Jumping//dressage?

Question

how long should have been riding before you start to jump?

im 14, and im going to start riding reallyyy soon. im so excited!

but i want to get into jumping and dressage, so how long does it take until you are at that level?

idk if this helps, but i pick up things reallly fast, im athletic, and im great around animals. aha.

thanksss :)

Answer 1

JUMPING- it took me about 4 months of once a week lessons to get into jumping small cross-rails. i think you should get into this BEFORE dressage its incredibly hard to do dressage with out other riding expirience!

DRESSAGE- An extremely hard sport and takes a lot longer to get good at than jumping i say once you can jump an oxer start dressage if you dont like it go back remember it takes a lot more time and hard work to get into dressage than jumping and you have to have intense leg muscles.

In my expierience i never like dressage so ow i jump in shows and play polo i think polo is a great sport to get into if jumping or dressage doesnt work out always remember polo is not as picky and is an awsome and definetly fun to get into

if you are located in connecticut and near somers connecdticut i suggest shallowbrook equestrian center i go there its has the best rings in connecticut it doesnt have dressage but it is awsome for jumping and polo :)

Answer 2

I think alot of it depends on how well you can pick up on basics... you don't need to jump if you can't master the art of basic horsemanship, gaining a good seat, and general knowledge of the horse.

Take your time for some people it can take three lessons a week for 6 months to get to a point where I am comfortable for them to jump.

Answer 3

It depends on how often you are riding. If you are doing a one hour ride per week, I think it takes most people about six months to develop a good set a basics - stable posting trot with solid lower leg, following hand, and good posture in the saddle. Once you have that, you can start introducing cross rails. If you can ride more often than that, things will come faster, and progress is always individual. Have fun.

Answer 4

*the following is long but is the correct answer, wether you beilve it or not.

Don't rush! To many kids want to jump or move up levels to quickly and the end result isn't pretty. We are having a huge problem with this right now in the eventing world. To many kids who thought they were ready moved up to quickly and are now paying. Some of them 6 feet under with their horses.

In germany kids are not allowed to even sit in a saddle till about 3-6 months after they start riding. This is in order to devlop balance, cofidence and strength as well as a corect postion, and every year Germany kicks the U.S.'s butt at Show Jumping and eventing.

My suggestion is this start with being able to hold half seat with stirrups. Your legs shouldn't slide you shouldn't have to balance on the horses neck but be able to hold this position at all gaits. After this is mastered move on to standing in the stirrups without your lower leg moving at all but staying at the girth. Once this is mastered at all gaits then move on to trotting without stirrups. Once you can post for several minutes without stirrups and the above being practicing over small fences.

I know it's not a time frame but if you follow those steps you will be at the right level without rushing things. Like others said it depends on the rider, so don't expect it to be over night.

As for Dressage, Dressage is training of the horse. You start training the rider and horse the second you get on. Cometing comes whenthe skills are mastered, when a certain training level is acheived.

I strongly suggest finding a Dressage trainer who is certifed by FEI they have been taught the correct way and will teach you the correct way and you will be surprised at how much you learn and how well you can jump with only dressage lessons.

Answer 5

you will have a trainer and she will tell you when UR ready...many ppl rush into jumping and dont take enough time to devlop their flat(dressage) work which is 85% of riding so make sure you dont rush into it...also remember that its not ALL about riding so if you ever want to be GOOD then you need to read as many horse books as u can get ur hands on and learn about grooming tips,tack,shows,nutrition,vet stuff etc.

Answer 6

lol funn.

Well depends on how quick and how well you grasp the concepts of riding. I started riding at 3 1/2 and was jumping when I was 5...so since your 14, if you're a quick learning and pick it up, you could be jumping within months. Don't rush anything though, waiting is better, you'll be more confident and successful. Too many people quit because they rush things and lose their confidence. Have fun, good luck!

Answer 7

On the contraire to Ali Oop... You should start riding dressage BEFORE you jump. Not saying that you have to get to like Prix St.George or anything before you can jump, but quite frankly you have to learn how to handle the horse in a soft and responsive manner before you can think of moving up over fences. Dressage is a great way to start this. You learn how to effectively handle your horse on the flat, how to bend, how to control speed (collect and extend), how to get them supple with great impulsion, all things that are pretty much essential to jumping.

There is not correct answer as to when you should start jumping though. It should be based on the riders competency at basic skills, their confidence and when your coach feels you are ready to start jumping. If you push too fast you're only asking to get hurt.

Answer 8

it didnt take me to long is took me about 3 weeks to start jumping but it reallly depends on how well you catch on to it. so it might take like a month to 3 months depending on how well you do. also it depends on your trainer and how fast your trainer wants you to move. and i just started dressage about a year ago and ive been riding for 7 years. but i guess that was because i started out hunter jumper so if you ride you need to do eventing not hunter jumper bc you will have a hunter seat.

Answer 9

i think you can start (really) basic dressage almost as soon as you start riding

as for jumping...it should take awhile, considering that you dont seem to have ridden before

you need to get comfortable on a horse, beyond just the physical aspect of it

but really its up to your trainer, and because everyone has different riding experience, this isnt really the best place to ask, go ask your trainer

but have fun

Answer 10

I train kids, beginners. none of my kids even canter until they can do a posting trot without stirrups for 30 minutes. your legs need to be strong to jump. you need to earn your wings as we say at my facility. i rode for 6 years before i even thought about training with a dressage trainer. that is a disipline that takes a lot of work and knowing really knowing what your doing on the back of ahorse. the premis of dressage is that you and your horse become "one" the movements are to be together you arent supposed to be able to tell the rider is asking the horse to do anything. i would take your time, if your athletic chances are you'll pick up the sport easily, but dont rush to jump or do dressage. take your time you'll be abetter rider in the end

Answer 11

well, idk yet either b/c i am about to start too! Except im doing jumping.

Answer 12

How fast you progress in riding depends upon how quickly you learn to do the basics and how much time you are able to put into lessons and practice. Riding a horse is not only about how althetic you are, but depends on your ability to understand your horse and work with him.

Before you can even think about jumping, you will need to become a very secure rider on the flat (ground). This means being able to ride at a walk, trot, canter and gallop with proper form and security, and that you ride with light but confident hands. You will need to develop an independant seat (where your legs, hands and fully body can work independantly and together) and be a well balanced and confident rider before moving on to jumping.

How long will this take? I've seen some riders go from novices to jumping in a matter of a couple of months. It took me about a year and a half of consistent lessons before I felt confident enough in my ability as a rider to move on to jumping.

Dressage, like jumping, requires you to really have the basics down before going into the more specialized training. It demands the highest level of ability to ride on the flat, and to do so with little in the way of visible cues to your horse.

For now, focus on your lessons and don't worry so much about trying to rush into jumping or dressage. You'll be spending a great deal of time trotting around in a circle, but it's important that you really get your form and balance down so that when you do move onto jumping or dressage, that you can do so safely and with confidence.

Good luck!

Answer 13

once you can safely ride walk/trot/canter on a lunge line with no stirrups is when you should start jumping, it is very important to know how to ride w/ out stirrups and keep your balance b/c you never know when a horse will spook or refuse a jump and throw you off balance. you also need to know the "Feel" for riding and how to count canter strides so you know when to get into position over a jump.

as far as dressage goes, you need to know all of your basic riding skills, have a great seat, be ready for a lot of hard work, know the difference between just sitting up on your horse looking pretty, and knowing how to ride your horse...you need to know how to get working gates out of your horse, not letting him get lazy and push you around etc...I personally LOVE dressage, it is such a challenge and not boring.