Not jumping again?

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dreambigpony

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Would you think it wrong for someone to never jump their horse purely because they would rather do flatwork? My mare is only 5 but I used to jump her once a week, I have just completely lost interest in jumping and would much rather focus on dressage and showing. Would it be bad if I never jump her again? or should I keep on top of it because she is only 5- so that we could do it in future if I wanted to. She's a cob so she wasn't exactly bred for jumping, she was quite good at it though. If we take her out to a forest ride, I would like to be able to pop little logs though. just wondered your thoughts?
 
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Why would it be wrong? If you're happy and she's happy I don't really see a problem. Lots of successful dressage horses never jump, and I imagine it's the same for the top showing horses.

I've not jumped since May, and not been in an arena since June - all we have is road hacking. Horse is perfectly happy with that. I'm a bit fed up but that's besides the point :p.
 
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I hardly ever jump my mare mostly cos I'm a chicken!! I have jumped her in the past, she gets very excited! I mainly do dressage + showing, I try to school using poles once a week to liven things up. As long as you +your horse is happy then that's all that matters
 
I'm the same, landed on my head to many times. Not interested in jumping at all now. Could pop a small jump if it was in the way in the woods but nothing more. My horse is five too and I too worry that he might be missing out. I have a rider for him and she has done some little ones with him. Next year when he is six we might do more, however it won't be me on him......;)
 
If it is likely you will be selling the horse on in the future, as a 5 yr old, I would still be putting some jumping basics in place.

However, if you are planning to keep it for life, then just do what makes you happy!
 
Definitely not going to sell her ever! Thanks for all of your replies, think I need to stop worrying and realise that horses don't think like us, they don't have ambitions.
 
I've never jumped with my boy, don't plan to! Many dressage riders wouldn't dream of jumping with their horses!

The up side is he never "locks on " to the jumps in the arena, just potters past them without a care in the world.

TBF, he kicks poles on the ground with all 4 feet :p
 
Im technically not supposed to ride ever again. I have plans to be back on board by spring, but I wont ever jump. The risk is just too much for me to be able to justify it. I do have a mad keen teenager who has jumped my little cob a few times, but we only brought the jumping in to get him thinking more forward and having fun. He has the basics now so it wouldn't bother me if he never jumped again. I have no plans to sell him, but if it came to that and jumping ability was holding him back its easy enough to get a decent rider to tune him up a bit.

Life is too short to do things you dont enjoy so I wouldnt give it a second thought!
 
The horse won't care as long as it's fed and watered. And happy. But if you're planning on selling at some point, guess you'll need to get someone on board to teach a few tricks.
 
I think it depends on what else you do with your horse. My mare rarely hacks and does a lot of schooling. I am not confident jumping really but my instructor who rides her each week jumps her. It not only gives her something else to focus on but also builds her fitness up even further for the flatwork.
 
Ned LOVES jumping. He will be spooky, nappy and argumentative in the school if there's no jumping or even jumps in the school, but as soon as the jumps come out, he's happy as anything! Taking me into the jumps (in a good way) no matter what fillers they have underneath or what height they are. However, I've not jumped him for a few months now and he's fine with that. Hoping to get him back up and doing little jumps in the next few weeks.
Do what makes you and your horse happy :)
 
You can always free school over jumps etc if you feel your horse is missing out. But i really wouldn't worry, so long as they know a bit of basic jumping in case you have to sell/decide you like jumping in the future :)
 
I bought an ex show jumper in order to conquer my nerves caused by being dumped one too many times... We have popped a few courses and jumped occasionally over the past 4 years- but I haven't since the spring, and to be honest I have come to the realisation in the last few months you don't need to do everything if you don't want to! Horse is happy as larry living a rather sedate lifestyle! I am happy.

The only time I would probably consider making sure a horse had some experience or a few rounds under its belt is if I had plans to sell it in the future, because it would make it easier to sell. Saying that, not all horses are made for jumping and so I think it really depends on the horse and the type of market you want to sell it to as well.
 
I would not worry at all.

I bought mine in 2011,and he had jumped in competition to 1.30. A few months later I injured my back, and he did not jump for a year. Since then we have jumped again, but only to 1.05, and I don't expect we will ever do any bigger than that as my ambitions have changed (just glad I can still ride!).

Jay does not care. He was as happy learning to be ridden with no bridle and play the drums as he was in "serious" training. I think he would also be as happy in a huge pasture with lots of shelter and many friends!
 
I certainly don't think it matters if you don't jump - after all horse does not know that 'other horses showjump'. I have been thinking about this myself a lot as I do jump my horse but I only ever half enjoy it and a friend asked me why I bothered making myself do it if it made me so anxious am answers were
1. if I ever wanted or needed to sell the horse it adds value if they are polite and easy round a small course
2. It adds interest to the horses routine. my real passion is dressage but I try to hack and jump once a week each
3. Although I don't love jumping I cannot resist the challenge of trying - I once had one on loan that 'wouldn't jump' for 6 months I thought it was a perfect excuse then I couldn't resist teaching him to jump happily and in the end he did which as it happened improved his attitude to other things in the process.
4. Its just another exercise in precision and feel and as such improves the bond I have with my horse.
 
We don't jump, I lost confidence a couple of years back and whilst I can jump I don't enjoy it. My pony is not fussed about jumping, she can also jump but I've never jumped her myself in over a year of ownership. A couple of times out hacking we've come across logs and I've asked her if she fancies it she's always said no, either running out or slowing so she can step over them. She'll never be sold and if neither of us really enjoy it there's not much point!
 
I don't really jump mine at the moment, haven't for about 3 years. I have occasionally popped a small cross pole someone else has left up, but certainly don't feel I should jump for any reason. He doesn't enjoy it, he's not one of those to carry you towards jumps or get excited by them. He's a HW cob with well-padded legs, and has always felt that jumping show jumps is fairly pointless since they fall down anyway.
 
My last cob, who was perfectly capable of popping out over his field gate if he felt the need, applied his "Why go over if you can go around?" philosophy to any form of painted obstacle. Worked for him.....
 
My boy has a decent pop in him but I never jump because I hate it. I'm certain he doesn't care one way or the other. If your horse is happy, fit and well cared for what does it matter?
 
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