SJers and eventers, how often do you jump?

[Caol Ila]

Asking on behalf of a friend. Do I look like I'm jumping any of mine? LOL.

But as the title says.... I have a young friend who had a rough round in a little schooling show on Monday. Horse refused a few fences, and one of the refusals had her hitting the deck. She'd succesfully piloted him around an earlier (lower) class. In the run-up to the show, she practiced over fences several times that week. And not just one fence. Full courses. Today, she's riding in a jumping clinic, I guess hoping to sort out the stopping.

I have never been a part of hunter/jumper-land or competed in jumping disciplines or did anymore than pi$$ about over easy fences when I felt like it. But...back in the US, my friends who were very serious about it did not jump very much between competitions. They said they wanted the horses sharp and keen to jump, not bored of it. When I had easy access to jumps, I did not play with them more than once per week (if that), because I thought too much would be tough on the joints of my draft-X. And my God, she loved jumping! She would take you to the fence and fly.

Young friend and her mum are relatively new to the horse thing. And trainers here don't offer much advice on horsemanship - as Sibelius noted in her update about Sig, it's a lot of "jump, jump, jump." But mum does turn to experienced friends - i.e. me and a few others - for advice. Mine would be that the horse might jump more happily and willingly if they jumped a wee bit less (or that he has some niggling unsoundness, but let's start with Occam's Razor... he may just be becoming a bit ring sour). This isn't my area of expertise, so I was wondering how you guys who showjump or event competitively keep your horses fresh and sound, but make sure they - and you - get the practice in.

 

[Birker2020]

When I used to compete weekly SJ I used to jump the day before.

I nearly always did a grid as Bailey and I used to really enjoy grid work but occasionally I'd do jumping exercises like figures of eight or turpentines.

I'd spend 20 or 30 mins building a grid, jump down in twice on both reins and as long as she jumped it well leave it there. You don't need to over jump horses, it doesn't do them any good and they get bored.

When I used to warm up at a competition I used to jump the practice jump twice, an upright and an oxer and leave it at that.

 

[muddybay]

Twice a week normally when competing
It does seem to be becoming the norm now with people jumping 4 times a week competing at a novice level which IMO just makes the horse sour and want to jump even less

 

[ihatework]

Depends on the horse, age, stage of training, competition plans.

As a general answer, max 2x a week minimum once in the few days before a competition.

‘type’ of jumping also varies from grids, specific exercises, courses.

 

[TheMule]

I'm pretty strict about not more than once a week (including jumping at competitions), unless for a particular reason- IE at a training camp or if the horse needs to achieve something in particular as a training point.
Each jump is wear and tear on the horse

 

[Caol Ila]

Horse is 8, but schooled to the nines. He's a heavy, maxi-cob. A steady, caretaking schoolmaster type - not sharp or fast. The opposite! He was eventing at BE90/100 (I think) in his previous home. His current owners bought him last year, as a seven-year old. They wanted a friendly, novice-safe horse, and he is definitely that. I've seen him cart his young owner beautifully and patiently around a course, but the stopping is raising its head as she is gaining confidence and wanting to jump more.

When offering advice, i find it's more helpful to suggest positive things people can do (i.e. practice grids once per week), rather than going negative and saying what they should not do (don't jump so much!). Keep the suggestions coming.

 

[RachelFerd]

Horse is 8, but schooled to the nines. He's a heavy, maxi-cob. A steady, caretaking type - not sharp or fast. He was eventing at BE90/100 (I think) in his previous home. His current owners bought him last year, as a seven-year old. They wanted a friendly, novice-safe horse, and he is definitely that. I've seen him cart his young owner beautifully and patiently around a course, but the stopping is raising its head as she is gaining confidence and wanting to jump more.

When offering advice, i find it's more helpful to suggest positive things people can do (i.e. practice grids once per week), rather than going negative and saying what they should not do (don't jump so much!). Keep the suggestions coming.

The problem we have as riders is that we invariable benefit from jumping far more than our horses do. The answer is to buy more horses...

 

[Caol Ila]

The problem we have as riders is that we invariable benefit from jumping far more than our horses do. The answer is to buy more horses...

Always. I guess that circles to the privilege thread in the Tack Room. If you can afford or somehow access multiple horses, you can become a much better H/J rider a lot faster than the one-horse ammy.

 

[scats]

I was a junior show jumper and the ponies would be jumped once to twice a week.

 

[RachelFerd]

Always. I guess that circles to the privilege thread in the Tack Room. If you can afford or somehow access multiple horses, you can become a much better H/J rider a lot faster than the one-horse ammy.

My answer was a bit tongue in cheek (obviously) but truth remains that as rider skills go, once a week isn't enough to get good. But there is something practical in working out what part of the jumping skill set is missing, and then focussing in on that in a way that doesn't require lots of big jumping. There are many things you can do reduced to poles on the ground which can work on the same skill areas.

 

[paddi22]

twice a week max and for the horses who know their jobs, I often only jump once.

You see a lot of people who jump and train hard multiple times a week, and I've never seen any go consistently clear when competing, the horses just seem to get sour, bored, & tired. And all the time the spend jumping takes time away from cross training and working on flatwork/correct canter etc. so it backfires on them a lot as the horses aren't being built correctly work wise.

I remember a trainer saying 'if a horse knows how to jump and likes jumping' just keep him happy and don't drill him.

 

[HeyMich]

I really try to instill in my kids that it's not good for the ponies to be over jumped, and try and limit it to once a week max. I think horses and ponies have a certain number of jumps in them, so to speak, and if you do them all too soon, you'll limit the time that they are jumping sound. Does that make sense?

 

[EventingMum]

During the season with an experienced horse, very little using exercises to improve any perceived weaknesses. If all was going well we might not jump between competitions. With more novice horses once or twice a week to continue their education. The old adage that show jumping is just dressage with fences holds true so flatwork would be equally important if not more so.

 

[Cloball]

I think this is the difficult conundrum for amateurs. On the one hand the riser needs match practise, to improve and to gain experience. The horse however needs to preserved yet have a decent rider ?

 

[paddi22]

yeah the solution is to go to a good sj yard for training on one of their horses or beg borrow and steal rides on as many horses as possible!

 

[TPO]

They could always use poles instead of jumps. That way rider gets practice with striding, rhythm and take off points but not the same wear and tear on the horse.

Plenty of non jumping activities to improve jumping with rider position 2 point etc stirrups and/or reins away, transitions between and within a pace, flying changes etc. All the homework will help get the horse in front of the leg and that should stop refusals (as long as they're not pain related)

 

[Tiddlypom]

If a formerly reliable horse starts stopping I would presume there is pain somewhere.

He might be sickened by being over jumped, but pain would be my first thought.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

If a formerly reliable horse starts stopping I would presume there is pain somewhere.

He might be sickened by being over jumped, but pain would be my first thought.

This, unless a known incident which might have caused rider/horse to lose confidence in jumping/each other?

but in answer to your question. Between competitions, rarely and usually only if lessons/clinics. Although going to start trying to do once a week as Pepsi currently could do with finding jumping a bit more boring! But will mainly be small fences to work on technical lines so less pressure on joints.

 

[Jango]

When I'm competing (only 80/90 level) I would jump around 4/5 times a month, sometimes I might for example have an SJ lesson on a weds, then a farm ride on Sunday, then do no jumping the next week. So the same overall as once per week, but I don't religiously stick to once a week! I also think from a horses perspective, even though a farm ride with company and a grid work lesson are both jumping, they probably 'see' the farm ride as a different activity to the grid work.

I think if a horse goes into the same arena and is drilled in the same exercises weekly for a full hour, that's a lot more likely to make than sour than if they go to different places/different exercises and different types of jumping!

 

[spacefaer]

One thing I was completely religious about, for either myself or clients, was to never jump the day before a show. Didn't matter whether it was 80cm for a baby horse, or prepping my 3" horse, it was the same rule.
it only needs one mistake, brought on perhaps by pre competition nerves, the famous "one more time" that goes wrong, and you and your horse are rattled before the competition, without any time to re-establish.

Otherwise it would depend completely on the level of the horse or rider, as to what exercises we'd do.

"Jumping" a whole course by laying the poles on the floor between the wings is very helpful for riders to get their eye in and to build up a feel for the right canter

 

[Red-1]

I am happy with twice a week, occasionally 3 times if the horse is fit, the jumping is different (such as XC one time), the sessions short and sweet, and in between times it is hacking and not pounding circles in the arena.

If a horse started refusing without there having been an incident that would explain it, I would quit jumping for a month/6 weeks and build back up (presuming something was uncomfortable/tweaked). I would revert to walk hacking in straight lines for that time. If it was not 'cured' I would go for a performance work up at the vet hospital to try to find the issue.

 

[LEC]

I actually do tonnes of cavaletti and pole work now to build my eye and have found it hugely beneficial for schooling the horse without putting any wear and tear on. It’s all about footwork and improving the canter and my eye. Tbh a young horse jumps more as building their skill set so might jump 2 days in a row if I want to improve an exercise they are struggling with. Then will have a break.
Probably I jump twice a week. I am also one for schooling in a jump saddle on the flat and might pop two fences to check horse off the leg and straight.
One horse will jump the day before a competition usually xc schooling as works for her but does about 20 mins and mainly ditches and water.
It’s something I think a lot about before I do now to maximise it all. I used to just jump for sake of it with no plan.

 

[millitiger]

Jumping, maybe once a fortnight.

Poles and cavaletti, probably twice a week.

Saves their joints and helps me keep my eye sharper for striding and canter quality.

 

[SibeliusMB]

These days, about once every 7-10 days depending on my schedule and what is set up in the ring. Usually alternate between grid school and actual courses depending on the week.

If the horse shows most weekends and is seasoned, probably very little at home. Can substitute poles for jumps if the rider needs practice riding courses. I suspect your young friend and her pony would benefit from that option.

I'm a big believer that horses only have so many jumps in them, lifetime, so budget wisely. Many horses also have a daily limit, where they are happy to play horse show or jump lesson for awhile, but can't be drilled. If you have 20 fences in your budget that day, spend them carefully.

Sig used to do a quick grid school once/week and a jump school (lines, courses) two days later. He prefers keeping the jumps to a minimum, so if he jumps the grid two/three times and is soft/quiet/happy, he's done. On course day if he jumps around softly the first time, he's done. He doesn't get sour or stop, but the drilling/constant "COME AGAIN!!" we had been experiencing here in the UK just revs him up until he's almost unrideable. I think he gets tired/frustrated and starts running through the aids. But if I keep it focused and deliberate, he jumps around soft and quiet as can be in the softest bit I've ever seen. ?

I agree the pony should probably be checked for pain (I'm thinking back or hocks), saddle fit, etc. But if pain isn't the issue, a little break for horse and rider could be a good thing. Get out of the ring, go hacking if possible, or at least tone down the frequency of the jump schools. Using poles instead gives the rider all the practice they need with way less wear/tear on the horse.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Could be pain with him but also boredom. Hope its neither ?

 

[J&S]

My NF mare jumped for fun! We never ever schooled in an arena but we jumped anything we could find out on the forest. She jumped coloured or rustic fences with equal enthusiasm and I have to admit to actually jumping 13 fences in a 12 jump course! She was still jumping WHP classes in her 20's and would be happily jumping 3ft in PC rallies with my very light weight step daughter at 23/24 yrs old.
This maxi cob may have reached his peak already, jumping BE courses before he was 8 years old. He needs a rest and then allowed to stay at less competitive heights.

 

[LEC]

The other thing I should add with cobs is they are not designed for the job so it’s harder. They are naturally bred to pull a cart. It’s why the Warmblood has developed so rapidly with refinement in last 40 years from draft animal into sports animal. The Irish draught has changed less rapidly as original breed standards have been held onto though they are considerably sportier than they used to be. There is a reason you see so few TIH now at top level even though people moan about it.

There are a lot of factors in getting cobs to jump well and IMO it can take longer and need a bit more drilling to get the canter right and the footwork developed. I had one who took a long time to leave poles on the floor in Polework and poles up jumping. Just took a really long time to develop the strength and athleticism.

I have a friend with an amazing jumping cob but he has no stamina and actually has realised how hard it is on him and dropped him back to 90cm even though he can ping round 1.10m. It’s just not fair on him and though he is willing he will probably only manage this level of athleticism for a short while.

 

[J&S]

To echo LEC, I have had experience watching the cobs that we have developed/produced at RDA. A cob with nice elastic, pinging paces can only keep these paces for a limited amount of years. Its a muscle to weight ratio problem.

 

[ihatework]

The other thing I should add with cobs is they are not designed for the job so it’s harder. They are naturally bred to pull a cart. It’s why the Warmblood has developed so rapidly with refinement in last 40 years from draft animal into sports animal. The Irish draught has changed less rapidly as original breed standards have been held onto though they are considerably sportier than they used to be. There is a reason you see so few TIH now at top level even though people moan about it.

There are a lot of factors in getting cobs to jump well and IMO it can take longer and need a bit more drilling to get the canter right and the footwork developed. I had one who took a long time to leave poles on the floor in Polework and poles up jumping. Just took a really long time to develop the strength and athleticism.

I have a friend with an amazing jumping cob but he has no stamina and actually has realised how hard it is on him and dropped him back to 90cm even though he can ping round 1.10m. It’s just not fair on him and though he is willing he will probably only manage this level of athleticism for a short while.

Couldn't agree more.
One of the reasons I sold on the big eventer I had. He had the heart and scope to keep going but the mileage and drilling he would have needed would have broken him down.

 

[RachelFerd]

Couldn't agree more.
One of the reasons I sold on the big eventer I had. He had the heart and scope to keep going but the mileage and drilling he would have needed would have broken him down.

Also agreed here. The amount of people that buy a cob type for grassroots eventing because they think it is more likely to stay sound than a sportier type is scary. Of course cobs 'can' jump around 80s, 90s and more... but it is going to be exponentially tougher on them than it is a sportier, more lightweight type - particularly as the jumps get bigger.