Quick question about jumping!

[Sámie]

Hiya just wondering, how do u know when a horse is fit enough to start jumping again!? I just got a really thin horse and I have spent this last week building him up and he has like a six pac on his legs!
Help me please! xxxxxxxx

[nutkin]

If you have just acquired this horse and he needs to be built up then I certainly wouldn't jump untill he is up to it. I would spend 6 weeks fittening him up with just walking and trotting and maybe a couple of times a week schooling and then after that begin canter work. You need to feed him something that will build weight ie weight gain or calm and condition and once he is happy cantering for a reasonable period of time without getting to out of breath then you can begin to introduce jumping.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

as a general rule i wouldn't start a horses over jumps until they can handle a 45-60minute schooling session on the flat. this would include a BALANCED walk, trot and canter on circles. when the horses flat is balanced and he is confident in what you are doing and obviously fit enough so that he can handle his lessons then start him over poles and small cross rails. remember not to jump to much at first, just introduce it. flat is allways good and allways useful.

i think you will be able to tell when your horse is tierd and not handling your schooling regiments. just take things slow and see how things go.