How high is too high?

[SpringySpring]

I share a lovely 15.1hh mare. She is 22 but still very healthy. I jump her occasionally and was wondering what height is the maximum she should be jumping at her age? Maximum I have done at the moment is just under 2ft 9. Do you think I should go any higher, she felt fine doing 2ft9, but I dont want to push it.

Thanks:)

[whatever]

Height isn't the real problem. The surface you are jumping on is the key. Hard ground then keep it low, a good modern surface you could go much higher.

[SpringySpring]

It a new school, and has a fantastic rubber surface

[eventerbabe]

really depends on the horse. In my youth, i had a pony who was 25+, history of laminitis but recovered and fit and well. we were out jumping most weekends. Usually just novice (2ft6-2ft9). Anything higher (or anymore than 1 jumping class at a show) and my dear pony would start applying the handbrake :rolleyes::D if your horse isn't happy, she'll tell you :)

[SpringySpring]

In her youth she used to jump over 4ft, but there is no way I would even try that now.

She seems to enjoy her jumping, never refuses/ runs out, ears forward.
I might try and free school her over a bit bigger just to see how she goes, that way she can stop if she decides its too big and there is no danger of me falling off :p

Thanks for the answers:)

[Jessica23]

You will know when she is struggling, then you just have to be sensible and bring her back down to what she is comfortable with.

When i was younger i had an ex-international jumping pony (only 138cms but they jump them VERY high!!) who was 27. She had navicular and arthritis which was perfectly managable and she was always sound. We used to jump her most weekends up to about 3'6 which was tiny for her :p Like someone said before, the ground is more of a worry, we never even attempted jumping her even over the tiny fences on hard ground, or very wet of course. I'd rather miss a show than risk hurting the horse!! So if you are sensible she should be fine jumping about 3ft or more im sure, just dont push her :)

[Jade_R]

I know a 28 year old 12.2 that schools over 4ft at home :) It's like asking how long is a peice of string - each horse is different, some retire at 20, some at 30. If the surface is good then I can't see a problem with going over 4ft if your horse is fit and willing. He'll tell you when it becomes too much!

[beanz's mum]

beanz is heading towards the 20 mark and i jumped him on saturday at 3ft6 :)

hes 13.2 and im 5"7 so i dont see any problem :)

[coss]

she will let you know if she's not up to it. a horse with a previous history of jumping fairly big knows the "job" so i often think they are less likely to refuse. my horse is not good at jumping at all and i managed to get her up to 2ft 8/9, she was probably over 25 at the time... i then moved onto dressage, was too fed up with refusals and deer jumps (refusals weren't to do with the height, she'd always been funny to jump)
as long as you don't go too high too soon so its not a shock to the system i'm sure she'll be fine.

[flashy33]

flash is 28 and last month she won a 1m20 speed class ,

[sonnet]

I used to jump my old boy Sonnet (33) over 3'3'' course- they'll let you know if they can't!!

I once was nearly unseated inbetween a double and he bucked me back into the saddle in between and then jumped the second part!! :D

[graciemoo]

your horse isn't happy, she'll tell you :)

although I agree, i think its not always wise to wait for this point as some horses will put up with what is beyond them for a while before they complain...

[Kc..]

My horse is 23 and about the same size he still comfortably jumps well over 3ft :)