Jump cross training?

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coen

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I am taking my mare to a jump cross training class this weekend and wondered if any one had any tips for our first time out?

I have never been to a jump cross course but saw one advertised locally and thought it might be a safer fun way to introduce her to a xc type experience.
My mare is green and quite spooky and I have now realised there may be up to 6 horses in each 2hr class... i am not sure how that will go as I keep my two at home so they don't have much opportunity to hack in a group ect anymore.

It would be great to know if anyone has been along to a training day or the course at codham park and could let me know what to expect and whether or not they enjoyed it.
 
We regularly head out to hire different arenas, she has also done a few clinics and dressage comps.
Prior to being at home she would have regularly hacked in a group ect.
I was hoping to find out how hectic & busy this type of training day is really? Along with what kind of format the lesson would follow.
Do you go off one by one from a group, or do you follow in a line through the course ect ect.
 
Depends on the trainer. When we do arena xc training it's no different really to SJ training, you jump individually but each do the same exercise or group of exercises building up to doing a full course on your own. So you might follow one another over the fences but we usually leave large gaps so only one horse is jumping at a time. If you're doing something more complex then the group are usually asked to wait out of the way until that rider has finished.
 
I'm following this as we are near jumpcross headquarters and i would love to have a go!! I did email them and they said I could hire the course for myself with their trainer. Perhaps you could do that first time to see how she is. I have an ex racer and I think this is what I will do! Good luck! X
 
Well I went along and it was great, the best experience I have taken her too.
It is great for confidence building as you are not fretting about solid obstacles but you still get the exposure to skinnies, water, ditches ect.
I also found it better for her than sj as she is quite exuberant and the extra space made this a lot easier for me as she was far less spooky.
The classes start from tiny & progress up so there is plenty of opportunity to work through in subsequent sessions.

As I rarely get to ride with others being in a group was also good practice but it is run in a way that they don't get too fizzed up as people tackle the combinations one at a time unless the other horses are needed as a lead (e.g. water).
I cant wait to go along again and it have given me a bit of a kick up the bum to go along to some jump clincs & xc schooling too.
 
Thanks for the update. I was considering it for my 6 y/old who's in a similar-ish situation (private rent so always hacks alone, done a few clinics but don't want to blow his brains hooning about in company yet!), so it's good to know it's a nice set up for it at Codham (also my local!).
 
Yeah codham was great I am going to find out whether on not they hire the jump cross out individually per hour as if the do I will definitely give that a go as I am unable to make the next training day as it is the weekend of my husbands bday.

If anyone can recommend a local xc course to try schooling over let me know, I want little jumps:)
 
Downhouse is tiny and super cheap. Stratford Hills has some small stuff too. Depends how tiny you want - but I jump stuff at both and I'm a massive wuss :)
 
Great thanks I have just done a search and both seem to be within 30mins of me so I will try to find out if either are running clinics.
 
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