How much should I be asking of a 5 year old?

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Hovis_and_SidsMum

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Afternoon
Can I ask your opinions?
How much work should I be doing with Hovis?
He's 5 years old and a Clyesdale cross so still growing (gulp!!)
At the moment he's schooled about 3 times a week, jumped maybe once and hacked a couple of times (sometimes only around the back fields after we've been schooling). His schooling sessions are 30-40 minutes long.
We've started going to local shows jumping and we're going to one every two weeks as there is a nervous and novice thing on at two local places two weeks apart. There he's jumping 30cm and 40cm course (I am cr*p so that suits me fine at the minute).
Last night hubby jumped him and he did one jump at 75 cm (I wanted to see if he actually makes a shape over anything bigger as he doesn't bother over the smal ones)

Is this all about right or am I pushing him too hard?
 
God now, put all the fences up to 75cms! Your horse can barely see 40cm! I think you're doing plenty enough with him at the moment but if you're wanting to jump him then, based on his size I would ceratinly put the fences up more for him, i think bigger horses can struggle more over little fences - mine used to spook at them (well he still does 13 year on!) cos there were too low! He can't make a shape over a small fence really. Mine found it a lot easier jumping bigger fences TBH they put a bit more effort in can then make a shape and work their muscles.

In all honestly if he's confident enough jumping it won't make blind a bit of difference what height the fences are for him, it feels better riding though when they actually have to 'jump' though - over 40cms they don't have to do anything!
 
I'm fairly novicey so its me that only wants to do 40 cms at the moment!! He's capable of much more than that!
But his steering and control aren't great and the higher heights he wants to canter them so I'm focusing on my steering and control at lower heights so I can keep him in trot.
I just want to know if I'm working him too hard, not enough, about right. I've never had a young horse before....
 
I don't think you're working too hard, so stop your worrying about that
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I used to do about the same with my 5 year old, but without the shows, as I don't compete
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Do whatever you feel he can cope with. All horses are different, and I think he'd soon let you know if he was doing too much/ not enough, so I would think you have the balance right.
 
It's certainly not too much for him. As long as he has a varried life and is happy you can't really do too little. If you really want to be jumping more in teh future then letting someone jump a bit bigger on him a bit is a good idea. It will help him build up his muscles and figure out what to do with his feet. By the time he was five my old SJ was competing up to 1.15m up to 3 times a month, but he was small and had finished growing.
As long as you're both happy
 
Sounds perfect. Height of jumps doesn't matter. You're certainly not overjumping him. The style & control is far more important. I wouldn't school for any longer than 40min as youngsters have a lot to learn / think about. Sounds like you're having fun
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My 5 yo has been competing BD & BSJA most weeks since he was around 4 1/2. He is also worked every day, either 45 mins in the school or the same out hacking.

Do what you feel comfortable with! I avoid hammering along on the road or hard ground, & only tend to compete on a surface, but then I'd still do that even if he was older.
 
A quick note - went to Tim Stockdale lecture/demo a year or so ago and he advised really to not trot horses to fences/cross poles etc, you should encourage them to do it in canter as, at the end of the day you don't trot when jumping a course. Just a thought, I think they do find it easier once you establish the canter the jump just comes naturally.
 
He certainly finds it easier in canter but his balance isn't as good in canter yet and he corners like a motor bike when he gets excited.
I might let him canter on saturday at the nervous and novice comp- the worst he'll do is flatten the entire course! He isn't nicknamed The Destroyer for no reason!!
 
Re. the trot, maybe the case for pure Sjers, however, for eventers and "fun" horses it is very useful having them jumping from trot, as means they learn to go from whatever they are presented at
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To OP, what you are doing is fine. Mine was eventing at 5, but I am always choosey about ground etc as wont run on hard ground with baby bones, but with what you are doing you should have no probs.
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It was just advice Tim said and I thought when I was there "hmm, maybe's he's got a point" BUT I think you need to make sure you have an established, balanced canter first or they'll just end up running. Hope you're going to put some pics on of how he went - or even better a video!

I want to see this horse now!
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