the careful raising of future baby jumper superstars

[Mouse&Bay]

What is your secret sauce in the approach?

I've got myself a new baby (coming 4) and I'm excited to (almost) get started on her training. She had about 60 days of training last year (August/September) in preparation for her breed inspections. She was then turned out to grow up, get fuzzy and spend some time outside in the herd.

She arrived with me end of March. I've given her some time to settle into the routine, take some walks around the property and meet her new friends. Time to now get started under saddle. My initial plan is lots of hacking (we have on and off road space) and show her as much as we can. I'm excited and can't wait to get started - what type of schedule do you like to maintain with your youngsters? Lunge? Not lunge? Walk only for the first X? Curious to hear your stories, experiences and recommendations.

I know our mileage may vary depending on her quirks. She is out for most of the day in a large herd so she's not standing around in a stall if not worked.

 

[ycbm]

You sound as if you are from the US. Are you in the US or in the UK, because I have heard that the competition scene is very different in the US from here? Also, when you say 'show her as much as we can' in the UK that would not mean jumping her, but riding or in hand on the flat only. In the US it also means dressage and jumping. Which did you mean?

I generally wait until a horse is five before I jump it at all these days. The older I get, the longer I leave them. These days I think that an unnatural exercise like jumping is too much for most four year olds.

 

[be positive]

I interpreted the 'show her as much as we can' to mean exposure to life in general while out hacking, not showing but I could be wrong.

My plan would be to get a young horse mainly hacking if the hacking is good, using varied terrain to build muscle, strength, balance and the confidence to go forward generally, if it was being aimed at a proper jumping career I would introduce some basic jumping once they are strong enough physically and mentally, simple but interesting polework mixed into a general schooling session, some low grids with easy distances that can be popped over without having a full on jump session and build up gradually without ever pressurising so that jumping is part of a normal life rather than a big deal.
That said I have rarely started a purpose bred jumping type, the ones that I have started here have come from a wide range of backgrounds, types and have all been treated as individuals, some took to jumping from day 1 others required more input but all tended to do little and often at the early learning stage, little can be just 5 or 6 fences on a day they pop them really well, often can be several times a week if done carefully always being sure to not overdo it and to end on a good note.

 

[sportsmansB]

Try not to think about turning her into a 'jumping' horse- at the moment shes just a baby learning the basics, the actual fancy jumping is a while away yet.
Shes only had 8 weeks so far, which is basically backed and ridden away, so I'd start from scratch and let her tell you what she remembers and what shes ready for.

Loads of hacking in walk and progressing to trot for short periods (maybe begin by long reining a short route if you have the luxury of being able to do that)
Through / around fields and gallops as well as roads and tracks if you have them to vary things
short schooling sessions once shes strong enough from some hacking (10 mins only to start, follow another horse in the school to give her the idea the first few times)
Introduce random poles and dander over them in walk and then trot (making sure you go dead centre all the time!)
Progress to a few poles together (again follow another horse depending on how confident she is)
Progress to a few small inviting fences from trot, let her canter on after if she does land in canter but don't insist on it
If you have the basics of steering and stopping correct, the jumping small fences will come easily. The above could take 8 weeks or 6 months, depending on the horse!
I think its nice for youngsters to do a few minutes in the school and then pop off for a hack once they are confident hacking

I wouldn't lunge loads, unless shes humpy with the saddle at the start in which case it can help to lunge with tack just to let her back get used to it.
The most important thing is don't be in a hurry! And don't be thinking you have to try something new every day, or progress every week - let her tell you how she's feeling about it all and give her breaks if necessary. Some horses love to work and others take more time to think about it...

 

[Mouse&Bay]

I interpreted the 'show her as much as we can' to mean exposure to life in general while out hacking, not showing but I could be wrong.

Yes, definitely. Show her as in exposure to things, not enter competitions.

We are very grateful for the wonderful hacking around. A local hunt is quite close and maintains an extensive array of trails. I also have an older horse who is confident and experienced, so she has a good pony pal to learn from and follow around.