How much jumping?

[KEK]

Pony is 4 in Oct, Connie. Is currently being ridden by my neighbour twice/week for around 30 mins and is going really nicely, she is very soft with him and he looks like a different horse. Working nice and softly in trot, hasn't bucked in canter for ages. My question is do with jumping. She is an A grade show jumper and has suggested starting the basics of jumping. She has been working him over trot poles and did a tiny cross rail a few lessons ago that he popped over like he's been doing it all his life. Then the following lesson she did a short course, which I stopped because IMO it was too much. He's just been doing trot poles since. My question is how much jumping is appropriate to be doing in such a young pony? I was a bit surprised in doing any, but I really don't know. TIA

 

[SpotsandBays]

I personally wouldn’t be doing any jumping until they were 4, if backed at 3. And that would only be small and like an introduction and then I’d work on it properly when they were 5, but that’s me! I don’t plan on backing my little one until he’s 4 so probably won’t do any proper jumping until he’s 6

 

[Red-1]

It s your pony so your choice.

However, I would hesitate to criticise the person who is riding the pony in such a public place, especially as she is likely a professional.

For comparison, this is British Showjumping's video of 4 year olds jumping...

 

[sport horse]

Despite when he was born the pony is 4 all year! I would have thought that even as a late foal he could start to do a little jumping now - ponies mature much earlier than horses and the 4 year old show jumpers are out and about at shows now. Just be careful not to overdo it.

 

[Red-1]

4yo young event class at Dublin...

I'm not saying I would do as much as that, but I think it outs some X poles into perspective.

 

[Gloi]

I'd say one shortish session a week mixed with flatwork and hacking at other times.

 

[paddi22]

just as a debate topic is there any benefit to be gained by comparing what professional are doing in the young horse classes? they are under totally different time pressures to bring on and sell young horses and they know they don't have to deal with the health/injury consequences down the line.

I recently was discussing with a saddle fitter who says she won't sell to any horses under 5 on principle. it kind of took me back a bit but I really respect her stance.

does it come down to a personal choice of "I want my horse out doing stuff quickly" vs "I want to develop my horse as sympathetically as possible"

Personally my two cents worth (just for debate, I really don't mind what other people do with their horses) is that arena work, poles and popping several jumps is too much on a baby horse. I think people underestimate the stress during turns and circles in an arena on young horses. when my next youngster is three he will hack and do mountain trails for 20 mins a few times a week and might walk over little logs down the line when he's strong. watching that video I see a pony that isn't able to balance properly, falling around a turn to be faced very quickly with an overcomplicated exercise for its age. pony is gorgeous tho!

 

[Red-1]

I did say (post 5) that I wasn't saying that I would do as much as that, but that it put a few X poles into perspective.

I also said (post 3) that as it was OP's pony, it is her choice. The video was a comparison.

Personally for a horse who is 4, I think a few X poles add variety.

I gave the comparisons as OP said she was surprised that the grade A show jumper rider was suggesting any jumping. I was giving context.

 

[paddi22]

I did say (post 5) that I wasn't saying that I would do as much as that, but that it put a few X poles into perspective.

I also said (post 3) that as it was OP's pony, it is her choice. The video was a comparison.

Personally for a horse who is 4, I think a few X poles add variety.

I gave the comparisons as OP said she was surprised that the grade A show jumper rider was suggesting any jumping. I was giving context.

ah yeah I wasn't targeting your post at all, I totally understood what you were saying. I just think it's an interesting debate, because I know internally myself that I do swing between 'do very little' and 'I'd love to do the young horse classes'!

 

[sport horse]

just as a debate topic is there any benefit to be gained by comparing what professional are doing in the young horse classes? they are under totally different time pressures to bring on and sell young horses and they know they don't have to deal with the health/injury consequences down the line.

I recently was discussing with a saddle fitter who says she won't sell to any horses under 5 on principle. it kind of took me back a bit but I really respect her stance.

does it come down to a personal choice of "I want my horse out doing stuff quickly" vs "I want to develop my horse as sympathetically as possible"

Personally my two cents worth (just for debate, I really don't mind what other people do with their horses) is that arena work, poles and popping several jumps is too much on a baby horse. I think people underestimate the stress during turns and circles in an arena on young horses. when my next youngster is three he will hack and do mountain trails for 20 mins a few times a week and might walk over little logs down the line when he's strong. watching that video I see a pony that isn't able to balance properly, falling around a turn to be faced very quickly with an overcomplicated exercise for its age. pony is gorgeous tho!

I dont think anyone has suggested ding as much as the young professionally produced horses but you can go too slowly - I have heard many amateurs say 'my young horse' and when you ask it is 9 years old but only broken when it was 5. Honestly it will be dead of old age before they achieve anything. A few gymnastic exercises at the end of a 4 year old year can only help supple and balance the horse/pony.

 

[KEK]

Thanks for the thoughts, all. He was backed in Jan this year and has had periods of been ridden consistently mixed with rests and she has been riding him for the last 3 weeks.
Definitely compared with those horses doing the young horse classes he is doing very little, but of course he isn't going to be a top level show jumper, just a nice pony for me to hopefully to some ODEs on. I think a balance between that and doing nothing is probably what we will aim for

 

[KEK]