Jumping problems, PLEASE READ!?

Question

Right i have a Hanoverian cross Thoroughbred mare who is well rounded and fit. She loves to jump and ovbiously her breeds are both good jumpers (so if shes fit and bred/built for it...)And i love jumping too. Although the problem is i want to jump bigger. When i talk "bigger" i mean 3ft on. At the min im only jumping 2.6ft about straights and spreads at home. I can jump and she can. I just have this fear of jumping big even though it seems that there is no reason why we cant. I have had an accident, breaking my arm, in jumping. But im fine over littler stuff. She only ever refuses if over faced or she tired ( which takes a lot of work :-)... )Any suggestions? On how to overcome this and jump as big as i like? I think were both capable so surely...? Shes 15.2hh. Thanks in advance. Jade.

Answer 1

Slowly start adding a little height to your jumping practice.  If you are comfortable at 2'6", then warm up as normal, then at the end slide a simple vertical up to 2'9" and do it a couple times.  When you become secure looking at that size, then do whole courses, spreads and solid fences at the new height.  When you are confident, ( might take a while) then do the same for the next 3 inches, and the next and the next.  Also, think really hard about why you want to go bigger.  If you feel pressure from peers of your trainer to move up, then find a new place to ride.  If you want to push your limits, then go for it!!

Answer 2

this is what i read in an article by ben maher he said that no matter what the size it is (baring in mind how big he jumps at badminton/burghly etc.) and he is right if you and the horse can jump that high then most likely absaloutly nothing will go wrong your horse is big and a good jumper you dont need to worry he will look after you and you wont even feel the difference and he wont notice at all it will just feel the same as the 2ft 6 dont worry (i think your brave for jumping 2.6 i have only ever jumped about 2ft :)  dont panic no-one is so unlucky that they will break their arm twice :) its very unlikely you wouldnt be saying you WANT to go higher if you couldnt do it :)

Answer 3

Just slowly increase the height by three inches at a time, only moving up when you are 100% at the height

popstar1, she said the horse was 15.2 hands TALL not 15 years old. and horses can still jump at 15 years old and at 17 and at 20. i knew a horse who still jumped at 30!

Answer 4

if you are scared, don't even try. i will make the problems worse. keep doing smaller stuff any somehow make it more interesting with fillersand stuff. raise the jumps by really small amounts after you've schooled some of the smaller ones sometime.

Answer 5

use a tramp

Answer 6

Warm up as usual, then ask a friend to raise one jump towards the end of your course. When you get to it, ride it as if it were 2'6(but make sure to anticipate the extra bounce). You probably won't even notice it! As you get more comfortable, make a few jumps this height, and then do a whole course. Just moving up the 3 inches might help you, but if not, when you move up to 3', do the same thing again. Make sure you take your time, and DON'T do it all in one day. You might want to longe your horse over the fences before you ride over them, just to be sure she can and will do them.

Answer 7

Take it slow. Warm up on smaller heights. Have 1 jump set to the side that is a notch higher than the others. After a good warm up and when you are feeling comfortable take her over the slightly higher jump. Keep doing this until you are completely comfortable with the higher height. Then start setting it to were you have 2 jumps at that height and the rest are at the original...Keep on with this until you are both comfortable jumping all jumps at that height. And slowly work your way up to 3 feet.

Answer 8

I'm no expert but my mom is and since she is 15 years old she needs the vet to check her out and she should do everything except jumping!  She can still do everything else and make sure she doesn't jump!  have naymore questions please contact me so I can ask my mom for you email me at [e-mail]

Answer 9

I like setting up gymnastics for helping riders jump bigger fences.  Canter into a cross rail, then one step to a 2'6" vertical, then one step to the "new height".  Gymnastics help create a good rhythm, so the fence won't feel as big.  They also help set your horse up, so you can just focus on your position and staying confident.