too soon?

[shiokee]

hi there i start horse riding on mid march 04, and canter after 2 months and now is been 4 months++, i am doing a little jumping, i am wandering is that too soon to do jump? and how long have you been riding before jumping?

[canadianbeaver]

Well I started when I was just an ickle one, so it took me a while to start jumping because I was going from stable to stable, then we moved to England, back to Canada... eventually I started jumping when I was about 9. If you are confident, and your coach is confident in you and in your riding ability then there's no problem with it. There is no magic date when you're allowed to start jumping as it totally depends on the rider. Good luck :) Are you only doing crossrails now? because that's what my first jump was.

[k888tie]

i started riding when i was about 4....and have been riding nearly every weekend since. but didnt really get into jumping til i was about 15....so had years and years of lessons and hacking expierence etc...and just generally learning about horses and how they work etc. but i guess if u are confident enough to start jumping then go for it. u never know if u are good at it or enjoy it unless u try!:D

[epcd3000]

Hmm, well it all depends on how much you've been riding.. The more lessons you take a week, the more you learn, and stuff..

To me, it might be a bit too soon. You need more time to develop your seat, balance, posture, etc before really getting into more advanced riding. I started a bit of cantering after 6 months of riding, and didn't do any jumping until almost 1 year. :p

In the end, it all depends you and your instructor. :)

[Izod1360]

i started to jump 10 months arter i started to ride

[PridesAngel03]

It really all depends on the ability of the rider. Some excel faster than others. If you or your instructor don't think it's too soon, then it probably isn't. If your instructor is worth her salt, she wouldn't have you do anything she didn't think you could handle.

One of my student's parents calls her daughter my "guinea pig!" LOL

She excelled way past her best friend when she started taking lessons from me, so much so that her best friend quit. They claim other reasons, but I wasn't born yesterday! She is still with me today and is assisting me with my other students and helping me train my gelding in preparation to show at our State Fair, as my poor back prevents me from performing this task.

If I wasn't confident that she could handle what I ask of her, I wouldn't ask her. Even when she thinks she can't I let her know that I know she can, and to her surprise she does. She trusts me to guide her and I give her the confidence to excel. I give her the right amount of encouragement when she gets hesitant only to find out she had no reason to hesitate in the first place. I know this because I've been through it myself. I've heard every excuse imagineable cuz I've used EVERY ONE of THEM! LOL I block those out, and say you can do it, TRUST ME! :D

So when in doubt, keep this poem in mind.

YOU CAN DO IT!
Giving up is easy,
When your Dreams seem far away.
And Life if full of Obstacles,
You face them Everyday.
But, no matter what the Challenge,
Some Faith can get your through it.
So, Never quit Believing,
Just Remember, YOU CAN DO IT! :):):)

Y'all have a GR8 Day and Happy Trails!

Blondy ;)

[Ruffiane]

I've just started jumping and I've been riding 4 months. I take 3 lessons a week. I've only been cantering a short while, though, so I was surprised when he started me over cross-poles at a trot. I'll probably canter over them tomorrow night, as it's kind of hard to hold back the horse once she wants to canter, and my trainer doesn't want me to pull her back. Some nights are really good and i could jump all night, and then other nights I'm more nervous and I have to manage my fears a LOT.

[Luv 2 Trot]

Well, I think it is. But thats just me. You are probably a very good and confident rider and your instructor knows that u are ready to move to the next step. But, if u think its too soon, talk to yer instructor and see wut he/she has to say. Then, take it from there.

Luv 2 Trot

[Hana915]

I started riding when i was 13 and i started jumping after 4 half hour lessons. the only reason i did this was because i got sent on a riding holiday and everyone else had been riding for ages and they did jumping so i tried it to. thinking back on it now im not sure if i'd of done this because no-one showed me how to do it i just did it, and i developed a really bad position ( and not jump for jumping)

[Hana915]

i am also very unconfident now when i jump and i think that is because i started to early. i was jumping before i hasd completly mastered trot!

[Crazy Caroline]

If you are feeling less confident about jumping then go back a step and work on your trot and sitting trot and trotting over poles to gain your confidence back. When you feel totally balanced and confident in trot try working on your cantering and then crossed poles, small jumps, etc. as your confidence grows.

Riding is meant to be fun, so do what you enjoy and just take one step at a time. :D