biuld for his age
 
every horse i have broken in i havnt jumped untill they are at least 4. a girl i know thats got a 2 year old has started jumping her because she has said the same things u just said about your horse and now shes nearly 3 shes already got leg problems.

theres plently of other things to do with youngsters than just jumping.
long reining, leading out in traffic, general bomb proffing stuff.
 
Would agree to not free jump yet. Wait until hes four. Free jumping is a good way to teach them to jump and sort there own striding etc out. Totaly bombproof him, take him to some inhand shows, get him used to tack being around, little kids that he'll no doubt have on his back in a year or so. Used to clippers, being trimming, groomed by all. Work on loading in to trailers and boxes. Do plenty of road work.
 
The skeletal frame of a young horse is still maturing and asking a youngstger to jump at an early age is looking for trouble as the horse gets older.

My young horse has just turned 4 this month and while being seen by a vet for a chest infection 2 months ago the vet asked me if he was doing any canter work. I said no not yet and the vet said, "I thought you would say that as he is still too young" So if the vet thought at just under 4 years old was too young for cantering I wonder what he'd think about people jumping?

Mind I myself thought a horse 4 years old would be okay to canter but I certainly wouldn't be thinking of jumping a 4 year old until it was more 4 1/2 or 5. Pole work and cavaletti's yes but not jumps.

Tha't just me with my horses though.
 
i would definetly wait till he is about 4 because they havent even finished maturing till they are about 6 and you dont want him ruined just because you rushed it even if they are tiny
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Thanks guys
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He has only walked over poles on the floor. The only thing he jumps is the clumps of nettles in the field when he is running round the field like an idoit (thats what got me thinking lol!)
Also i have seen young SJ horses/ponies be free schooled at sales and comps.
 
Yer, i agree, i would wait until he was stronger and more developed to carry himself, not that i've ever broken a horse before, but i've jumped an under muscle horse and he just went straight through them and couldn't alter his stride! I think starting with loose jumping is a good idea though!
Then again, my friend has a 5 year old eventer, mind you, he does go lame a lot though! And 5 year old horses jump hurdles when racing and they are like 5 foot!
But yer, i would continue working in hand and long-reining (which is reeeeally good for building up the right muscles!) and doing things which would be helpful that he already knew when you jump and go to shows ect (eg manners and bomb proofing)
Well good luck, sure he will be a prospect for the future !
 
horses do seem to be brought on a lot quicker espically if they are being sold as a compition horse (more profit for the seller).

as for hurdlers they never last very long because they are jumped so high at such an young age. im at a exracing yard with a few ex hurdlers, all of them have leg problems.

i got my cob when he was 18mths and didnt jump him till he was 5. he has only been lame once hes now 15.

enjoy him while hes young doing baby things! you will have plently of jumping years ahead!!
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