Free schooling

I free school, I find it helps my mare learn about pole work on her own so she is more independent (I want to event her so she needs to be able to think on her feet), it also means that I can get back exercised in an hour which saves time!
 
No chance for me. My mare has jumped out of our 5+ foot fence twice already. She would be out in a heartbeat!!

I have done it with my others and think its good for them. Helps them to think for themselves. Problem is my mare at the moment already thinks for herself wayyyyy too much!!

I know alot of people have their 3 year olds down over the jumps but I wouldn't. I don't really like my babies jumping too much till there 5. They will jump a little bit at 4 but I'm I'm no rush. IMO the longer you leave them at the start the longer they should go on.
 
My mare had learned how to run out at jumps and so I started to loose jump her, and at first she was very disinterested and I put the jumps up to see if I could get some momentum from her as well as making her think and boy, did she ever.

The minute the jumps went up, her ears pinged forward, she was alert and looked like she was having a whale of a time.
She was 6 yrs old when I did this.

I don't anymore as we don't have a school at current yard.

Benefits:
you can see how they move without rider interference.
they can concentrate on natural balance without adding a rider into equation
adds variety to their schedule
 
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