Whether your horse
jumping goal is merely for fun or for competitions, you will need to prepare
and train your horse. Training young and/or inexperienced horses to jump can be
a difficult task. This is especially true because untrained horses can be unpredictable.
The good news, however, is that with patience, determination, hard work, and
the right horse jump designs, you
can have your horsing jumping like a pro in no time.
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| image:www.olddominionjumps.com/horse-jumps |
Before Starting
For proper jump
training, find a large area that is well-drained and level. Avoid areas that
are rocky, soggy, or have other issues that could seriously harm your horse.
Furthermore, avoid saddles other than English saddles when jumping. Other
saddles are uncomfortable for you and your house when they are trying to learn
how to jump. You should also choose a mild bit to prevent any injuries to the
horse’s mouth when they are making big leaps.
Just Getting Started
The first obstacle to
train your horse on is ground poles. These poles are merely laid on the ground
and you will direct your horse to ride over them. If you find your horse is a
bit timid when nearing the poles, dismount and walk him over the poles multiple
times until he is more comfortable. Continue to add more and more poles
throughout the area for him to ride over. Once he has mastered the ground
poles, position about three trotting poles, making sure they are spaced about
five feet apart, for him to trot over.
Moving On
When you’re confident
that your horse has mastered the beginner jump obstacles, you can move on to
cross rails and gymnastic grids. Cross rails, when added with a few trotting
poles, invites your horse towards the middle, which decreases the chance of him
running out if he ends up drifting a bit too far to the side. A gymnastic grid
helps to correct the horse’s form, all without having to do it for him. It also
teaches him to wait before jumping and rock onto his hocks when ticking off for
the jump.
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