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Post by yooperbug on Aug 7, 2009 0:13:13 GMT -5
Hey all I was just wondering what you all thought about a three year old being started lightly over jumps?
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Dawn
Bronze Member
Posts: 186
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Post by Dawn on Aug 7, 2009 9:22:01 GMT -5
While I know some folks do I sure wouldn't . When we have a young horse we look at it that we are training/setting that horse up for a lifelong career. In that career we want a sound, healthy animal for a very long time (with us or a new owner).
And part of that means we don't "sweat the small stuff" at a younger age. We choose not to push them in their first 3-5 years so that we will have a good horse for the next 20 yrs. Now this is in all aspects of their training we don't push the strenuous stuff at that age.
To me this would include jumping. Now I know you said lightly but 3 is very very young. I would work groundpoles into the horses routine of course and if you really feel you need to jump somthing maybe a low crosspole once during a lesson but that would be it for at least another year.
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Post by renegadespiritcat on Aug 7, 2009 10:24:20 GMT -5
Depends on not only the breed but the individual animal.
Not all animals grow at the same rate.
It also depends a great deal upon the size and weight of the rider, the experience and ability of the rider to balance and remain light in the saddle, also the terrain and footing the animal is being jumped on factors in. And there is of course the height of the obstical being jumped to also take into consideration.
I have known a few people to jump a young horse (Sans Rider) on a lunge line or free jumping when the animal is being evaluated for sale / purchase. BUT it is only to judge their drive, desire and ability (natural form) not to push them to extremes or ask them to carry a rider at a young age when their joints and such are not yet completely knit.
Lots of factors / facts to consider in this no one answer will fit every situation regarding jumping a younger horse.
~Cat~
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