I am helping train a quarter horse to jump?

Question

i am going to a riding lesson in a few minutes and i need some suggestions. also do horses like cucumbers or grapes?

Answer 1

yikesss when i got my quarter horse he had NO idea how to jump.  my trainer set up a small crossrail, and he knocked it over. he then set up some poles raised about 2 inches off the ground, and my horse went up to them and stepped over them, then my trainer made me repeat that and canter the second he "jumped". you can also make him go as fast as he can up to the jump at a trot, and if he stops like mine did, do the previous suggestion.  when you are riding not in a lesson, and you are not allowed to jump, just bring your horse over poles, get him to lift his feet higher.  as your horse gets better, he will learn to pick his feet and tuck them under his chest. when he gets even better, you can bring him overa pole and then a jump down the longside, and then 2 jumps. to prepare him for things like hunter courses, set up the course, but only with poles, and teach him to do all the lead changes, and eventually build them up to jumps. also, if your horse refuses, DO NOT let him go past the jump. back him up if you have to, just he CANNOT go past it. whether you are in a lesson or just hacking, make sure that you stop jumping, or cantering over poles or whatever, and dont do to much with him. it is supposed to be fun for u and him.

i also dont know about the foods, just dont give him anything that might hurt him.  i know they like raisins haha.

Answer 2

I would try both!! lol  my horse will eat anything but i try not to give them stuff that's bad 4 us!! lol

fruit is a good idea. you could take a selection of stuff and see what (s)he likes. all horses are different you never know what they will eat.

Answer 3

First, are you experienced at jumping?

If not, I would either find someone who is to teach him, or start him on a lunge line so you don't interfere accidentaly with his first experiences. Also, if you're not experienced, have someone who is help you with this...

Has he had any experience with ground poles or cavaletti? That is where you want to start until he is comfortable over them at at walk, trot, and canter/lope...

A good first jump is those square bags of pine shavings, a few laid end to end out from the rail. They look very soild, but won't hurt him if he clips them and are only about 12" high... Hay or straw bales would do the job nicely as well...

Start with just walking over the obstacle, when he's comfortable/relaxed move up to a trot and then canter/lope. Take a long as it takes and don't rush.. You want him to enjoy this, not fear it....

Good Luck!!

Answer 4

I know my pony loved grapes, not sure about cucumbers. I first trained my pony and horse to jumpe I put a cylinder block up and put a board through the holes and first I would walk over it, then we would trot over it. We did that for a few times and after a while I would encourage him and her to jump it by leaning forwards and squeezing. I would do that at a jump until me and the horse was comfortable then go to a canter. After a while you can start getting bigger on the jumps.