cross country

[HorseWhisper23]

my horse has never done cross country before hes a 8 year old quarter horse he jumps 3 foot and mabe higher but i wanted to try to start doin cross country how do you think i should start? :confused:

[kedwards]

My horse and I both had our first tries at XC this year and did several events this summer, so I'm not expert, but I can certainly share my experience if it will be any help.

Where you should start depends on you and your horse's experience. If you've already spent a good deal of time riding him out of the ring, in the open, over varying terrain, and at varying speeds, then you'll have a leg up. If you haven't (and I didn't when I started with Bud), then that's a good place to start. Find somewhere where you can school up and down hills, work on adjusting between gallop and canter in open fields, get comfortable cantering downhill grades, etc...

Hunter paces can be a great way to get used to XC riding and jumping. They are pretty low key typically, the fences are generally straight forward, and you usually have the option of going around them, so you can try a few jumps without committing yourself to all of them.

If you want to work on a regular event course, then I would recommend booking a session with an eventing instructor or enrolling in a XC clinic.

[Shizzity]

I dont know if this will really help but...

My horse and i jump 2 feet to 2 feet 6inches and we had never done anything out in the open fields. My trainer, who is good at xcountry, just took my horse and me out one day, and we jumped half the beginner novice course! (He had barely even been jumping that high) He is really green, and i am just a beginner, and everything went just fine for us!

I do have to admit, the first time out was a little nerve wracking, but the more i went, the more i love it!! (im pretty sure my horse loved it too)

I dont know if this is the right way to start for everyone, but it worked for me.

I would also recommend taking another rider with an experianced xcounty horse, so you can have a lead horse if you need it. (I didn't, but it sure would have been nice!!)

Good luck..Have FUN!!!!

[Daffy Dilly]

I'm in a similar position, but my horse (12) only started jumping in september. I've jumped him 5 times since. However, he is an exceptionally confident horse, and we hack out more than we school, so he's done a lot of hill work and fast work.

I dont have any poles, or access to any over winter. I have..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/Daffydilly/Donnington024.jpg

That, which isnt ideal, but i can put the wings on top etc. However, he's never refused, not once. He always took it at the pace i set him at. First time he knocked it in trot (i didnt canter) second trot and canter, third just canter, 4th, just on the left rein in canter, 5th, not at all.

My instructor, even though she'd not seen us jump, said to go xc and have some fun. She told me not to do anything i wasnt confident doing, as my confidence increases his confidence. She also said that if i have any doubts, dont do that particular fence, and to take them at trot first.

I think as long as you're a partnership, he'll jump anything you ask so you should be fine!!

[Secret Smiley]

Maybe you could do an eventing, or cross country clinic where you would be given access to the kind of jumps you will encounter on course, under the eye of a professional.

Good luck with whatever you do:)

Cheers,
Kylie

[kel]

hire out a x-country course and go schooling round if you can get you instructor a friend to go along with a horse you have got a lead over fences if you cant get your horse over tthem as shizzity said.good luck

[eventerbabe]

hire a crosscountry course and a good instructor. i do not reccomend an eventing clinic, these are aimed at people capable of BE classes and will have a MINIMUM height of 3ft. i went along with a friend to one and they are not for the faint hearted.