Jumping

[PonyGirl]

I could scream I am so excited! I am learning to jump on Comet! He is the quarter horse gelding at the farm. I have ALWAYS wanted to know how. Seen my mom, dad, and sister do it when I was really little. Then they stopped riding. (bummer) I can't wait to do it again today! It is a blessing that the weather has finally cleared up here to be able to ride. I must get someone to take pics. I am learning in a western saddle and will change to an english when I am comfortable.

Had to share....on cloud 9!

[greydales]

Fabulous! I love jumping but am not very brave - I need a horse that will just take me straight over!! Isn't it a bit hard to jump in a western saddle?

[harveydales]

Do post some pics. I would like to know more about jumping in a Western saddle. Have fun!

[PonyGirl]

I discovered why my mom stopped riding. She was dumped. She never got back in the saddle again. Sad. She is thrilled for me. Scared I will get hurt. But, understands that I feel I need to get busy living instead of wondering what it would be like to....

[lisa]

I have a western saddle for Lea and never really considered jumping in it, well nothing of a substantial height anyway for fear of getting skewered on the horn!!! I love jumping, pleased it going well for you. I always fancied having a go an a quater horse.

xxx

[mickey]

Im also intrigued about how you jump in a western saddle without impaling yourself!!!
I enjoy jumping little jumps. Yeti loves jumping and is point and steer. Jumped Paddy this morning and he's a bit more work ie you have to place him right and give him a stride. That said he did start to help me out and got me out of a sticky situation where I buried him.
Ill stick to my cobs- the only horse that has properly thrown me and meant it and I felt like I had no chance of staying on board was a quarter horse x TB. Also a chestnut mare....
Put me off QH's and chestnut mares, and Ive never been a TB fan either!

[PonyGirl]

I really enjoy riding Comet. But, I am honestly not too fond of QH. Lord knows I hear it from some friends that I need to get a horse and not a pony. He is too tall but thankful a sweet boy to ride.

[knight]

Brave person you! I am such a chicken when it comes to jumping. They did have me jumping a bit at Dales camp but I was riding Ebony who knew what he was doing, even with a chicken hearted person on board. Knight loves to jump, even over 12" cavaletti when he's supposed to trot over, so I keep telling myself we should be brave & get some lessons.

[PonyGirl]

I purchased the vests people wear when they event to help protect me. But, how does one protect themselves from themselves? I have oftened wondered...

[PonyGirl]

I can't tell you enough how much I love this jumping! Did 2 jumps in a row yesterday. He was such a good boy! I will try and REMEMBER the camera next time.

[AliandDolly]

yes do remeber the camera

alixx

[Debbie]

All I can say when you start jumping, is to find the jump that makes you feel comfortable, and make sure your foundation is rock solid. I could never get a decent 'jump' or position out of the 12" jumps, but 18" to 2' was perfect for me, just enough of a pop from the horse to get me up and into the position. Took me ages to realize that it was the horse that was supposed to move me, not the other way round.....well, actually it was my jump instructor screaming at me that got that part through Truly was a miracle that man did not have a heartattack with me in the ring...

My first 'jump' was bareback, totally unintentional, and across an irrigation ditch. The 26 year old retired drill horse I was riding in Colorado got it into his head he was going to jump .....and as they say, "there was no shifting him"! Just when I thought I'd survived, he did it three more times. I can assure everyone that today, I would have gotten dumped before the first jump. Balance is bliss as a teenager.

As for jumping in a western saddle...yes, technically you can, but the saddle makes it so much harder for you to get into the correct position....not to mention the impaling problem with the horn. Still, where there's a will, there's a way.

I still love my quarters, appys and paints....nothing beats a good stock horse with a decent mind and a good heart, but with overbreeding, you can end up with some real nightmares.

Have loads of fun with your new 'career'!!!!

[mickey]

Its also taken Liz 3 years of shouting at me to canter into the fence- not trot to realise its far easier
I now love jumping small fences- though how it creeped up to 1m last session Im not too sure

[PonyGirl]

I have the camera and ready to show in the AM!

[Debbie]

And? How did it go