To change or not to change!!!!?

Question

I can NOT stop thinking about show jumping!I want to try it but right now I am at like a peak in my western riding!I REALLY want to do jumping but am just confused!I mean should I wait till I am older (15 or 14 or something) to start jumping so I can focus on western?I have jumped a small jump when I was riding with my niece at the stable she rides when she's in Kentucky and it was alot of fun oh and I have ridden english before for at least a month.PLEASE HELP ME!

Answer 1

I don't think anyone can answer this one but you.  If you want to try jumping, then do so.  I know quite a few excellent riders who are masters of both disciplines, English and western.

Answer 2

I absolutely love to jump - it's incredible and I'm SOOOOOO glad I don't ride Western (I rode Western for a month but couldn't stand it). I love everything there is to love about showjumping; the big horses and high-maitenance ponies, dressing up in showclothes... LOVE IT!!!!!

Answer 3

I personally love riding western. There's only two reins, no need for fancy equipment. My favorite style is bareback, but with some horses, it's just not possible.

I've also tried jumping, but the instructor I had was so bad, she had me trotting for at least seven hours total. I wasted all of my money so she could tell me, "good job, keep going", for several lessons.

My advice is, get a GOOD instructor, one with good testimonials, and one who you know isn't going to cheat you. Then, go for it. You never know until you try it if you're going to like the sport.

Good luck !

EDIT to the answer below me: I am a swimmer, biker, hiker, runner, and the strongest part of my body is my legs. I work out four days a week, and can lift 200+ pounds with my legs. I was trotting flawlessly (or so she said), without a single issue, for SEVERAL consecutive lessons. We'd start trotting, and never do anything else. We'd switch directions, cut across the round pen, that sort of thing, but never did we do anything but trot. Sorry, but after trotting for two weeks straight, I get just a little bored of tossing my money at you.

Answer 4

Not all horses can do it, but I've known many along the way that competed in both western and jumping and excelled at both. In fact, one very memorable little quarter horse could beat out all of the larger, more elegant show jumpers, then turn around and compete in western pleasure and horsemanship.  This same horse competed at barrels, flags, and pole bending as well.  He not only competed, but he won frequently at open shows and quarter horse shows as well.  He remained sound and died at a ripe old age.  Don't limit yourself to one discipline unless your horse proves that he isn't up to the task.  If you just can't afford lessons in both, that's another thing.

Answer 5

See if you can find another instructor and possibly a stable with an instructor where you can ride their horses and take lessons in jumping. Then you will be able to learn what you want to know about jumping while still having your western horse and focussing primarily on that. If you do well and have an instructor you like for this, wait until you are pretty good at the jumping and then see if your horse is up for this also. You ought to be able to do both with your horse pretty well. We have had many horses who do english and western with no problems or loss of talent in their main field, plus they enjoy the variety same as you.

Answer 6

Well, can you try english for a month and see if you like it better? Why not do that? Try jumping for a wile with a good instructor and see if you like it better. I personally like jumping better, I have done it for all of my life but some people like western better. Just see which does it for you and go with it. The only person who can answer your question is you.

EDIT to the answer above me: she was doing that because you use different muscles in english riding then you do in western riding. she needed you to have strong legs before you started jumping or you would fall off. i had to do the same thing.

Answer 7

okay well before you get into jumping just know that it seems very straight forward but its not, its extreamly complex and complicated so if you want to switch it takes complete dedication.