Advice on Jumping wanted

[Pebblestone]

Although I've been riding since I was three, i've never jumped. I want to start now. The problem is I don't have an instructer and I'm not sure wether Bree has ever jumped before. Niether does his owner. I want to start him on trotting poles but I heard it's not advisable since I don't knoe how to jump myself. Any advice?

[Willem vd Mescht]

When it comes to jumping I have very little experience and knowledge. I know it can get very technical, the horse must get his steps in before the jump, you must sit correct and who knows what else, so if you want to go to shows, you probably shouldn't listen to me. However I think I can make a little contribution that you or someone else might find useful.

Once upon a time there was a young girl who liked to jump her horse, however, this horse kept on refusing jumps, refusing probably about 4 out of 5 jumps. Later on I had a chance to ride the same horse. I decided I also wanted to try jumping with him. Set up a jump, he refused. I lowered the jump, he refused, lowered it again, he refused again, put the pole flat on the ground, he still refused. So this is what I did.

I left the pole flat on the ground. Worked him for 10 or 15 minutes at a trot and canter then took him to the jump (pole flat on the ground), just made him walk over the pole and let him rest on the other side. Trotted and a bit of canter round a few times and walk over the pole. When he started to realize that walking over the pole will result in a rest, I started setting up the jump. By the end on the session, I had him jumping one foot with no hesitation.

I'm doing the same with Frosty and she never jumped before I had her. I broke her in myself. And she is absolutely so keen on jumping. If I'm not paying attention, not steering, she will by herself head for the jump and hop over. I don't go higher that 2 feet, I just do it for fun.

So my suggestion would be to place a pole on the ground between the posts or tyres or what ever you would use to set up the jump and just work your horse a bit and then let him go over the pole and rest. Horses can jump naturally and if you give your horse a reason to jump (the rest) he'll do it. Just take it slow and keep the jumps low in the beginning. As mentioned, they also need to learn to get their footing right before the jump and in the beginning, with incorrect foot placing he could make a huge leap over a very small jump, so be careful. I don't really know how to teach a horse to pace themselves correctly before the jump, other than just letting them figure it out by themselves.

My point I want to make is give your horse a break after the jump and he'll get to enjoy it. Hope that will help someone out there.

[Pebblestone]

I don't want to jump in shows, only for fun at home. Thanks for the advice. One thing, does the jumps have to be placed a certain lenghth or can I just put it anywhere at any angle (i've read something like that, i'm not sure)

[Presence]

I wouldn't really jump if you don't have any one helping you, but if you want to, get a friend to help you who has jumped before!

Start with trotting poles. It's easier for a horse and rider to get their strides right when you trot, it's harder to get the right length of stride when cantering.

Do you know what the light seat is? Lift your bum, heels down, lean forward abit and give your hands. Do that over the trotting poles until you feel your horse is comfortable and so are you and you both have enought balance.

You can then raise the jump a little, sometimes horses will jump it or trot it, if he trots it you can raise the jump a bit more. Still jump using the light seat, if you feel unbalanced grab the mane.

Oh and look over the jump not at the jump when you aproach. I try to look at something straight ahead!

Let me know how it goes!!

[Kelly Fick]

I know loads about jumping! If your horse has never jumped start by leading him over a jump, the last thing you want is him leaping over a pole when you have never jumped. If he is unsure or leaping over the pole go over it again and again until he is feeling safe. In the end he should just be walking over it calmly. Now it is time to trot him over it. Once again get him trotting on the LEAD, it is hard work but definately worth it. Once he is calmly trotting over the pole you place another one about 1.2m distance from the first. Once your horse has done the two at a walk, proceed to do it at a trot. Continue placing more poles on the ground, until you have 4 poles in a row, walk over them then trot, now it is time to raise the last pole. Make it about 20-30cm high walk over it then trot. It doesn't matter if the pole comes down, just give him a pat or a treat. Just remember this is all on the lead. Once your horse is doing the 3 trotting poles and jump you can take the 3 trotting poles away as they were guides to show him where to place his feet and how he must judge the distances. Every time he does the jump, whether he knocks it or not give him a pat or treat. He now knows what a 20-30cm jump is! So tack up and climb on. Start by walking him over 3 trotting poles, them 4. Then trot over the 4 poles, raise the last pole, walk over the trotting poles and jump. Then trot over them. Now take the poles away and jump your 20-30cm jump. Now before you jump anything you need to learn how to sit a jump. The lower your centre of gravity the less likely you are to fall. Dont stand up or take you but out the saddle just 'fold' all you do is lean forward. Dont ly on your horses neck just jean forward look between your horses ears and smile and breath. It is essential to put your hands at least half way up your horses neck. Mouths are sensitive and catching a horse in the mouth once will hurt and he will see a jump and think about what happened to him the last time, he got hurt so he will either stop at the jump or duck out to one side. I will get some pictures to show you about the position. Once you have mastered your jumping position you can in up to 40cm but until you have a good seat and position dont go higher than 30cm max. And remember where you look is where you go, he you look down, you go, which is a bad thing. if you look forward then that is where you and your horse will go which is a good thing i hope my info is helpful even though your post is a year old          

[Willem vd Mescht]

Hello Kelly,

Was about to say welcome to the forum, but I see you've been around for a while.

As I said I don't know much about jumping, so don't shoot me, but I always thought, don't know where I got it, that the jumping position you lean forward and lift your bum a bit and sort of balance yourself on your knees. Never did that cause it didn't make sense too me. Your explanation sounds more logical. Thanks for that. Not sure if Pebble is still around, been quiet here lately.

[Kelly Fick]

Lol. Almost forgot about aalwyne good thing i didn't.

Lots of people make the mistake of telling you to lift your but out of the saddle but i find that often with beginners they find it rather difficult to lift out of the saddle and tend to get too far forward and start holding on to the reins for dear life or support or they get left behind and hang onto the horses mouth to stay on. This even happens to top riders, forceing them to adjust thier position. personally i jump 3ft by just leaning forward with my hands half way up the neck. You are 'closer' to the horse thus if you are jumping and the horse decides you can go over the jump yourself and he will watch as you make a stunning jump and land on your but (lol) you are less likely to go flying over the jump without your horse as you two are more like 'one', know what i mean? Often one will tell you to go into light seat before the jump, which is fine until you get upto 40cm as your young horse will try his luck or test you and if you are leaning forward out of the seat it could result in you falling off many different ways.... It is best to stay in your normal deep seat and breathe right up until your horses front feet take off, you them fold as he tiles off.  You have to think of jumping as if you were getting into a empty row boat, you cant just climb in any way, you have to have a rather low centre of gravity or else...Lol, i suppose you know by now, you gonna fall off. Also, your legs must stay by the girth, they must not sway from front to back, you dont wanna grip with your legs coz your horse will get the aid to go faster, you just want to put most of your weight in your ankles, forceing your heels down and helping you stay in the saddle. Putting your weight in your toes will only launch you out of the saddle and your toes will start to point down, wen toes are down, your balance is reduced by 50%, toes up/heels down, your balance will be waaay better.    There are so many other things, i could carry on until christmas! So if there is anything you need or want to know, just ask me not only jumping. dressage, schooling, grids and any english disciplin

[Willem vd Mescht]

Sound as if you really know what you doing and willing to help people. I do have an English related question I'd like to ask you, but I'll start a new thread for that later today. It is one of those short and simple questions that need a really long answer, so I'm going to ask if you could recommend any books for that as well.

If I'm reading your reply correctly, it sound to me if it is a classic case of eventually if you going to jump those really high jumps like at Olympic level, you going to need to lift your seat slightly, but now every one want to enforce that even on a beginner level. Seen that with many things, kind of wanting to fly before you can crawl. Right?

As for forgetting about the aalwyne forum. I know it can become very boring visiting the forum every day and finding no one been around, but just a reminder about the notify button, you can set a notify on each board index that you might be interested in and you'll get an email when someone post something new.

[Pebblestone]

Hey Kelly, thanks for the advice, but if you've read my thread in the General Discussion, you will know that both Bree and Dynamite have been sold .

Not sure if Pebble is still around, been quiet here lately.

I know, i haven't been here for a while . 'Was kind off busy.