Jumping the racehorse

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Christmas Crumpet

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Having had Happy for 3 months now and are finally getting to grips with our flatwork I decided to introduce a little bit of jumping here and there. He will be a hunter so needs to be able to jump whatever we come across. We have lots of hunt jumps all over the farm but haven't quite been brave enough to jump any bar a 2ft 6" telegraph pole yet.

But... I was popping him over some blue barrels on their sides on Sat pm and he was fine. We then decided to put some xpoles up etc and he was brilliant. OH asked if he could have a go and to put up a 3ft 6 upright with a placing pole in front. WELL...!! What a horse. He just pinged it 3 times in a row and really picked himself up and did that funny little back feet flick to make sure he cleared it which he did by at least a foot. I was so happy and proud I couldn't stop smiling.

After riding last night I decided to have a go myself when noone else was around (just in case it all went horribly wrong) and we cantered round to it and he pinged it the first time, knocked the top pole off 2nd time and then third time absolutely cleared it. I am so pleased with him. Obviously he does know how to jump because he was a National Hunt horse. However, he did mostly hurdle races where they jump very flat and very fast. He did a couple of chases at the end of his career and can jump big things. I just feel as though he's got so much ability and he's so willing and just wants to please. I adore him - he's going to do a lot for my jumping because you do have to help him out and tell him when to jump unlike my old horse which just jumped anything with no prompting from me.

I'm now feeling very guilty because he's out in the field in the p*ssing rain with no coat on huddled under a tree. Mean mother!!
 
Do they mind scars for workers? He's been fired in front and got quite a few scars on his back legs!! Such a shame because he is a seriously good looking horse. I don't really care though because as long as he's sound and happy it doesn't matter. Am def. going to do the retrained racehorse class at Dorchester Show next year. After a season's hunting he should be ready for anything!!
 
I'm aiming for the retrained racehorse classes too.

Not sure about the carring issue! Good question but I don't think it would be a problem as my friend does WH on her cob and it has a bad scar on it's hind leg and she's consistently placed.
 
He sounds fab!

mine also gives a great feel over a fence - she is NH bred/trained too. I thought she'd jump flat, but she's got a serious pop and will go off a short one when asked to (although she is obviously still happier having a little bit of a flier
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now that you know he's fab at the dressage, and great over a fence, you really should be thinking about eventing him. Much more fun than showing
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Funnily enough I was thinking just that this morning. We'll still have lessons once a week and he'll be hunted 3 times a fortnight this winter and hopefully will come out sound the other end and then I think we might just consider doing some eventing. I think he's going to be a brilliant all rounder so can do some local bits and bobs and see how he goes. Fingers crossed!!
 
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