Hunter & Dressage

[TMNTCkins]

Well if it's just a schooling show than just have fun. Too many things to try to learn is a short time. You may be able to go online to the schooling show to look at there rules and what they require. I do agree though that at your horses age (4 yrs) is too young for the jumping. Be safe and good luck!!

 

[hunterjumper999]

I started showing my TBx oh... maybe 10 years ago- he was newly 4 and I was 16. I took him to a show a few weeks after I got him- we did the Under 18 pleasure and it included a whopping 2 x rails. BOY did he clear those x-rails. In hindsite, i should not ever have asked that of him- but i was young and excited-

we did not jump till the end of his 5 yo year after that.

If you are going to jump your horse, look for a similar class- something small in height and easy in course. Mine was a straight line across the diagonal.

A good rule of thumb is you should be jumping BIGGER at home than at the show- so if he's jumping 2'3 at home ( which, imo he doesnt need to be- but its YOUR horse) he should be showing at a lower height to build confidence and allow him good experiences. He is still very much a baby interms of his mentality.

when he's older, perhaps he will require nothing more than some consistent work over easy fences at home and a tune up over higher fences prior to the show. I kept my horse very sound on that program. . . actually we started him as a long 5yo over fences, worked for a year under 3' ... started showing as a 8 yo at 3'6 + and never jumped a fence at home over 3' .

he's now 'retired' sound. . . he is 15 and done with his major show career but is still packing a kid from my old barn around the 3' and at this rate could for years- because we were cautious early on. .

the most important thing in the hunters/ equitation / dressage ( basically all horse shows actually!) is to show up respectfully dressed for the day, with a clean horse and clean tack.

ETA- know when to bow out as well- if your horse or you are having a difficult time, try it again and then walk and exit the ring. It drives me nuts to see battles of wills at horse shows! not the place or time!

 

[michickenwrangler]

Some schooling shows offer what's called a Baby Green Hunter class that usually is over 18" fences. I would suggest something like this if you insist on jumping, but you're probably better off waiting at least a year and taking some jumping lessons on an experienced horse first.

I would just stick to the flat classes and dressage for now.

Remember that you are riding a 4 yr old horse and too many classes in one day may also be a mental overload for him as well. When my purebred Arab was 4, I showed her at a small show in just 2 walk-trot classes and that was plenty for her. Arabs mature a little slower than other breeds.

Again, I'm not trying to to be mean about this, but I gather that you are young and this is what I would say to my own daughter if she were in this situation.

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Quote:
I am experienced, I jump 2'6

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Quote:
We are jumping 2'0 at shows, my trainer makes me jump 2'3, i am only 12.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
I am experienced, I jump 2'6

Sorry, I wasn't clear. The kind of experience I'm talking about has nothing whatsoever at all in any way to do with how high you have sometimes jumped a horse. Even if you've been schooling 5' fences it would not change my point.

Really, enjoy yourself, give the horse TIME to develop GRADUALLY and correctly and soundly.

And have FUN at your shows

(p.s., you mention taking lessons which is very good -- it would be a lot more productive to ask your TRAINER for advice on 'what hunters are judged on' and all that sort of thing, not random people on the internet

)

Pat

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

Quote:
O, he was jumping 18" at 3, now he is jumping 2'3.

At the risk of sounding harsh, I have to say that this horse deserves time to grow up. He's not an adult yet and should not be schooled like an adult. (Just because he LOOKS all grownup does not mean that he is internally!) Jumping is hard on the joints and the damage you could be doing to him will not show up for years, but when it does, he will be in serious PAIN. As an owner, part of our responsibility to our animals is to take care of them like the living, breathing beings they are. He is not a car. He did not come fully assembled and ready to rock 'n roll right off the assembly line. He needs time to mature, both mentally and physically. Even when we are super careful, our horses can still wind up with some damage. When we don't give a dang, they can end their days in great pain. He's your friend and I KNOW you don't want that for him, so give him some time and care and he, in turn, will reward you with 20 years or more of great friendship and a lot of fun! Just let him grow up first!

JMO


Rusty

 

[cafarmgirl]

Quote:
I am experienced, I jump 2'6

Sorry, I wasn't clear. The kind of experience I'm talking about has nothing whatsoever at all in any way to do with how high you have sometimes jumped a horse. Even if you've been schooling 5' fences it would not change my point.

Really, enjoy yourself, give the horse TIME to develop GRADUALLY and correctly and soundly.

And have FUN at your shows

(p.s., you mention taking lessons which is very good -- it would be a lot more productive to ask your TRAINER for advice on 'what hunters are judged on' and all that sort of thing, not random people on the internet

)

Pat

If you are taking lessons and working with a trainer that person should be answering all your questions and guiding you along in training this young horse as you yourself learn and grow as a rider. I must admit that if you are working with a trainer then I'm a bit confused by your original post. A very young horse, young rider and too many directions at once.

 

[Bunnylady]

So many classes, so little time!

Baby steps. I know, there are all these cool-looking classes, you've got this really great horse, and you want to try them all! But just as your teachers at school try not to schedule tests in Science and English and Math and Social Studies all on the same day, you need to let your buddy concentrate on one set of skills at a time, and get really good with it, before you try something else. Trying too many things too soon can confuse and frustrate a young horse, and turn one that is eager to please into one that is balky and resistant in a surprisingly short time. I watched it happen to the only Curly horse I have ever met, and he was a little older than your guy (about 5 yo). Curly had only been used for trail riding, so all he knew was pretty much turn, go, and whoa! His new owner was about 14. Curly was a sweet little guy with a "lets do it" attitude when they started, but his owner wanted to do hunter, and jumper, and dressage, and just go blasting around the pasture for the fun of it . . . . In less than a year, Curly was doing all his work with his nose in the air, doing whatever it took to avoid the bit and the hands at the ends of the reins. His owner finally quit riding him because she couldn't control him. When several weeks with a trainer didn't cure him of all of his evasive tactics, he was sold to a horse trader. He has been at that trader's barn for over a year, even the trader admits that he's unsellable, but he stays because the trader's kids like him (he is a lovable rascal, and "smiles" on cue for a treat).

I know, we all seem to be harping on the jumping thing, but you need to understand that there is a big difference between can do and should do. As an example, I have a 10-hand pony. When she was - oh, maybe two years old - I was watching her goof around in the pasture one day. There were some pine trees that had been cut down, and were lying on the ground, two of the trunks were almost exactly parallel. One of the pony's galloping circles took her near the trees. I saw her focus, gather, give a little extra effort, clear the trees, land beautifully on the other side. She had, in effect, free-jumped an 18" oxer with a 3' spread, slightly downhill, and done it perfectly. Nobody in their right mind would have asked her to do that, because they'd have been afraid of her hurting herself (young, growing bones damage easily). She had the ability, clearly, but what she did while playing was a whole different kettle of fish from what I could reasonably ask her to do when working with her.

We really want to encourage you, not discourage you, but we're a bit afraid that you may be asking too much, too soon. Have fun, and stay safe!

 

[welsummerchicks]

Gotta go with everyone else here.