Your Top Training Tips if you please! For a 5yr old learning to jump.

[Jellymoon]

As title really! Little 148 connie, coming 5 this year. He was backed at 3, turned away, hacking and light schooling baby jumps last yr when 4, turned away again for a short break, then done a bit of light hunting so far this year, which he loved.

No particular issues but I’m starting to do a bit more in the arena with him and finding him quite backwards, which means we are either a bit off or a bit deep…

He’s for a kid to ride eventually who will want to do WHPs with him, so he needs to be forward going and jump out of a good strong canter. I’m feeling it out hunting and xc, but not in the arena.

 

[LEC]

I would say if struggling in an arena but not in open space then the canter needs developing more. It will be a combination of strength and the canter. Firstly I would start making sure the forwards is strictly maintained and the rider is disciplined in this.

In your boat I would be:
Jumps in the corner - start with canter poles then turn into Pole, jump, pole, jump. So they have to develop the canter, footwork and strength.
Grids - bounce, to upright 2 strides to oxer. Or bounce 2 strides to oxer 2 strides to bounce.
Cavaletti - built 4 strides - 3 in a row and playing with the gears and strides. Also 3 on the centre line so can do circles etc. 4 on a circle to play with striding and balance.

Two schooling whips can be really helpful to back up the leg aids if really struggling with forwards and easier to jump with to teach them to maintain the canter rather than dropping off.

 

[McGrools]

I like putting a small jump at e and b on the track and getting them really forward in the canter doing laps of the school. As if loose schooling. Also having lead from another horse doing this exercise. X

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

Pole work and gridwork - it will teach him where he needs to put his feet.

 

[Jellymoon]

Thank you so much, will get on the case!