Conditions for free-jumping

[Silver1]

Hey everyone,
I just wondered as far as footing conditions go, what would be ideal for free-jumping. Its been raining here, but it hasn't been pouring so I don't think it'll be too sloppy tomorow and the dampness might actually be better then our usual hard-as-rock conditions. What do you guys think would be the ideal and minimum-maximum extremes for free-jumping?

[crazyhorse25600]

the ground will be great if theres a good cut in it[the horses cut there feet into the ground when there moving on it,]
as for really wet it will be slippy for your horses and jumping in boggs isn't good on there tendons and feet,
hope this helps :D

[tasha]

I would have thought that, when free jumping, there is less strain on the horse due to lack of rider (so less weight and more balance) and turns arent gonna be as sharp. Therefore you could jump on slightly boggier/harder ground than you would ridden. Obviously the horse's previous health (ie not recovering from tendon injuries etc), experience and height of jumps should still be taken into account.

[Silver1]

Well tis pouring so hard you can't see through the rain, so I suppose I'll be waiting. Oh well. :(

[FreedomStar]

lol, is it really raining that bad? It's just drizzling a bit here..of course, i'm a bit further, north?, than you are. But you can freejump on slightly damp ground. If it's like soup consistency, or puddly, then you don't want to. But i've gone jumping in pouring storms and hail. The horses had no problem, but that was in an arena. It might be diff. in a roundpen. You know your horse best, if you think she'll have problems moving out in boggy footing then don't freejump her, if you think she'll have no problem, then go ahead, but do small jumps, maybe just poles or cavaletti. If you decide to freejump her, be careful that she doesn't slip (well you already know that) b/c the horse I lease slipped in a muddy roundpen a few weeks back and pulled both her stifles. Just now she is getting back into full work. :-D