How often do you jump your horse?

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NellRosk

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I've found a sharer for my 15 year old, but have been warned by a livery that she is 'jumping mad'. I only jump him now whenever I go somewhere as he's a schoolmaster and doesn't need training at home. I'm writing out a contract and I want to state how often she can jump as I don't want him going stale, that is the last thing I want as he's so precious to me and I don't want him being run into the ground.

Soo.. how often do you jump yours? And what shall I put in the contract? Is once a week too harsh?
 
I always used to work on the basis of two sessions hacking, one schooling and one jumping (incl warm up) so jumping every fourth session

That was with my fit Welsh D and years ago but if I was riding these days I think it quite a good balance and would probably still stick with it

I'd make it clear to the sharer that if she doesn't put in the schooling and relaxing hacks then she doesn't get to share.
 
Usually once a week for training on my own, plus a competition or jumping lesson every 2nd or 3rd week. Not loads. I don't think I'd want a 15yo horse jumping more than once a week TBH.

Agree with WD above - you need to state in the contract and make it plain to her in person, that she may only jump X times per week. Maybe she even has one set day per week, say Tuesday, that is her day for jumping and she must not jump any other day. Or if she has two days, she can jump only on Tues and Sat, eg.
 
Older horses would jump less than once a week on average usually, possibly have a jump a few days before a comp more for the riders benefit than the horse, I would certainly restrict to absolutely no more than one short, sensible session per week, if she is likely to want to do more you really need to be harsh and very clear about it for the sake of the horse.
 
I jump mine when she gets bored of schooling, which she would say is nowhere near often enough, but she's only 7.

As I recall, I was also jumping mad as a teen as it's exciting and fun - may I suggest that you set a top limit of height as well as how often! I used to push my 13.2hh heavyweight cob mare over 1m+ walls (wooden, ofc) to see if we could jump them, and just keep putting them up! I would not do this now, and it didn't do girly any harm, but I think it's best avoided since he's your horse and doesn't need to train. How about jumping twice a week perhaps for half a session each, and set a max height, maybe 50cm - suggest working on technique, different types of jump (double, bounce etc) but at a low height so it's not as much effort.

Jumping enthusiasts can be encouraged by reminding them that flatwork is essential for good jumping ;)
 
I think I jump on average three times a fortnight .
Sometimes I jump more sometimes less it depends on the time of year and the stage of the horse and the horse itself ( some horse need more than others ).
Once a week seems a bit harsh perhaps no more than twice .
It's very difficult to say as it's really how much you jump per session and how hard that is potentially damaging so if you say one a week and she then jumps the legs off him it might end up being worse .
Hard one not sure what I would do.
If you can't trust her to manage the horse sensibly are you sure she's the right one for the horse .
 
Three of mine (7, 8 and 13) are jumping 2 times a week at the moment. Sometimes they jump 3 times if they're going to a show.
My old boy (23) only jumps once a week plus he does one show a month. He doesn't jump anything bigger than 90cm these days but he used to jump 2-3 times a week when he was in his mid-teens.

Could you maybe suggest she has lessons or offer to pole pick for her just until you see what she's like?
 
Thanks for all your replies, I hadn't even thought to include duration of jumping/ heights in the contract! So it's very relevant to include. I will state a months probationary period and I want to be there whilst she rides him for the first few months (up to 6 months) to see how things go.

Goldenstar - She's just a typical jumping mad 16 year old so hopefully I can instill in her a good sense of horsewomanship and teach her that they can't be jumped into the ground and are not machines! If I can't then we won't continue the share.

blood_magik - I was going to suggest lessons to help her whilst she gets used to him, she's only ridden whizzy jumping ponies up to now so will need to adapt her riding style for a laid back ID! Thanks for the suggestions :)
 
If going to a show at the weekend then not at all, they would only jump at shows. If not going out at the weekend then once a week and maybe the occasional log out hacking or single fence at the end of a schooling session. A lot of the kids on our yard jump for an hour every day, including on loan ponies, and I have seen some many ponies turn sour from it. So I think limiting to once a week for a set amount of time would be wise and make sure you keep an eye on her.
 
Bear9 said:
If going to a show at the weekend then not at all, they would only jump at shows. If not going out at the weekend then once a week and maybe the occasional log out hacking or single fence at the end of a schooling session. A lot of the kids on our yard jump for an hour every day, including on loan ponies, and I have seen some many ponies turn sour from it. So I think limiting to once a week for a set amount of time would be wise and make sure you keep an eye on her.
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That's what I'm worried about! Thanks. Don't worry I'll keep a close eye!
 
Once a week for Ben in his lesson... Occasionally we go for a hack, then literally go into the school, circle the jumps in trot (there are normally about two up) then come around in canter and jump them once or twice, but for the main part we really only do it once a week.
 
I haven't started jumping with mine yet, but when my Welsh mare was younger and sound we used to jump once a week. Sometimes twice in the school holidays! But she loved it. Jumped everyday sometimes morning and afternoon at PC camp when she was an 8yr old and didn't go sour the whole week !

But for my youngster when she starts it will probably once a week roughly. Unless we go XC around the yard fields :)
 
A lot depends on the horse, the rider and their aims. If you've been riding the horse for years and you're confident together competing within your comfort zone then you really don't need to jump at home beyond the occasional pop to keep your eye in/ to keep things varied.

But equally, if your sharer wants to compete your horse then I'd say at least once a week of productive sessions would be needed- the horse may know what he's doing and so may she, but together they don't.
 
Be very very careful. I have a lame horse at the moment, thanks to someone who "loves to jump". He's 20, unfit after not being ridden for two years, and had a life threatening bout of colic in January - so I was very firm about making sure he was carefully brought back into work, with lots of hacking to build his fitness. He loves to jump, so I was happy for him to have the occasional pop in the school. What I wasn't happy about was coming down to the yard to find fences up at 1m20, and a dog tired horse, who had obviously done a rather hard session. That was 10 days ago,and the poor lad is only just starting to look right again. I am fuming...
 
Auslander said:
Be very very careful. I have a lame horse at the moment, thanks to someone who "loves to jump". He's 20, unfit after not being ridden for two years, and had a life threatening bout of colic in January - so I was very firm about making sure he was carefully brought back into work, with lots of hacking to build his fitness. He loves to jump, so I was happy for him to have the occasional pop in the school. What I wasn't happy about was coming down to the yard to find fences up at 1m20, and a dog tired horse, who had obviously done a rather hard session. That was 10 days ago,and the poor lad is only just starting to look right again. I am fuming...
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Poor Spike, I bet he didn't say no once and is suffering for it now bless him.
 
Auslander said:
Be very very careful. I have a lame horse at the moment, thanks to someone who "loves to jump". He's 20, unfit after not being ridden for two years, and had a life threatening bout of colic in January - so I was very firm about making sure he was carefully brought back into work, with lots of hacking to build his fitness. He loves to jump, so I was happy for him to have the occasional pop in the school. What I wasn't happy about was coming down to the yard to find fences up at 1m20, and a dog tired horse, who had obviously done a rather hard session. That was 10 days ago,and the poor lad is only just starting to look right again. I am fuming...
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I do hope you gave the person what for... Poor boy.
 
My 10yr old Welsh pony used to be jumping five or six days a week up to 1.20m courses with previous owner. She was ridiculous though, I now can't take him near the large jumping paddock because he gets himself so wound up - which is how she liked him. Now, maybe once a week at about 2ft for 20 minutes. He loves to jump though, would happily jump back up to that height for a good 45 minutes. Such a shame he's now a dressage horse haha.
I would be very firm and have someone keeping an eye on her riding even when you're not there. I wouldn't let her jump him any higher than 2'3ft maybe for 30 minutes once a week. Personally, I wouldn't be sharing a 20 year old horse with a 16 year old girl that loves to jump.
 
What about stipulating she can't jump unless you're there for the probationary period? I had a sharer for 3 years that never jumped unless I was there. Was a very busy yard where people liked to but their noses in, literally I'd be told if she changed his numnah, so I would have heard if she had! And I think that's more than fair whilst she's getting used to your boy and is having some horse sense instilled into her!
 
At the moment my instructor is jumping my horse after a schooling session once a week, and only for around 5 minutes at the end of the session over low jumps. This is going to increase as her fitness does, and I wouldn't worry once she is fitter if she was jumped two or three times per week over small jumps for short periods of time.
 
Auslander said:
Be very very careful. I have a lame horse at the moment, thanks to someone who "loves to jump". He's 20, unfit after not being ridden for two years, and had a life threatening bout of colic in January - so I was very firm about making sure he was carefully brought back into work, with lots of hacking to build his fitness. He loves to jump, so I was happy for him to have the occasional pop in the school. What I wasn't happy about was coming down to the yard to find fences up at 1m20, and a dog tired horse, who had obviously done a rather hard session. That was 10 days ago,and the poor lad is only just starting to look right again. I am fuming...
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I bet you are! I'd be spitting chips, sorry to hear about that and glad he's on the mend.

Thanks for the replies everyone, I'm very wary now and will be extremely careful!
 
annagain said:
Poor Spike, I bet he didn't say no once and is suffering for it now bless him.
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Unfortunately, he is a bit stupid, and he absolutely ADORES jumping, so he just keeps on going!

blood_magik said:
I do hope you gave the person what for... Poor boy.
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i have been nice, explained that he isn't fit enough for the work she wants him to do, and said that he is to do nothing but walk hacks until i judge him to be ready to go up a gear. I will either accompany her, or make her lead Alf off Spike.
NellRosk said:
I bet you are! I'd be spitting chips, sorry to hear about that and glad he's on the mend.

Thanks for the replies everyone, I'm very wary now and will be extremely careful!
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Quietly furious, but we all do dumb things when we're young - and I can absolutely see the temptation, when the horse is an absolute jumping machine. She's a sweet girl, and a very nice rider, so I don't want to scare her off. Just need to educate her.
 
I have to jump regular or I loose my bottle so I jump once a week including competitions unless there's a couple I want to do in a week, I try to avoid 2 consecutive days
 
Spotsrock said:
I have to jump regular or I loose my bottle so I jump once a week including competitions unless there's a couple I want to do in a week, I try to avoid 2 consecutive days
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The more I jump the better I do it .
Unfortunately most horses need to jump much less than people to be at their best .
It's a thorny issue that there's no real answer to for one horse owners .
 
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