Is it possible for a 10 year old

RubysGold

RubysGold

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Ok so theres a 10 year old welsh d pony at the yard who the owners have owned for nearly 4 months.
He hasn't got much 'knowledge' for want of a better word, he's good at hacking but doesn't have a clue with schooling/jumping.
I am helping them with his schooling and they want him to learn to jump.
When they first got him they asked me to pop him over a little fence, he tried to refuse and then catleaped and spun (i fell off)
I think he just needs to restart and learn what jumping is so I've said I'll start him with pole work, I just wanted to ask, can a 10 year old be taught to jump or is it a "can't teach old dogs new tricks" situation
 
yes completely - have had to break in a 24 yo before (don't ask...it's what the owners wanted.......)
anyway, she was fine, just treated her like a baby..
so just back to basics....
 
cat leaping can be quite frequent in welshes as they are generally very careful. you will often see youngsters particularly give jumps a lot of effort and air (Frank decided this was too much effort a long time ago!)

Back to basics, lots of pole work and very small. It'll come.
 
Ah thanks, thats what I thought, but have never tried, so wanted to check.
I was thinking just trotting poles, then canter poles, then try like raised poles and go from there.
If you're teaching a horse to jump, do you start by trotting in, or is it better for them to canter?
 
Which ever they are more balanced with, obviously dont want them to rush so trotting would be better,
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He slows right down when he sees that he's approaching a fence, but I think pole work will help.
Probably best to start him in trot because its an easier pace to keep going.
He looks at the pole alot and tries to refuse so definitely needs to restart.
I only need to get him jumping about 2 foot, as the owner is quite nervous and just wants to get confidence with him, hence why I'm teaching him rather then her.
 
What about doing some free schooling with him? will help him with his technique over the fences, as he doesnt have to balance you and himself, then when he is going okay on the lunge or free school then jump on him then
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Definitely start from trot and make sure that whatever you do, don't let him refuse or run out. If he stops, make him step over or take the jump down but don't let him turn away. They soon learn that there is no option but to jump. You will have much more control in trot and he can sort his take-off out more easily. The only time i would canter a really green horse is if it was really lacking impulsion and scope. Do loads of poles on the ground and tiny jumps until it's no big deal. Good luck!
 
Can't loose school as we have no arena. Just a piece of grass, not even fenced off.
I never let him refuse if I can help it, (thats why I fell off, but the fence was too big for him as we thought he'd done some jumping) but I've never jumped a horse that ran out before so when I jumped him last time I found it hard to stop him, I did get better towards end of that session though.
Will definitely do trot work and as you say poles and tiny fences.
I've always thought of green meaning too forward going/excitable, but because of being young/newly broken. Does it actually just mean inexperienced?
 
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