Jumping at home question..

[Lauraoscardillon]

I put it to my mum that i was going to start jumping at home more since we have an arena and two big fields i can use...

Obviously i wont be doing anything sky high or dangerous and would go on what i get taught in my lessons..but she seems to think iv literally gone mad and doesnt understand why i want to. she thinks its silly and i could "ruin the horse" even though he is 12, been there got the t shirt BE novice level and i would be going purley on my lesson content..not too much and not like everyday. my other pony needs practice jumping as we have trouble at shows, and i just think that its free at home and practicing at home helps me have done a bit of "homework" for my lessons...

am i totally wrong, or does the rest of the horsing community jump at home?! at the end of the day, i enjoy jumping and i dont see why i shouldnt have fun on my horses as well as the serious competition and lessons...what does everyone think?

 

[Flight]

Definitely agree there is nothing wrong with jumping at home to practice. Not everyday and not huge but its good for both of you if you enjoy it and have a nice surface to do it on then why not. I think if I had a menage I might become guilty of jumping too often though lol But i do need all the practice I can get!

 

[rebel26rebel]

I don't jump at home anymore, I did when I was younger but now I tend to just jump when I have lessons and at competitions - it all depends on your horse.

Be careful not to do too much otherwise they could get bored - I prefer to keep them fresh so they are upfor it at a competition.

Having said that if I had an arena I would do bit of gridwork every once in a while - be careful to get your stridings right though.

 

[mystiandsunny]

I find it gives me a chance to practice in a relaxed way and to work on my lesson advice. In a week I'll usually jump twice, once at a comp, and with my weekly lessons alternating between flatwork and jumping, every other week I jump at home. Currently we're working on getting my horses better with fillers, so it's twice a week at home (over 50cm fences with mega scary stuff over/under/on them) + one comp/lesson, but that's just for now until they'll jump anything, and the fences are being kept tiny because of the frequency we're jumping.

 

[xXGemblesXx]

If I didn't jump at home then I wouldn't jump at all!

I think that as long as your sensible and don't do anything thats likely to scare either you or him then go for it!!

 

[MagicMelon]

I have jumps at home but I dont jump mine unless we have an issue I want to work on. But then mine jump at events almost every weekend. I just find mine jump better out when they are fresher, just dont over-do it as you can make them go stale if you over jump or over fence them.