Would you jump him?

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Halfstep

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May I seek some advice from you kind people? Ok, my 8 yr old gelding Oskar is a dressage diva, and has a veterinary history the length of a Russian novel. His major injuries that required surgery include a fractured front splint bone and a smashed bone in his hock. Now, two years down the line, he is sound and working nicely towards PSG dressage.

However, he LOVES to jump. Absolutely adores it. His dam was a showjumper (by Ladykiller), and although he is by a pure dressage stallion and has jumped rarely in his life, he literally lights up when he sees a jump. He has a lovely technique and doesn't pull or tank into his jumps. Before his injuries I used to do some gridwork and gymnastic jumping up to around 1.05m which he thought was the best thing ever. He hasn't jumped more than a cross pole in around 2 years.

Soooo, the other day there were a few jumps in the school, including a spread with a filler. He's never jumped a filler before and I was in my dressage saddle and double bridle but I let him canter towards it and he didn't even think, just jumped with ease. i'm starting to think maybe I should start doing some more. But - will it put too much strain on his hock and landing on the front legs, would that maybe effect the healed splint bone fracture? Arrgghh! At the end of the day his job is dressage. Oh and I don't have a jumping saddle.......:rolleyes::eek::confused: what would you lot advise?
 
My boy (who is now 25yo) fractured his splint bone at 7 years old he then went on to compete up to 1.20m level (he was only 15hh) and never had a problem with it and retired a few years ago to my field !!

Did he have the splint bone removed - this bone does nothing so shouldnt effect anything x

and the Hock im guessing as not as your going to jump courses of 1.30m plus i wouldnt worry !!
 
Jump him! If he has been given the all clear to be a "normal" horse again after his injuries, I would. Over smaller fences, it won't be an issue, and you will always be jumping on a surface I am guessing? The other thing is it can actually improve their chances of staying sound by giving their body an all over work out when combined with dr training, so making them even stronger and more supple... ;) in theory!
 
arrrr let him play!!!!! if he's strong enough to take strains of working at psg then surely he's allowed a little play on a nice surface....
can imagine his grin :-)
 
Thanks for the encouragement! And especially that about your horse with the splint fracture who had a full jumping career. I suppose I'm being a bit of a wimp. I mean he does canter pirouettes, which probably put far more strain on his joints than jumping a 1.05 grid LOL! :rolleyes:.

Ok, anyone recommend a good cheaper jumping saddle - his dressage saddle is a Ideal Susannah. He's a narrow/medium but with big warmblood shoulders and a very short powerful back. Not sure something too close contact would suit him. (I don't know why I'm even asking this I can't afford a saddle now, but maybe for my birthday ;) )
 
My horse has had DJD and a slab fracture in her hock and she has since been jumping for 2 and a half years, done BE and PC and jumped most weeks about 1m 5 and occasionally a bit bigger. Touch wood she hasn't had a lame day since :). So yeah I'd go for it too!
 
Yep I second that I just jump mine in a Bates GP which is very similar to the Wintec but if you really want leather, the Bates GPs are on offer on Equestrian Clearance :).
 
yea i would jump 2 :) mine has a splint on both front legs (he wanted to even himself out you see ;) ) and a chipped navicular bone on his front and we've just started jumping 90s again :)
 
I'm allergic to GP saddles!!!! :eek:. Can't ride in 'em at all. A bates caprilli might well do the trick though.....will have a look see on ebay! :D Unaffiliated 90cm here we come.....

Ok, I last show jumped in 1996! yes I know. Back then leather sheepskin lined tendon and fetlock boots were the in thing. I've still got mine! Do people still use them? And will I look like a knob end jumping in a drop noseband?
 
Jump him. :D As you know I am very paranoid these days, but when I asked my vet (who is a very very good vet) he laughed and said anything up to 1m 10 doesn't put any more strain on them than a normal canter stride.
 
Yes he should be fine to jump. As you say he works hard doing dressage anyway and can stand up to that. Bear in mind that injured bone if allowed to heal correctly will heal stronger than it was originally so there should be no reason for the same injuries to re-occur.
 
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