Jumping practice

[Jericho]

How often do you jump your horse? Just want to make sure that daughter isn't over doing it - last thing I want is an unhappy pony!


Pony has a varied and fairly laid back life due to school commitments and I generally will try to keep their routine different so they never jump or go in the menage to school two days in a row but daughter loves jumping so one day she will do show jumping in school and then he has a day off and the next time she rides she will go for a blast round fields over the xc jumps and then another day off and then school and then I will ride mine and lead him and then we might go out for a hack together one day a week. Then somewhere in there we go to a sj clinic or sj show so he probably hacks once, jumps twice and schools once a week and goes out in box once a week to jump either xc or sj. Do you think that's ok? The jumping is getting a bit more serious now 1m for 13.2hh so quite strenuous. He is a super pony and seems happy with life and never refuses but I am constantly saying to daughter no jumping today. We jumped today and he has a jumping show in Sunday and will have a dressage lesson on Saturday. Some weeks he will do less jumping but never more. Is that a happy balance?

 

[PorkChop]

For me, a horse/pony that knows its job then jumping once in the week and then a competition at the weekend is the most I would do. Also I wouldn't be competing every weekend.

So I think you are right to be cutting down on the jumping, much that it is lovely that your daughter is so keen, it would be a shame to sour what is obviously a fabulous pony.

Maybe you need to buy another!

 

[Jericho]

Thank you, yes he knows his job and i was starting to feel a little like she was jumping hm too much but then a friend said her daughter jumps a few jumps more or less every time they ride (4or 5 times a week). The practice is more for her confidence than anything!! We don't compete every weekend but probably an outing once a week max whether it's a dressage, hunter trial, clinic or sj. I think with winter and nights drawing in etc there will be less opportunity to jump anywayand I can stop stressing!

 

[be positive]

I think jumping 3 times in 2 weeks is plenty for an established partnership jumping 1m courses, so either 2 schooling at home 1 comp/ clinic or 2 comps/ clinics and just a few pops at home if required, the sessions need to be constructive not just jumping because the rider thinks it is fun, so an extra session of gridwork, which is very hard work, could be fitted in to work on something particular, otherwise there is a risk the pony will get bored, feel a few aches and pains or just have an off day, then they start to put in the odd stop and confidence gets lost very quickly.

I know it is hard to say no to an enthusiastic child but they do need to learn responsibility at some point so it may be time for a bit more hacking or flatwork and a bit less jumping in order for the pony to have a long and active life, I would try and get her out hacking a little more or just hacking round the xc fields without going over the jumps each time.

 

[Jericho]

Yes you are absolutely right - thank you! I love this pony and he has a heart of gold, just needed a little reminder to do what's best/ right! Thank you!!