When to start jumping?

[Walkn'HorseLuvr]

Hi,
I've been dying to learn jumping, so I was wandering, when do you start
jumping for the first time? Do you have to be exprienced at riding?

[vimto92]

Hrm... I suppose when your instructor thinks your ready first, and then if you think you are ready/want to. As they are two very different things - you know what the human mind is like, you might think your the best rider ever and not be... or you may be a lot better than you think but your riding instructor can see exactly how capable you are.

Usually you are comfortable in the saddle, and not at all nervous in the canter - can sit it fairly well and no toppling off issues in it unless extreme circumstances obv. :)

[kiwigirl]

I started going over caveletti at trot after 5 months of lessons - but wouldn't really call that jumping. But it is really good for learning balance and 2-point and jumping seat etc.

I am a year down the track with my riding and am now doing slightly higher jumps in the paddock but mainly at trot and the odd canter. My jumping at the 5 month period seemed to be a one off and have only really got back into it now. I still feel a little unsure if I am completly ready for it but it is helping my position, balance and control etc.

[ranee]

urm
when you are blananced in the saddle and can use aids properly
also when you can have a good canter perhaps even lenthening and shortening a little
but yer when you instructor tells you they will know when is best

[~*sugarlump*~]

when your RI thinks you are ready. not everybody wants to learn to jump, but one you start you usually fall in love :p
when i learnt to jump it was pretty soon after my first canters, maybe even abit before.
we did trotting poles and *tiny* jumps in trot, and then we built them up, to verticles and a few doubles, then gradually when i was abit more competant i started jumping in canter.

my jumping as really improved by just being on my boyfriend's horses, just messing around, jumping whatever, doing fans, spreads, fillers etc.
i've been jumping about 2 years now and havent really looked back

some people probabaly think that my RI was stupid for letting me jump when i hadn't even really learnt to canter, but i don't think anything of it.
my RI is a SJer so she will push us to be good jumpers, but she'll push us because she knows that we can do it.
your RI has to know how far you can go :)

[Walkn'HorseLuvr]

I don't have a RI, just asking since I'll be going (hoping anyway) to a Spring Riding Class-don't know what's entitled in that class though-so just wanted to see if we did jump.

[IrisSilverMoon]

I had this goofy idea before i started jumping that everyone should be riding for at least a year before they start to jump (thank you Saddle Club), but really i think my instructor didn't care when you started as long as you had a solid seat and could stop and steer at all three gaits.

another thing she required was that people take two lessons a week (one flat and one jump) she doesn't want you to get in the habit of riding around in two point all the time and bombing over fences without being able to control your horse.

[Belle Rider]

I don't have a RI, just asking since I'll be going (hoping anyway) to a Spring Riding Class-don't know what's entitled in that class though-so just wanted to see if we did jump.

Is it a one-off intensive class or a weekly thing starting in spring?

Also, have you any previous riding experience? This will certainly affect whether you'll be doing jumping or not - beginners definitely wouldn't be doing jumps at all until they've learnt the basics and have good balance in the saddle! :)

[jenmac_85]

I began training over jumps during lessons (exlcuding messing about on the XC-Course!!) when my RI felt that my canter and trot work was strong enough. More focus was put into the trot as she felt that unless I could control a trot there was no point in progressing to canter and jumping.

Can also depend on the horse. Tyler is great and jumping (if onyl he woudl pick up those feet!!) and loves it, but some horses on our yard arent too keen on it (sometimes wish Tyler was like that lol)

Jenny and Tyler
x

[titch_]

my very very 1st jump was my 2nd time on a horse, but since then after about 3/4 months i started jumping more

[Walkn'HorseLuvr]

Is it a one-off intensive class or a weekly thing starting in spring?

Also, have you any previous riding experience? This will certainly affect whether you'll be doing jumping or not - beginners definitely wouldn't be doing jumps at all until they've learnt the basics and have good balance in the saddle! :)

I think it's a one day Spring Riding Class. The way the instructor wrote, it sounds like one class.

I've ridden occasionally. I've been on a mtns. trail ride, and went to a daytime summer camp, i trotted for two hrs. every day of that summer camp and trotted over poles on the ground, with room in between them. Also, did trotting game that was similar to pole bending, except we used cones, and we just trotted, and trotted around barrels. It was a blast! Super FUN!

[Belle Rider]

That sounds like fun! So at least you've had some time working on your trot, maybe you'll get a chance to move on to cantering if you go to this spring class. Let us know how you get on - when is it? :)

[Walkn'HorseLuvr]

I found out it's actually spring riding lessons! It's $100 for appx. 10 lessons group/semi private. I sent in the form today, I really hope when the riding instructor gets it, there will be a spot for me. It's every Wed. night, she said what they do depends on what each group's experience is, beg. - adv. When It asked if I'd like to ride western or english, and I put english, I finally be able to ride english, at last! I keep forgetting to ask her when exactly in the spring are these lessons. There 45 mins. each, is that a good time for each lesson? I've never taken lessons before so I wouldn't really know.
I just emailed her to see if we'll get to tack up and untack the horses, I hope so, I couldn't do it bymyself last time, so this time, I want to try to do it without help, this time for sure! Plus, doing that helps with getting to know how the horse is on the ground and its manners in general.
Sry, for this being soo long. Tomorrow or the next day, I'll give an update. :D

[Belle Rider]

There 45 mins. each, is that a good time for each lesson? I've never taken lessons before so I wouldn't really know.


Normally group lessons are about an hour, but I get private lessons and they're 45mins. It sounds like you've got a really good price for your lessons too - 10 lessons for me would be £180, that's roughly $360!! :eek:

I hope you get to tack up and un-tack, it helps you get to know the horses and it's good if you ever get a horse of your own to know how to do it by yourself.

Keep us posted! :)

[Walkn'HorseLuvr]

I learned that we'll be tacking and untacking the horses ourselves, which also means we'll get to groom before tacking up, I love grooming I always seem to find a "feel good" spot! :D
I read that english horses are taller than western, is that gonna be a problem if you're short - 5ft? I hope they give me a tall horse, I love tall horses, I've never been on a tall horse before , so I want to.
They'll have step blocks but still I like to do it without the block to see if i can do it.
Also, I've never tacked up english before, only western.

[IrisSilverMoon]

$100 for 10 lessons is a really good deal, i pay $37 per lesson.

English horses aren't taller than western horses, who told you that?

I spent quite a bit of time on ponies when i was learning to ride english.

how tall a horse is usually has nothing to do with the type of riding, if its a good instructor she will find a horse to match your size, english tacking up is WAY easier than western, its just buckles and the saddle is nice and light. Just don't put it on backwards! i did that once and then i couldn't figure out why the girth didn't fit!

[Kate F.]

I read that english horses are taller than western

How do they work that out?:confused: Western or english is about the tack and what the horse is trained to do, nothing to do with size! :D There are everything from small ponies up to large horses in both disciplines.

I suppose it could mean in top competition in either style. I think top jumpers and dressage horses are probably bigger on average than top reining horses, for example - but that's just the body type most suitable to the job - not a general rule. Certainly in a riding school environment you'd expect to have all sizes available.:)

[gaz deluxe]

unfortunatley my yard dosnt cater for jumpig so i take my own horse to my friends yard and jump there lol (cheeky) , pesonaly as longs as u can canter i think u can jump, if your riding a school horse most probably he will jump without any aids any way so all u got to do is hold on!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vieshot]

When you are able to walk, trot and canter with balance and control is when you should first start building upto jumping-in my opinion. I hate seeing children on leadreins being put over a jump-jabbing theri ponies in the mouth!

[maestro_may]

:eek: it costs me around $609 for 10 lessons. I think only jump when your really ready... i mean really ready, theres nothing more scarey than being all prepared for your first jump and then getting it horribly wrong at the last minute due to nerves ect. Jumping is a big achievement, if you and the instructer think your ready then go for it! You'll fall in love with jumping :D

[Kate F.]

:eek: it costs me around $609 for 10 lessons. I think only jump when your really ready... i mean really ready, theres nothing more scarey than being all prepared for your first jump and then getting it horribly wrong at the last minute due to nerves ect. Jumping is a big achievement, if you and the instructer think your ready then go for it! You'll fall in love with jumping :D


Sorry - but why does it have to be a big deal? The rider should be able to walk, trot and canter - but that's all. Once that is in place, you first learn the light or jumping seat - then put out some poles and walk over them in light seat. Then trot over them. Then maybe canter over a pole. Then put the caveletti up one, or make a small cross pole - and walk and trot over until the rider is happy with the whole process. Then put it up a little more, so the horse pops over it - a jump is just a big canter stride - it's nothing that special or dramatic.

I get people working over and around poles from the beginning - they're great for developing focus and feel - as they are ready to go faster - the poles come too. Most of my students say they didn't even feel their first jump - it was just a big canter stride - and that's all a jump is! As they gain confidence, the fences can get bigger - but I think it's up to the instructor to make sure that it isn't a big deal and to start with, and to set it up to minimise the chances of anything going wrong. Build it up slowly and there's nothing for anyone to get nervous about. Don't tell anyone "today you'll do your first jump" - just let it happen when they are ready, and watch them glow aferwards! :)

[Spoof]

The rider should be able to walk, trot and canter - but that's all.

Don't forget steering! :p j/k

Like said above, it is when the individual feels comfortable at all speeds, in two-point, and is competent with a horse that you are ready to jump. I say competent as being able to ride and not cause the horse distress by unbalance/mouth pulling/gripping with the legs. It just takes a lot of practice.

Also, if something your RI has you do scares you say so right then! Work it out. You'll be that much better for it. :) Have fun!

[rashella]

Very much depends on the rider I would say. Unlike you, I never really wanted to try jumping (think I was too scared :)) and perhaps I thought my RS would let me know when I was ready. I'd been having lessons with them for about 8-9 months in my adult years (i'd ridden a little as a child) and they never mentioned anything about me moving up a group. I think it was laziness on their part to be honest, but then I never pushed for it to be fair.
I then started sharing my lovely 17.1hh Polish warmblood last April and (with the help from a lovely friend at the yard) started jumping logs when out on a hack on him after about 3 months. We've now managed a good 2 and a half foot and I really enjoy it.
I'd say, if you're ballanced, competant in all gaits and most importantly confident enough, I don't see why you couldn't give it a go. It doesn't work? You go back to what you were doing. Speak to your RI. My one tip, if you're going to do a jump, really go for it and commit to the jump.

Good luck anyway and have fun!! :D