Re-introducing a horse to jumping?

[EKA]

Hey guys,
I know this isnt strictly a CR post, but i was wondering if i could pick your brains about getting my mare jumping again?
She hasnt jumped for about 2 and a half years now due to injury, she has been given the all clear to get on with life again and as i finish uni this summer i want to get on with it.
She is 16 this year and has always been a fantastic jumper, i have had her for 8 years and she has only ever refused once in all that time. Technically she has always been very good, used herself well etc.
Im sure she will be very excited at the prospect of jumping again

she has always been very enthusiastic in the past

but that doesnt scare me one bit.
My plan was to get her as fit as possible, lots of hacking, hill work and interval training. Then starting her with very small grids to make sure shes doing it correctly right from the beginning. But other than that im pretty stumped...
In the long run i would just like to get her back to being able to pop the odd unaff course for fun, i dont want to seriously compete her again - just to add a bit of variety to her work.
If anyone has any tips (or a parachute) i would be very grateful!

 

[now_loves_mares]

Well if you think she'll be VERY excited I'd start by working her in the school with fences around, but not jumping, just to get her used to their presence again without going loppy!

Grids will help technique but they can be physically hard work. Jumping will use different muscles so I'd be inclined to do a few fences on a regular basis rather than a big grid-work session once a fortnight.

Just take it slow and have fun

 

[EKA]

Good point, cheers! I'll leave a few up after ive used them for the other mare and see how she reacts to just being in the school with them.
I intend to take it stupidly slow, it should be fun tho!
Thanks!

 

[MandyMoo]

i would do what you said i.e. lots of hacking, hillwork etc to get her fit again. then for a bit do some schooling sessions with poleswork and raised poles to get her using her muscles a little bit, and also it gets her used to poles again so it shouldnt be too exciting once she jumps again

haha

and then just start with basic crosses (v small to start with obviously) and build it up slowly with placing poles and single fences/double. only do grids every now and then to start with (as they are strenuous) but they will make her use the correct muscles in the correct way etc. but then you can do them more often after a while

but definitley take it very slowly, dont rush her. especially after an injury xxx

 

[Daisychain]

She won't forget a single thing, my boy has been off for nearly a year, he is back in work now, and i just put up a course and he popped round, exactly where he left off last year!