starting jumping

[aimee]

Any tips on starting jumping?
As you all probably know Peanut has been my little summer project with backing him and now everything else is going so good I thought I should get him popping some poles just so I can say he has done to his potential buyers.

So, started friday with some free schooling, that didnt work he just ended up galloping around the school having a whale of a time and ignoring the jump!
Then yesterday I lead him over it, he spooked a few times but then walked calmly over it, then had a few trots and he jumped it properly!
Today tried riding over it, he started the spook thing again so just walked over it a few times, then managed to get some trots over it but not with enough impulsion to jump it properly unless he had the lunge whip behind him, got him to do it nicely in the end though.

I'm just gonna hack and school him for the next few days so he dont get sore or anything! But was just wondering if anyone had jumped their youngster before and any ideas to get him going nicely? Also so he dont get bored will it be too early to set a grid in?

Thanks!

[gingernut]

I'm planning on starting with trotting poles on the ground (one placed at 12, 3, 6 and 9 on a clock face - but starting off with just one and increasing it to the four) while on a lunge and then raising the poles off the ground slightly with blox, increasing then alternatively height wise then going on to trotting poles (once ridden for a while) set out in a line doing them for a little while and then slowly raising the end one, alternating with one before it on the ground : _ -- _ -- to get into a rhythm and start her thinking where she is putting her hooves and to keep her thinking.

[fleabitten]

If it was me I wouldnt start proper jumping till he was about 5 but would probably do some poles and the odd crosspole here and there to ease him into it and just have fun and be relaxed about it. No grids yet just single fences.

I would concentrate on his schooling and get him nice and balanced and steady in the flat. This will make it easier for him to jump properly.

lt's suggestion is very good - would agree fully with that - get them thinking but not straining them - teaching them balance and impulsion.

[maximum]

start with some poles randomly scattered about the arena and just trot him over them as though they are not there, when he is trotting them in a rythym and not bothering about them then put a few together and again trot through as though they are not there, have them about 12 foot apart so that he can adjust his stride between them rather than having pole every stride.

once he is happy through that you can add a little cross pole 9 foot from the last pole which will put him in the right place to take off over the jump.

keep then small and just have a wee bit of fun, he is young enough but a few wee pops to show his ability will be fine.