Is he too old 2 jump??

[sazzle10]

Hey everyone,
I have a 16 year old horsey and i really want 2 jump on him. The thing is, im not sure whether he has jumped before and whether its too late to start, when i bought him he was advertised as 'ideal for hacking' do you think this means he isn't really a jumper? ( not litterally ;) ) Can anyone please help i would appreciate it!
Thanks alot,
Sazzler :) x x x x

[Jay.o]

16 shouldnt be too old.
it may be more work involved but if you work hard and he/she is willing to do the work i think that you should get along fine.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

if she has her heat into it, and you have a lot of jumping experiance getting her over jumps shouldn't be bad. we had a 25yr old morgan mare dong 2'6 cources until just this year (retierd and sold :()

[intouch]

If he was advertised as ideal for hacking, there may be a problem such as sacroiliac or joint problem which will show up if he is jumped. There's only one way to find out, though - give it a go, start gently, and if anything starts to go wrong, back off. On the other hand, I was treating a 29 yo pony the other day and got a message saying my treatment worked - he went round the XC course on saturday and got a clear!

[Showjumper]

Can you contact the old owners and just ask? Surely that would be the easiest option? Or just ride him towards a jump and see what happens - have fun! ;)

[lamprellsarah]

i have a 22 year old, that hadn't jumped properly in 10 years, and with a bit of practise, suppling, and her loving it, she is now up to do 3 ft cross country courses!!!
and well show jumping is lower than that but well she loves it, she thinks eveyrthing esle is a bit of a bore!!!!

[Cowgirl503]

Is your horse and good shape? I fyes I think so. My 20 year old jumps and she's in good shape she jumps really well to.

[liz--y]

16yrs isnt to old to jump, so long as he is fit and healty i expect he has done some in his life,
shart off with just working him over poles then progress to small fences

[anuvb]

As it has already been said - if it was sold as hacking horse, then there maybe a physical reason why it can't jump. Most people will usually tell you whether it can jump or not when they sell as this will increase the value of the horse. Most horses sold as hacking horses are just that - suitable for light hacking only and are usually significantly cheaper as the market generally asks for horse with more ability/level of fitness.

I would get this checked out before you try even small jumps - you may end up causing the horse some serious damage otherwise. Try ringing the previous owners or get the vet out.

Otherwise, if it is fit then 16 is not too old to learn. I've taught 20 year olds how to do small courses before.

[LouiseS]

Hi

I jump my 18 year old on fun rides and the like and he does this quite happily but saying that, e is a chunky chap, so I avoid excess wear and tear where possible - ie wouldn't jump down hill (hard going on his knees) or try and do twisty turny showjumping type courses.

If you can I would ask his previous owner about his ability. I agree partly with anuvb is as much that I wouldn't expect a horse sold as suitable for 'light hacking' to be able to do much more than short slow rides but on the other hand if a horse was sold as 'ideal for hacking' I would expect it to be able to pop over small jumps - logs etc and by extension I would expect it to be able to jump quite a few of the obstacles on an average fun ride. I wouldn't expect it to compete though (in any discipline)

I didn't know whether my horse wuold jump when I got him so started off trotting over poles and then progressing on to a jump and it soon became obvious he had jumped in the past and aproached with very pricked ears -so good luck you won't know until you try - but please go gently!

Louise

[FreedomStar]

age 16 isn't all that old, the horse I usually ride is a morgan gelding, chestnut, and he's almost twenty and he still jumps fantastically.

[Shady_Indigo]

I used to ride a 28 year old pony around 3foot courses, he was fab and as fast as lightening for such a little fella! (12hh.) He really enjoyed it too, jumping was what he lived for :)

[LindaAd]

16 isn't old at all - I saw a 19 year-old go clear round Badminton this summer... but I agree with the people who said you should certainly check with the old owner first: from what you quote of the advertisement, it looks as if there is some reason why the horse shouldn't jump - maybe physical, maybe behavioural.
If you can't do that, well just try it very carefully, starting with trotting poles and building up very very gradually.

Good luck!

[sarahh]

my daughter has started jumping on a very old (30ish) pony whose favourite pastimes are jumping and cantering (so lots of children get their first strides of canter with her inadvertently!) she is not doing big jumps, highest about 12 inches but the pony loves it and hares round.

start with very low jumps and see how you go, age isn't necessarily a barrier, its more how the horse feels. at my stables there is a v old (30ish) dressage horse who exasperates the instructors because he prances about like a skitty youngester, talk about full of beans.