When to start jumping a young horse?

Vikki89

Vikki89

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Just wondering at what age/stage did you start jumping your youngsters?
I don't want to rush things with my boy and will she how he goes as to how quick we progress but I am thinking ahead and wondering if I am pushing it a bit in what I am planning.
 
How old is your horse.


It all depends on the horse really.

My baby started to jump out on a hack, we'd find a branch on the floor or a little log, that she could step over and go and pop over it. She got the idea and then started with a few poles in the school.
It was late in her 3yr old year.
Still not done that much jumping and she is just 4 now. picking it up a bit now.
She jumps 2'6" single jumps. soon to introduce a few more.
 
Soon as the flatwork's decent really, for me anyway. If they're 3, I might have a very little [like first hole] cross left up whilst schooling and some ground poles out if they're sane and accepting of things, just to add a twist to their routine and some fun, or maybe a little log or tiny tiny ditch out hacking or something like that just to have them used to going over stuff.

Schooling for jumping though [proper jumping based sessions - gridwork, technique, improving their jump, courses etc], I'd start in their 4th year probably if they've got good basic flatwork established.
 
My boy will be 4 in May, I'm going to start putting poles down in the school for him to walk and trot over this or next week.

Im thinking would it be totally unrealistic to be aiming for a 1'9 or 2'0 class (probably will have to enter HC) in june. He has jumped on the lunge and loose schooling (unintentionally) before and I know this is different from a course or having a rider on board. He seems to be picking it up quite quick I think though don't want to speak too soon and he is the only horse I have backed so have nothing to compare him to. But he was much more forward and listening more in the school last night :) I'm also hoping to do a walk + trot dressage test in august. All to get him out and about doing/seeing different things.
 
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My mare is 5, so older than most, but she has been broken in two months and started jumping (single, tiny fences once or twice) a few weeks ago. She has been XC schooling (steps, ditches and water, no real 'jumps') last week and did a double and her first 'proper' fence (2ft upright) today.
Although she is moving forwards quite quickly, she is a very fast learner, loves being challenged and is much more mature than the normal freshly broken in youngster.
My Instructor has told me to get her out doing as much little stuff as possible, so that she has seen everything by the time she is ready to start competing properly.
 
I think I will definatly (sp) take him to the dressage (village show) possibly box him to one sooner depending on how he goes.
 
4 years old, and we've done a bit loose schooling, and under saddle - just very low. He's a good jumper, I know cos he jumps out of fields when he wants to, but we're taking it slow.
 
I think that if he has not even been over poles yet, the prospect of doing a class (however low) in June is probably much too much. Start with your poles, build up to double spaced trotting poles, then onto small fences - see how it goes gradually. Take him to local shows without entering initially, then perhaps do some easy ridden classes at a small show.

Depending on how all this goes, perhaps do a jumping class later in the summer. You can't do any damage by doing things too slowly, but you can by rushing...
 
I did think it would be too soon, I might take him to the june village show for a look around and then do the dressage in august. I don't want to rush him at all.
 
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