Teaching an older horse to jump…

[spotty_pony2]

Am I mad? She’s 17 this year but very low mileage and wasn’t even broken in until she was 14. We’ve started with poles and now have progressed to a bit of very basic grid work and tonight I lunged her over her first ever pair of fillers (also her first ever jump that wasn’t rustic) and she ballooned over it! She really enjoys it. Now I’m not trying to make her into a show jumper or be super competitive but a bit of fun over a few poles in the field can’t hurt can it? Makes me grin from ear to ear too as since I lost my main jumping horse I am a bit rusty myself so it’s nice we can have a bit of fun together.

The can’t teach an old dog new tricks definitely can’t apply in this case!

Little photo of her enjoying her hay after her bit of excitement today. She’s muscling up really well and even seems to be getting some over her back (finally!) I have noticed her waistline has increased a bit too this past week though so I will be monitoring it. Bit if anybody remembers the post I did of what she used to be like before we had her (absolutely morbidly obese) they will lnow how far she has come.

 

[humblepie]

Nice update and I’m sure she’ll enjoy a little play.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I remember reading about a pony brood mare who came back into work late teens and ended up SJ and competed in horse classes too I believe. If she enjoys it just crack on. She will soon tell you if she doesn't from my experience of appaloosa mares anyway.

 

[dorsetladette]

Sounds like your both having a great time - crack on! I'm sure she'll tell you if your asking to much of her.

My non ridden companion pony loves to pop over a few little jumps when we're lunging and playing about in the field.

 

[dottylottie]

lily had never jumped until she was 11, backed around 8. her first jump was 2 weeks before camp! she’s never going to be a jumping machine because she’s a bit of a wuss with poles, but she really enjoyed the farm ride & xc at camp. keep enjoying her!! you’ve done a fab job

 

[PurpleSpots]

Oh she's pretty .

Sounds like she's going to enjoy being a flying spotty girl .

Do you know who/what breed her sire and dam are?

 

[spotty_pony2]

Oh she's pretty .

Sounds like she's going to enjoy being a flying spotty girl .

Do you know who/what breed her sire and dam are?

No, we know nothing about her sadly. Previous owner had her for six months and got for six weeks of that she was at a yard being backed and started but she then decided she was too much for her. She can be sharp but she was just very, very green and there’s no malice in her.

But before that she had lived in Cornwall all her life. She had had a couple of homes from where she was bred but had never left the county. She lived in a field for the majority of her life but I do know she has bred two foals. I’m not sure whether she is full appaloosa or not, sometimes I think there is something native in there but her passport says Appaloosa x Cob. Her movement and the sensitivity could lead me to believe there could be some section D in there…