How often to you jump your horses?

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CharlesMax

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As the title really - I have just started getting into jumping again after a long break. I would like to concentrate on improving our jumping to prepare for some low-level eventing but don't want to overdo it!

How many days a week do you jump your horses and how do you fit it around your flatwork?

Any weekly schedules you follow?

Thanks in advance!
 
I try to stick to two days flat, two days jump, two days hack and one day off. The hack involves the fitness, hill work etc. However, the weather, daylight and school sometimes interfere with this! This is when he is at his peak fitness and competing often though.
 
Depends on the horse really. When my mare was competing on average I jumped her 4x a week. But, she loves jumping. Only two would be official jump sessions. Other two would be either popping a short course at the end of a flatwork session or later in the day after lunging or hacking. Or during official flatwork sessions I'd have a few jumps up & pop a few to keep her interest doing more mundane exercises. But, others are best doing less, it really depends on the individual.
 
For us it goes: monday, wednesday and friday, schooling either just flat work or poles and tiny x poles, just working on striding and listening to me instead of doing her own thing, she needs this because she tends to get very opinionated when jumping and starts fighting with me and thinks that ''she knows best'' so doing exercises over small x's when i can mess about with different paces etc, she stars listening to me on the approach. Then 1 weekend day jumping and 1 weekend day long hack. Thats in winter.
When the days get longer, i usually school 45min monday, wednesday and friday, and then do another 45 min hack straight after schooling, build up her fittness and let her relax after schooling. Then weekends are same as in winter :)
Saying that, we haven't jumped for about 3 weeks now because the school is like a pond :/
 
Very rarely, only really at shows with the established horse, perhaps once every two weeks with the youngster. I'd rather do polework if they need more precision, and concentrate on getting a balanced canter. I think it puts too much strain on their legs and joints to jump often. The youngster got 6 double clears at British Novice on this regime last year and has had the winter off.
 
Great, some good tips already! I like popping over a few jumps after a schooling session but find he is quite tired so can literally only do a jump or twop before feeling like I am pushing him too hard.

I might dedicate a day, or two, to pole-work/jumping so he has more energy next time!
 
Im in a very similar position and plan is to jump a few 90cm and 1m classes this summer with the first unaffiliated being in April (which is being held on my yard - happy days)

My main priority is to get the horse fit and happy to be exercised. I will combine this with lots of balancing and grid work as the horse has never jumped to the best of my knowledge and is a green 6 y.o Arab x although does have a lovely natural outline

Christmas was great as had time off to do any thing but with work - this is my plan:

Intensive schooling incorporating lots of circles mainly in trot twice a week for 20 mins (after work)

Hack including trotting hill work twice a week - 1.5 - 2 hours

Grid work and jumping; finishing with a course of 4 -5 fences including a combination once a week

Every week going to incorporate a "scary" fence at a lower level to the others and eventually start jumping at various obscure angles once the horse is jumping straight with impulsion

2 days off to be a human and give the boyfriend and dog some attention ;-)

Let me know how you get on
 
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