Would you jump a 4 year old?

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rowy

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Just wondered if you jump your 4 year olds and up to how big?

Gonna send mine away end of march and she said she would pop him over a couple of jumps. He essentially is going to be a dressage horse but would like some variety in his training.

Thanks
 
To you answer - yes I did jump my horse when he was 4 years old and also hunted him to further his education. Loose-jumped him upto 1.40m. Did a few small courses under saddle of 80/90cm, but never pushed beyond his comfort zone at that age.

Don't think i'll hurt your horse, as at the end of the day aslong as it's kept fun for the horse :)
 
I will be jumping my four year old this year but competition wise no more that 2'6" but at home may be the odd 3'.

She loves it.
 
I jump mine....teeny weeny jumps and not often :) highest we`ve gone is about 2 foot with proper jumps, if there is a log out hacking I`ll pop her over them.
The other 5 yo is better with poles, doesnt care for logs she demolishes them :rolleyes:
 
I did jump mine, but only started jumping more in his 5th year - although still only 2'6 stuff. But when I bought mine my vet passed him with the advice that he didn't do much for the first year or two as he was toe out, and his legs needed to straighten up. Sure enough they straightened out when he was 5+. They weren't massivley wonky you understand, he was just a bit weak and a slow grower :)

My sisters horse was doing the PC senior SJ team as a 4yo though :) (and yes I am aware that horses have to be 5, but lets just say the PC turned a blind eye to that as they wanted a team)
 
yesh but not big and not much!....

started introducing fillers now and will be jumping 2'6+ by the time shes 5. :) (hopefully!)

But doing is very slowly as shes a lifetime horse so dont want to ruin her :)
 
Yep. Mine started doing poles etc q month before his actual 4th birthday. Jumped maybe once a fortnight max from 4th birthday til the autumn (so july- early november). Max height of about 2'9, which is way within his comfort zone. Was all about keeping him relaxed and happy, mostly out of trot and nothing very taxing. Now he is rising 5 we are working a lot more on the canter and the jumps can go up a bit, would like him to be confident round courses of 1m by the autumn as may BS him over next winter. He's 16.2 and sj bred tho so these heights are not hard work for him at all!
 
I rode a friends baby for her. We started him doing polework and jumps at 3 1/2 and then he was jumping 2ft6 courses fairly confidently by the time he was 4. He stayed at 2ft6/9 until he was 5 and is now doing a little more.


ETA: We weren't jumping him with a rider loads and loads and we always jumped him on good ground
 
Ahh thanks. He isnt 4 till beginning of may but will be going away to backing yard last week in march (he was only backed may and june last year). So he will be jumped if this is the case like 2 weeks before he turns 4. not sure if this is ok but cos it will be his first time wil only be tinsy. he did barely any cantering on the lunge last year and only went over a cavaletti once.
 
Yes i would!! i have a rising 4 year old which i have jumped twice under saddle. I have only jumped her around 1ft9 and at a trot on good ground but she seems to really enjoy it. There is no problem doing it as long as its in moderation. :)
 
Yeah, my 4 year old did little jumps every so often last year and even popped round the baby class at the riding club jumping nights. Courses around 2ft :)
 
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