How to free school?

[equestriansports]

Hi all!
I was thinking of free-schooling tonight but I've never done it before. I don't really want pony to just make a hooligan of himself and run round like an idiot. I'd quite like to pop a little jump up (tiny tiny jump!) but don't really want to just put one up anywhere and him come at it too deep or too long. How do I control this? And his speed going into the jumps? Gah so much to think about! Obviously I'm going to ask if someone more experienced can help but this is something I really want to do though if it's going to be a silly idea then I won't. Anyway, ideas and how-to's? Thanks! Oh and merry christmas eve

 

[swilliam]

How well schooled to the voice is he? I don't freeschool mine until they walk, trot and canter on command - and stop! At first limit the space available too, so they can't get too silly. I send them out with a lunge whip and body language, and change direction by cutting across the school as if going in front of them, stretching out my arms and the whip and saying change. Once they're used to it, they turn as soon as they see me moving towards the edge. Jumps need to be at right angles to school fence, with guide poles on the inside.

 

[Wizzkid]

I free school sometimes is he pretty good to lunge? It's one of those things you both get the hang of the more you do it.
I wouldn't bother with a jump on your first try as it might get a bit exciting.
I don't think it's a silly idea tho it's good to try different things 😃
Hope it goes well

 

[equestriansports]

Thanks to both! I thought I was doing to be throwing myself in the deep end with the jump idea if I'm honest, think I'll leave that til we're established just free-schooling in general. He's pretty good to lunge other than he doesn't have much of an idea on how to halt. I'm trying to teach him that 'hoooo' and me turning away from him means stand but don't know if this is the correct body language? I think ideally I need some lessons on lunging.

 

[PuzzlePiece]

I used to do it the other way around and teach youngsters to loose school before lunging. A few of my old bosses used to do it in pairs with the yearlings and two yr olds. I found that it's easy to teach them voice commands and then when it comes to lunging you already have some form of control and are mainly concentrating on the circle element. I'd always say to wear a hard hat, have horses in eyesight and if possible have an extra pair of hands on the gate incase they try to jump out. Swilliam gave some good advice above.

 

[Shay]

Do be very careful if free schooling against the arena fence rather than in an indoor school or round pen. Not only can you inadvertently encourage them to jump the fence but they can also catch themselves on the outside fencing. A friend of mine's SJ'er caught a hoof on the exterior fencing as he jumped and was lamed for months. I now set guide poles both outside and in.