At what age should a youngster be introduced to jumping?

[*katie*]

I'd always thought it was 5, possibly older for breeds who mature a bit later - i personally wouldnt jump a 4yo. But i've seen a vid of someone jumping their horse at 4yrs 1month old over about 90cm and no one seemed at all concerned about joints, balance (horse didn't seem to 'get' canter leads) or anything! I wouldn't like to see it done - I would be more inclined to start backing at that age, not jumping! Am i being oversensitive, though :confused:? it seems lots of people jump younger horses without others seeing it as a problem - but that doesn't mean it's right i know! (and if anyone can point me in the direction of some kind of medical/veterinary journal that can give me a bit of scientific info on the subject i'd love to see that, too :).)
(I hope this doesn't start an argument :o it seems that all i ever hear on the subject is opinions and i'd like to know facts - this is all in the name of my curiosity and interest in the equine body and bone structure!)

[Chestnutter]

I'm with you! i thought it should be about 5 years old. There's a girl on our yard who's self-schooling a 3 year old and is regularly jumping him. He's a cobby type and it doesn't seem to be bothering him, but I cringe when I see it for his young bones.

[Iron Maiden]

I don't see a problem with introducing a horse to some gentle jumping at 4, mentally horses of that age can be quite intrepid & open to doing new things so taking advantage of this & getting a horse used to popping a small fence if asked can be very useful. That said, there are a lot of 4yos out there doing far too much jumping IMO. When I was looking for a youngster I saw lots of 4yos who were apparently jumping 1m plus under saddle but that put me off because I though that could cause physical problems later on. Mrs P was 4 when I bought her, she had loose jumped about 3 foot and done crosspoles under saddle, which I thought was OK - she was about the most lightly jumped 4yo sports horse I saw when I was shopping, which is one of the reasons I bought her.

[Sticky's GF]

Jez started jumping lessons when he was 4.5. He did continue to grow a bit after that and even looking at him now he is going to fill out and he will be 8 in a few months!!! I think this was a good age for him - and i got him out and about prior to his 5th birthday, but I didn't jump huge jumps/hammer around on hard ground, just gave him something to think about.

[x.fat-pony.x]

(and if anyone can point me in the direction of some kind of medical/veterinary journal that can give me a bit of scientific info on the subject i'd love to see that, too :).)

I know a website specifically about it....gimme a min to wade through my bookmarks!!

[x.fat-pony.x]

Bingo! Just scroll down for a mass of skeletal information etc :)

http://www.equinestudies.org/knowledge_base/ranger.html

[*katie*]

Thanks FP :D!

[~*sugarlump*~]

it should be 5, but like racing etc some riders and trainers want to get the most out of their horses ASAP and its not uncommon to see 4 year olds jumping. there are plenty of 5 year old classes in bsja

[horseygal90]

Gentle jumping once in a blue moon before 5 isn't going to do a great deal of harm if the jumps aren't massive, and can add variety into their workload. Free schooling over jumps just before/after four is a great way of seeing what potential they have and how their balance is coming along. I personally wouldn't be doing complicated stuff - Like grids, bounces or anything over about 2ft 6 before 5.5, get a solid flat work base and it'll be easier anyway.

[RobaDob]

Bingo! Just scroll down for a mass of skeletal information etc :)

http://www.equinestudies.org/knowledge_base/ranger.html

Thats really useful and really detailed. Thanks for that FP! :D

5yo is the age that most horses I know/and have ridden, been jumping but only over something like 2ft. Nothing more IMHO.
I got Robbie into jumping when he was coming into his 5th birthday (more or less 3 weeks before) so that isn't going to do much to his joints etc etc, as he is thick boned (something around the 4-5" mark), and plus I haven't done alot with him, the most is doubles and doing a course of 8 fences.

Alot of youngsters I know have just turned 5 and are jumping 90cm fences. Tbh, it depends on their bone and how much they are doing.

[JamesJackson]

I jump mine (3yo) on the lunge, maybe one session (session = cross pole, then upright, then upright spread, maybe 2 jumps of each) a month. Up to 3' in height and width. He's perfectly happy trotting in and popping over. Also occasionally jumps similar with me on board to keep it in his mind that he can. It's just a confidence thing.

I see no problem in this, how should one prepare a horse for 4yo Young Event horse classes (which have 90cm = 3' jumping) if you only start jumping at 5.5? It's all about the manner in which you do it...

[Sarah-Lou :)]

A stupid girl on my course whos horse only has just turned 4, has been jumping it in unaffiliated competitions since it was 3 (lying about it's age) and regularly jumps it over 1 metre at home.
She's now selling it & i think she's realised that it's joints will be no good within a couple of years so doesn't want the hassle of having to sort it out tbh.


SL x

[fluffy_betty]

My mare was jumping 3' upwards at 4 years old, by the age of 8 she was about to be PTS with bone spavin.

Not worth it.

[iloveshearer]

I think the odd small jump to vary the work they're doing at 4 is often a good idea, it keeps them keen and interested if they're doing something different. I don't think they should be jumping decent sized fences or jumping often until they are slightly older though.

[horse__obsessed]

BSJA run classes for 4yros they are limitied to 1m and not allowed to jump off. However these classes are designed for horses aiming for the top and I think professionals often push horses a bit harder than people who bring them on just for pleasure.

I would personally wait until horses are at least 4 and a half before jumping but I disagree with the whole concept of backing horses at 2.5 then turning them away for a year then bringing them on at 3.5

[JamesJackson]

I disagree with the whole concept of backing horses at 2.5 then turning them away for a year then bringing them on at 3.5

In what way do you disagree with this?

[xloopylozzax]

In what way do you disagree with this?

i disagree with it too- ours are started at 4 at the very earliest (not even heavy, the mere basics)then chucked away to mature until 5 then they are started properly building up incredibly slowly.

they have no joint or tendon problems (touch wood) dont throw up splints, bone spavins or capped hocks etc and dont need supplements to keep them supple.

when they are fit and mature in both body and mind they are worked hard (hard fast hacking for many miles, difficult schooling)

they are fit but with condition (for showing because thats what we aim to do) so we cant afford for the to be young, fit and with condition because it is too much stress on them.

we have had horses that were broken in their teens (the age we bought them) and our most recent was 8 when he was broken (stallion at stud and shown inhand mainly before that) then my mum had a bad accident so he was left again then started at 9/10- he is 11 now and can step over most youngsters and 11 year olds because he isnt sour, he is fit, healthy, happy, content and really enjoys his work because he had the chance to mature and be a horse.

patience is needed to suceed with anything, and horses are no exception.
i expect Hal will be working well into his 20's and 30's because he wont suffer from the more common work related ailments.

[Sexy Sietske]

Introducing jumping at 4 years old can benifit in some in that the horse learns more balance and control to get over the jump but I wouldnt be competing until 5/6 at small/local events and not doing anything serious until 8 years depending on the horse.

[JamesJackson]

Considering the person who has taught me to break in horses has had hers working well into their older age, and has had a number go on to Badminton etc I rather trust the methods and timescales.

Time is indeed a big factor, which is why mine is currently having a few months off to be bought back into work towards the end of the summer. What is bad are blanket statements. Intense competition at 4 is bad, schooling for some small classes isn't. BE allow horses to run at 5 - is this too early? You decide...

Suppleness comes from good riding initially. Of course, hammering a horse into the ground will screw them up but people seem to be equating gently bringing on a 3/4 yo with stressing them physically. Would I take mine hunting? No. Would I jump them once a month? Yes. The ideal of correct schooling is to bring on a horse to reveal its inner beauty and talent in a sustainable manner - I believe how I approach things achieves this.

Splints etc: Horses get these running about in fields anyway - mine has a splint on one of his forelegs, from when he was a youngster pratting about in the fields. Has never had one, or any such problems, since being in work.

[horsesforever]

Mine is 5, rising 6 and started trotting poles, baby cross poles (really tiny) and some little logs etc out hacking this year.

[Mareish]

Splints etc: Horses get these running about in fields anyway - mine has a splint on one of his forelegs, from when he was a youngster pratting about in the fields. Has never had one, or any such problems, since being in work.

Mine too, from before I even started her off, in fact most of her injuries have been field related.

As long as youngsters on not worked hard, and on hard ground or for too long I see no reason why they cannot be started as early as 2.5 for the bigger stronger breeds.

Lily was started in hand at 2.5 and I was in the saddle for short periods by 3 and it did her no harm

[gordysgirl]

I do think nowadays people seem very keen to back horses really early. I am a firm believer in educating a horse from the start but I wouldn't consider backing until v late 3's, early 4's. I don't think I would be jumping until 5 but then any horse I had wouldn't be destined for a life long ambitious career in jumping so I guess to some people it is different.
I am assuming that classes such as 4 & 5yr old classes hopefully wouldn't be allowed if such a degree of damage would be expected on young horses.

[skips and soda]

I bought Soda as a just backed just 4 year old and he was jumping about 2ft when I bought him. He wasn't very balanced though so we backed off with that and just worked on his flat work. Once he was a lot more balanced and secure we started to do poles and little cross poles. Then I started asking more when he was just over 4 and a half. (Well, I say a bit more, a max. of 2 ft 6 in a single fence). :)

The biggest he has jumped is about 3ft3 wall out hunting, I wouldn't have done it but we didn't really have a choice and he tore off towards it before I'd had much of a chance to get my bearings, so I just decided to sit back and kick rather than pulling him out and frightening him. He flew it and loved it! :D He was just turned 5 then.

I really don't see a problem with jumping a horse before 5 as long as you're sensible and don't shove them round huge courses and only jump sparingly and it is all about building confidence and and experience. Soda is very mature physically for his age, so I feel he is strong enough and always has been to pop the odd little fence with me, and he loves it. :) It's not like I'm really heavy on him. He jumps twice a month if he's lucky, and he loves every minute of it. :)

[padiwak]

Considering the person who has taught me to break in horses has had hers working well into their older age, and has had a number go on to Badminton etc I rather trust the methods and timescales.

Time is indeed a big factor, which is why mine is currently having a few months off to be bought back into work towards the end of the summer. What is bad are blanket statements. Intense competition at 4 is bad, schooling for some small classes isn't. BE allow horses to run at 5 - is this too early? You decide...

Suppleness comes from good riding initially. Of course, hammering a horse into the ground will screw them up but people seem to be equating gently bringing on a 3/4 yo with stressing them physically. Would I take mine hunting? No. Would I jump them once a month? Yes. The ideal of correct schooling is to bring on a horse to reveal its inner beauty and talent in a sustainable manner - I believe how I approach things achieves this.

Splints etc: Horses get these running about in fields anyway - mine has a splint on one of his forelegs, from when he was a youngster pratting about in the fields. Has never had one, or any such problems, since being in work.

Would have to agree with a lot of this. In Ireland we tend to back horses at the end of their third year and then turn them away until the following spring or early summer and this has never done any harm on our farm. As long as a horse is brought on in its own time and not subjected to stresses beyond its limits then I see no problem with starting them young. The yearly Elite sales in Cavan attracts international buyers from top yards who buy 3YO which compete in loose jumping competitions. Sale is on in August and well worth seeing.

As regards jumping. 4YO classes at 1m are in my opinion fine as long as horse is not over jumped and is strong enough. Jumping at 3YO under saddle I would be very much against.

[STEFF79]

Can I point out in BSJA young horse style & preformance championship at..

4 yrs = 1.00m (3ft 3) ~ 1.05 max spread of 1.15m

5 yrs = 1.10m (3ft 6) ~ last two fences max of 1.20m
max spread of 1.20m

6 yrs = 1.25m ~1.30m max spread of 1.35m

7 yrs = 1.35m ~ 1 vertical 1.40 and 1 parallel 1.40 max spread 1.45m

These heights are for the first round!!

Although at smaller BSJA shows they tend to be smaller, at Bicton 5 yr olds were jumping 1.00m and 6 yr olds were jumping 1.10m..

My sister is hoping to get her 4 yr old ready for style and preformance which hopefully shouldn't be a problem for shirley as she is from good showjumping lines.. her dad is Unbelievable Darco and her mum is a grade A she has not been rushed and is coming on well is now balanced in canter and jumping 80cm course's and clear rounds at affiliated shows.
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