Jumping (For greenies)

Hello, my equine buddies :)

So, recently, one of my friends have been trying to bring her 4 year old onto jumping and I just thought since I did this with Blue that I would do a post saying what I did with him and what I think works for bringing a horse on.

(Warning: This is based on by past experience, not a professional opinion. Also, the height ratio should be altered depending on the size of the horse/pony)

Okay, I'm not sure where to start but I guess you want to make sure that you are in an area which you and the pony are comfortable in and have lots of space around the jump. Make sure to be happy trotting and cantering over poles and they aren't offended by anything surrounding them. Such as jump stands!

So I would suggest starting off with just the one pole on the ground with jump stands either side to get your horse used to the set up. Now its likely, if they are green, to be quite spooky around this foreign object (if you can turn your pony out with the jump in their paddock, or in the arena, do, just so they are used to the sight of it) remember to reassure your horse and reward it when it over come its fears. Even though I say that, don't pussyfoot around too much. Give them the support they need but make sure you are still in charge and that you still expect them to do as you say. Ensure that you go over the pole at speed, defo a trot, obviously a green horse isn't going to canter over it instantly but make sure they can before putting the rail up.

Okay, once you have your horse going over the pole in a canter, well. You should now bring the pole up a little, only a little to lift the pole a few inches of the ground. This introduces the idea of the pole being higher than the ground and the horse is going to have to put effort in to get over it. Again make sure you are going at it straight and that your horse is happy. Now, obviously you are going to knock it and don't get disheartened. Keep at  it until you feel, both you and the horse completely get it. (AGAIN you are still going to knock a rail from time to time, you don't have to continuously get it right before moving up a notch)

Okay, this is where things get interesting and a little more complicated. I'm going to try and spell it out in two options.

Option 1:
If you are super confident, are bringing a horse back into work or teaching an experienced horse to jump you can try this.
After your horse has got the gist of the jump scenario and the pole off the ground I would bring it up around half a foot off the ground.
This gives a defined message that your horse needs to actually jump and can't just trot over it. From then onward I would go up at what ever pace you like, I find this good, go up 1/2 foot then, then 1/5 foot and then 1/8 foot onward.

Option 2:

Gradually build the jump up as slow as you like, you could go a cm at a time. (You may want someone there to put the jump up, its seriously ridiculous to have to get off and on every 5 seconds). I did this with Blue when I had just got him, I was 13 at the time and was very nervous so the caution was more to settle my nerves rather than Blues. I'm not sure exactly how gradual I did it, I did quite a few cross poles to get up to an okay height.


Once you have got to this stage you are pretty much good to go. Just a final thing.
Vary, the jumps you jump, don't just stick with one for the entire learning experience, for 1 you are going to pick up bad habits, 2 you will end up with a preferred leg and 3 your horse will not understand a course of jumps with turns and bends. I say that, don't go jumping 10 jump courses when you are learning, when you are up to just less than a foot I would suggest a couple of jumps, never one directly after another.

Now, on a similar note, vary what kind of jump you are jumping, vary between cross pole and straight pole and double pole. I understand you may have a preference and feel more comfortable to jump a certain type, that is fine to jump when you are going up a notch, but make sure you can jump a straight of similar height as well. A cross pole is great for alignment and I would suggest using them regularly while learning but don't overuse them as your horse has to learn to curve on a jump as well. If you have a dodger (you can guess what that is) I would suggest putting poles at the ground on the sides of the jump, you can actually place them on the the rail itself but I would really only do that for alignment. If you need help with your pacing and strides, you could try putting a placing pole in front of the jump, either when you are to break into canter or when your last stride starts, this gives you good perspective of how long your horses stride is.







I think that is all it, ooft! I hope so at least. Okay. That was a very long ramble. I wish you the best with your jumping etc. Remember safety, is the upmost importance, so hats on and preferably body protectors on and have fun! Byeeee! xx