Jumping

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kateknights

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Hi everyone, I have had my girl a year now, she had done nothing when she arrived, just used to plod around the field with last owner as she was so scared of traffic and had not cantered either.
After doing lots of riding in the last year and lunging, getting her to bend in the right places, as she couldn't even do that! We now go for lots of lovely hacks mostly alone, and sometimes in company, but we are still scared of lorries, I don't think we'll ever overcome that one!
I would like to introduce her to some jumping. I want to do it today, so have just been over to the paddock and set up three trotting poles, is this ok for a start? do I need to be doing anything else? and am i right in thinking that they have to be one of my footsteps apart from each other.
thanks
Kate x
 
ONE of your footsteps apart?! Do you mean a stride of yours? It depends on the size of your horse, but for mine (15.2hh +) I do trotting poles 5 of my steps (walking with my feet end to end) apart.

Yes, try doing trotting poles at first, assuming he's seen poles at all? If not then Id start with just ONE pole! You can also raise each end slightly (on a brick or something) so you get the horse really picking his feet up. Once he's happy with all this, then personally Id just stick up a tiny weeny cross pole and take it from there! There's loads of decent books on jumping with all the distances etc. in them and exercises you can do with him so Id recommend buying one of those, I have one which is my bible!
 
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