[Paint_luver]

As most of you know, I have a 4-year-old Paint gelding named Buddy. I take lessons on him every Friday and for the last couple of times, we have been starting jumps. I didn't mention it to my mom, because they were just small "jumps" at the time (like under a foot, and we were only trotting in 2 point position to get used to it). Unfortunately, she's very overprotective of me. Today, I casually mentioned what we did today in lesson (she asked), and when I got to the part about jumping, she was quite unhappy. She asked why I wanted to learn how to jump, and I just said because it sounded really fun to me, and would be a good learning experience for both Buddy and I. She still wasn't happy, and says that jumping is too dangerous for me, and bad for horses. I know it CAN be dangerous, but I will be careful, and wont rush into anything. I told her this, but she still is unconvinced.

So, I was wondering what you guys think? Is jumping bad for horses? Am I being unreasonable in my request, or is my mom? I really want to try it, and I have an excellent instructor who I know would never put me in a situation that was too dangerous!

Thanks for all your help, and sorry this is so long!

[cassidy]

NO i live for jumping its all i like to do showjumping you will have to make your mum realise y not ask her to come and watch your lessons so she knows exactly what it is an also say that you will wear all the protective gear

[Dawn]

First question is, have you jumped before. You learning how to jump and teaching your horse how to jump is a bad combination. Ultimately, it is up to your mother. As long as you take proper precautions, learn under a qualified instructor, etc, it's really no more dangerous than other horse sports.

[Paint_luver]

She doesn't usually have time to come watch my lessons, and she says that protective gear doesn't always prevent injury. She always seems to pull the Christopher Reeves card on me too. "But mom, I will be more careful than that, I won't be put in danger!"

Errrr, she really frusterates me sometimes.

[Dawn]

Well, you can't say that you won't be in danger. Jumping isn't exactly something that would be considered "safe". However, if you know how to jump, riding horses is much safer. As some of the "naughty" things they do can be much easier to not fall off if you know how to jump. Usually when people get hurt jumping, it has nothing to do with how "safe" they're being.

[Blistering Winds]

Jumping is GREAT! I'm a western rider and I LOVE jumping trail stuff! Now i"m crossing into english for a class I have to take this fall and have jumped a few times in english, Not hte prettiest, but it IS a rush!!

With proper lessons, a good horse, you should be ok. EVERYTHING is dangerous. Even walking into the barn. My kids knees are scraped up because they fall ALL THE TIME out there. Why? They just aren't paying attention.


Be sure you do the correct steps into jumping.

The only concern I have is that Buddy is only 4. Many horses aren't jumped until almost 6 because of their joints. They are still developing at this age.

He should be SOLID on his flat work. Picks up leads, etc. Or you'll end up like me, when you land, you are sitting on the horse's neck and praying you don't hit the ground too hard!! Cause the horse isn't ready overall to go over jumps with a rider.

[Paint_luver]

Originally Posted by Dawn

First question is, have you jumped before. You learning how to jump and teaching your horse how to jump is a bad combination. Ultimately, it is up to your mother. As long as you take proper precautions, learn under a qualified instructor, etc, it's really no more dangerous than other horse sports.

I was starting to learn how to jump on a lesson horse before I recieved mine. We will not be doing big jumps at a canter for a long while anyway. My instructor is awesome, and is very good at knowing when to move on, and when to practice some more. Like, for example, today we just worked on a 15" "jump" that we trotted our horses over in two point position, the horses didn't even have to jump, they just picked up their feet higher.

[Dawn]

The trotting over poles is fine. But I would highly suggest that you learn to jump on another horse before attempting to teach yours to jump. It's just a very bad combination.

[thrghbrdrder]

my mom was freaked out about me starting to jump. until she came to one of my lessons and saw how much fun i was having, but she had to stand behind a tree where i couldn't see her with my trainer cause i get nervous when my parents r around

[Paint_luver]

BW, thanks for the support, like I just said in my last post (after I saw yours), that we will NOT be doing anything extensive or complicated for a while. Just starting, but my mother doesn't even want me to do that. I also agree that everything is dangerous. I tell my mother this, but she thinks that jumping is particularly dangerous. But I have excellent balance, and have only fallen off a horse twice in my entire life!!