Freeschooling, jump for fun

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Agent XXX999

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I have never freeschooled Bruce over jumps before, but I thought we would have some fun yesterday after lunging, so I popped a cross pole out and let him go.

What happened next surpised me.

Bruce was jumping for fun! Literally, there was me in a 20/60 school, one jump, and Bruce. I couldnt stop him from going over the jump!

Pushed it up to about 1.40 - he was clearing it from a trot and cantering 3 strides out....

I was really surprised at how much fun he was having, I couldnt stop him, and even in at the end when I left him in the school to cool down a bit he was still popping over them of his own accord.

Anyone elses horse jump for fun? Or is it just my nutter of a horse?

And I didnt have my camera! Bugger!
 
Beau LOVES loose schooling and loose jumping!

He used to get very excited but now he listens to every word I say, never even looks at the gate, I think they think its great fun! I do it at least once a week.

Get pics next time!!
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Yup
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Pony used to be turned out in the paddock we used to jump in. I had to remove the jumps in the end, as she used to tire herself out by continuously jumping them!
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Crazy beast.
 
How do you loose school them? I mean, I know what it is, but never done it! It is just like lunging but without the line? Never had anywhere to do it before but moving to a yard with a school, so would be able to! Like the idea of jumping him loose once a week or so, or is that too much?
 
I've schooled quite a few young horses for free jumping competitions and have used it to help with older horses (particularly useful if you're trying to get to the root of a problem) and I can say all the horses who are even a little talented do it for fun. Unless they're pushed/scared of course. In fact I wouldn't persevere with a young horse that didn't catch on after a couple of sessions because in my experience it just isn't their thing. Oddly I find that older horses are more inclined to jump random jumps - my old event horse, who was only turned out in the arena, did it all the time when he was fresh - but I guess that has to do with them "knowing" what the jumps are for.

It totally does not apply to the OP, who clearly knows what she's up to, but I would caution anyone just randomly setting up jumps and "free schooling" over them. If the distances are wrong, the horse is made to go too quickly, or something else is wrong it can do harm to the horse's jumping. I've sat on some young horses who had been seriously chased while free jumping and it defintely affected their attitude to jumping when ridden.

But otherwise it's a ton of fun for both you and the horse.
 
Cruiser
I'm interested in giving freeschooling a go but didn't want to just crack on for the exact reasons you have listed! My horse is 11, and a reasonably experienced jumper who is lunged regularly. We also jump at home so he is used to jumping in general. We compete at 90cm/1m regularly, any advice on how to get started? Are the distances the same as when you are riding? Speed wise, how do I get him to slow down?!? He used to rush at his fences, still does if they are small, but one up to the height we are working at he slows down under saddle. SHould we just put one jump up and try it?
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I would start with poles on the ground, literally, just two. Then build the back one into a cross, and go from there.

The only "aid" you have is your voice to slow them down, IMO when freeschooling they will sort themselves out to what is their natural way of going, and alot is to be learnt from how your horse balances itself over jumps without you.

Prob best NOT to do this initially!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URPI-bakXV8&mode=related&search=


However IMO this is a good set up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywmwzN-rKO0
 
Cool, thanks. Couple of stunning horses on that first video though I don't think we'll be trying any of that malarky anytime soon! Facinated to see how he takes to it I must say, I think he will hurdle to start with but once they go up a bit he should be fine. Any ideas what sort of heights I should take him to? He's comfortable over 90cm with me (probably impeding more than anything) we are working on 1m, have jumped 1.10 under saddle but he is only 14.3/15hh....or should I just get him confident at about those heights and see how comfortable he looks? Would be good psychologically for me to see him jump bigger I think, then I'd feel more confident coming into a bigger fence!
 
I am competing BN/DIC, Schooling up to 1.25 and went to 1.40 last night which he was jumping with ease, so I left it there and didnt push it.
 
Wow, thats cool. If I could get J over 1.20/1.30 I'd be well impressed, we are doing BN at the moment but I'm fully aware he will never go much higher than Disc....short legs start struggling with the striding!
 
I have two young horses, both Tbs and both with very different opinions on loose schooling.

My gelding LOVES it, we discovered this when we turned him out in the school and he would jump the jumps that were out as he cantered round without any encouragement from us, they were in the middle of the school so he had to turn into them to jump them. We tried doing with him by freeschooling through little grids and again he was really enthusiastic to do it and will walk, trot, canter and change direction round the school on voice command, we do it because he enjoys it and have never put the jumps up too high or had to bully him into jumping. It really helped his ridden jumping work too.

The mare however doesnt see the point, she has popped a jump on the lunge as part of her initial learning to jump work but the one time i took the lunge line off she jumped out the school and stood eating the grass outside her stable, have no plans to try it again or push the issue.
 
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