Loose Jumping anyone got any experience

M

Mattb125

Active Member
Joined
12 February 2008
Messages
30
Visit site
Im currently reschooling an ex-racehorse and would like to introduce loose jumping at some point.
Can someone please explain the best way to do it and what aids I use eg voice/lunge whip I think.
If the horse is completely loose how do I stop him just galloping round the school in all directions?
 
Personally I wouldn't want to do any jumping until I'd got walk trot and canter nicely. If the horse isn't schooled well enough to do a nice canter/trot when loose, I wouldn't jump it, or you'll end up with it flattening and you'll get no benefit from it.

When loose schooling it's just like lungeing without the line - the horse should respond to your voice aids and body language. What stage is the horse at now?
 
when we loose school ours we make a lane down one long side.
in that lane we start with one fence and sometimes end with three.

we use voice and a lunge whip to help with direction.
after a few times they get the idea.

dont do it if your menage is outside with low fences - they jump out!

indoor school or hight fences needed!

you can also lunge jump - just add a small jump into the circle.
 
Its a long term project so will be a while down the line before we start jumping.I will be starting off with long reining over flat and raised trotting poles before progressing to loose schooling.I could make a lane out of jumping locks and poles if that would make things easier for the horse?
 
Indoor loose schooling is a lot easier than doing outside, mainly because they only focused on two things, you and where your wanting them to go, not only that but when you first start loose schooling you'll find it a lot easier having a few extra bodies to help your horse get the general idea without you having to run round with a schooling whip which no doubt will only wind up an ex racer and you won't really achieve anything fast.

Once you have your horse lunging well, then lunge him out of a circle and walk with him while he paces up the side of long length of the school, which will encourage him to understand the concept of loose schooling before he is actually 'loose'. When your horse is sensibly doing this, introduce a long rope hung on jump wings (polly jumps are the best because their safer) or jump poles (depending on what's available and knowing that your horse will not panic and try jump the rope etc) once he's going to the lane on the lunge well then I'd try him without the lunge line, still with no jumps, as this will give him an excuse to avoid the jumping lane if your putting an obstacle immediately in the way, the aim is to get him going down the lane with no issues, you need a body at the start of the corner to the lane to help drive him down and another half way round the school to again drive him on and keeping on the outside track.

Once your horse is settled doing this, which could take weeks, only then bob a ground pole in to canter over, then dad by day ad height, but don't forget to ad width too to encourage your horse to make a good shape which of course creates a good landing, don't over to it, jsut a few good jumps is all it takes little and often, and if your horse puts a stop in, you lower the fence keep him calem and make him go over it, not turn round other way and run out where he came in, otherwise he will learn this trick and think he can get his own way and avoid doing it all the time.

Dont expect him to jump in the jumping lane until he's settled, don't overdrive him into a fence, let them look and take a jump, they will learn how to sort themselves out but if they have a bad experience which you have caused rather than they way they have jumped...they will remember it. Bobbing over little ones in trot before you expect him to canter, nice and slow, takes longer but pays off in the end.
 
I take my dressage horse loose jumping once a month with a top eventer as it gives him something different to do and makes him think for himself - also he was bred to showjump so hes amazing when he loose jumps!

The first time i took him i lunged him to warm him up (its all done in an indoor btw, i would never loose jump outdoors incase they jumped out!). We put a ''tunnel'' down one long side of the arena and to start with i always just walk him over some poles on the floor in hand. Then we completly untack him and just let him loose. It involves lots of running so you need to be fit!!!!! Myself and my trainer both have lunge whips and they are used to guide him down the tunnel. he picked it up mega quickly tho, and when you want to change direction you just block their path with the whip and they will change. Its hard to explain it properly - sorry! My horse is very voice responsive and easy to catch - you need to make sure you can catch your horse without a problem and that he/she listens to your voice.

They also need to be balanced and quite established on the flat, altho it depends how big you are loose jumping them - if its just over a little x pole then it wont matter too much. My horse is jumped over anythng from 80cm - 1.50m so obviously he needs to be balanced to do this. I also do lots of bounce work, so he does 5 or 6 bounces in a row down the grid which is great for getting them to use their shoulders.
 
ummm if u want thim 2 change direction go and walk the way he is goin... will change direction

if you want him to go faster look at his backend

if you want to send him away look at his eyes
if you want him to come to you drop your head... it normally works

if he wont let u catch him keep him going round and dont let him stop until u know u have got him!!

hope this helps
might not be any good!
x
 
I would only do it in an indoor school after both my horses jumped out the arena - the arena fence is just under 4ft so not small!
smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top