How to get a young horse to jump fillers

neep1

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9 June 2008
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Hi

My young horse is ready to jump fillers - does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to start this? Exercises etc ...
She happily jumps gates it is just coloured fillers and things like frogs she needs to start on. Thanks in advance
 
We always introduce our young horses to fillers by putting them in front of the wings at first so that most of the jump is still poles. If they are going to spook and slow down on approach, make the pole low enough to push the horse over without needing any impulsion.
When they are jumping the poles the height of the filler confidently, gradually move the fillers in so you jump a smaller space in the middle and eventually close them right up to jump over.
 
We always introduce our young horses to fillers by putting them in front of the wings at first so that most of the jump is still poles. If they are going to spook and slow down on approach, make the pole low enough to push the horse over without needing any impulsion.
When they are jumping the poles the height of the filler confidently, gradually move the fillers in so you jump a smaller space in the middle and eventually close them right up to jump over.

This, never start with a filler under the jump until you have done plenty of desensitising as above, the last thing you want to do is to get a young horse stopping because it is unsure of something new, after a while most will just accept a filler is a filler and not something to be bothered about, getting your young horse confident at this stage is going to set her up for life.
 
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