Jumping question

[LouiseG]

I have a 5 year old (6 in June) who I have had for 10 months, when I bought him he was just getting started with his jumping and was really loving it, however through various things, injuries and a confidence crisis from a bad fall when bringing him back into work after a field injury, I haven't properly jumped him since I bought him last April. We have been spending such a long time getting our flatwork sorted and the difference in him is fab! So, we are about to start jumping (I hope) in the next wee while. A lot of the 5 year olds I know are already out doing SJ competitions and XC and it feels like we haven't really done all that much, we are just taking it easy at our own pace which suits us fine! Does anyone think this break from jumping will have any detrimental affect on him when we get going with our jumping again? And any advice about re-introducing some jumps would be appreciated!

 

[Wheels]

No I don't think it will have had a detrimental affect - try not to focus on others and what they're doing with theirs. I don't even intend to teach my youngster to jump until he's nearly 5 so not everyone is in a rush!!

The fact that you have concentrated on your flatwork first can only be of benefit to your jumping.

I would start by introducing poles, trotting poles, canter poles, single poles around the arena, poles set up as a grid etc. and if all is going well start to raise the poles or the end section in a grid/trotting poles to x pole and then progress from there.

 

[dianchi]

Get a good knowledgable trainer and start slow, poles etc and build it up

Good luck

 

[Elle33]

I started my girl at 5, she then had a 6 month break and she was fine, she fell with me a few timeswhich really knocked both our confidences but we got through it and now she loves jumping I started with trot poles, canter poles, poles before a small cross fence and so on and I did a lot of grid work with her she's progressed really well.

 

[smanf]

As an attempt at a bit of reassurance, you are leaps and bounds ahead of me and my boy, and he will be six in May. We are only very much just starting on our flatwork together with me still on the ground for the time being

I would love to jump him but really feel that we have to go back to basics as I have only had him since November and am already his fourth owner. He has changed hands a few times, which from what I gather is through no fault of his own (I hope ) and I think for that reason has never had any sort of consistency with his work, which unfortunately is yet to improve because of the weather

I had started riding him when I first got him but he is just still so nervy, it was starting to have a detrimental effect on my confidence, so I have decided to take a step back, stop worrying about goals and deadlines and be patient and enjoy.

Guess I am just trying to say don't worry about timescales, do what feels right and what you are comfortable with. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon. Well that's what I keep telling myself anyway!!

 

[LouiseG]

Thanks everyone for all the replies That has definitely put my mind at rest! We have done loads of poles already and he really enjoys them and perks up when he sees them. We are yet to do canter poles as our canter has been a real issue which we are slowly resolving, thankfully we now have steering!

I agree, there’s no rush to do anything, we have all the time in the world I hope to get things right and have fun in the process. I think a lot of youngsters are pushed far too fast anyway so I would imagine that waiting has probably better for his growing joints and things anyway and he is definitely a bit more mature mentally than last year so that can only help!!

 

[rossiroo]

Had you thought about lunging over a jump to start with ? it may help the horse to find its own balance without the rider interfering (please don't take offence I am not implying that you will interfere) and will allow for him balloning over the jump. Also a small x-country course may be usefull for schooling over as there is usually more time between fences. Good luck.