Thinking of crossing over...what do I need to know?

I've been a western rider for most of my life, besides some English lessons when I was younger. I won some ribbons but don't remember much of the actual training.

My very best friend does jumping and cross country and we started talking about it and I really think it may be something I want to do.

Western events have sort of fizzled out around here and I have an English barn and trainer literally 10 minutes from my house.

My friend would obviously train me, and I could always take a few lessons from the barn if I needed extra guidance.

I am really interested in cross country.

What do I need? I have the horse. I videoed her jumping today and will post a link so you can tell me if she could hack it or not she isn't trained in anything so I was thinking that's what I can use her for.. Hopefully she can, because I don't have another jumping horse.

What does English entail? Where would I even start? My friend is away at college so I'm sort of teaching myself right now.


Here is my horse. Is her conformation even good for jumping? She is 14 hands.



Still shots of her jumping. I know these Aren't the best....







I know these aren't the best. Let me know if a video would be more useful!!
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IMO, if your horse isn't trained for jumping and you are new to English riding I would suggest getting a coach to help you, green rider + green horse = possible disaster! Learn jumping on a school horse to start with.

Well I'm not green. I've ridden my whole life and have jumped before, just not in competition or anything. I am confident I CAN jump.
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How old is this horse? She's built downhill, but she looks like she might have some growing to do, which might even things out a bit more.

Pretty much any horse can handle the lower levels of english events.

The pictures are kind of hard to judge, since she's just cantering over the jump, and not really "jumping". This is probably because 1- She's new to it, and 2- The jump is low. Most horses show better form once the jump is a little higher and the horse puts more effort into getting over it. Did she enjoy it though? If she had fun doing it, that's a good sign. She'll improve with experience :)

Although you're not new to riding, I'd still work closely with a trainer. Even though you've jumped before, training a horse to jump is different.

She is only 4, so I'm expecting her to grow into herself some more.

Working closely with a trainer really isn't an option. I just don't have the money, and definitely don't have the time to work extra to pay for it.

A few days working with one maybe can happen but "working closely" just isn't in the budget for me right now.
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How are you in an English saddle? I have a few friends who rode western their whole life but the second you put them in an English saddle they look like a green rider all over again. Terrible balance, even worse equitation. Not to knock the western discipline, but there's a reason why trail riding facilities for people who have never been on a horse before use western saddles...

If I were you, I would pick up the US Pony Club Manual for Beginners book and the Intermediate book. Start off with the basics again, especially if you ever want to show and do it correctly. Do a lot of work at the walk, trot (rising / sitting) and focus on your equitation from the very start. Before I would even consider jumping, you should be able to W/T/C with and without stirrups. Know how to collect, shorten and lengthen strides is also extremely important. Do a ton of W/T/C over trot poles of various spacing to get things right. Don't forget half halting, counting strides... all that fun stuff.

There's just so much that goes into jumping, it's not all point and shoot... especially with a green horse. I would definitely get an instructor otherwise the risk of you injuring yourself and your horse is way too great. I'm sure you can jump, just as I can jump a 1.5M fence... but doing it correctly and safely is a whole different game. Regardless of what you do, always wear a helmet and never jump alone. EVER!

I took English lessons for 3 years when I was younger so I can ride in an English saddle pretty good.

I can w/t/c without stirrups on a western saddle and on a bareback pad without stirrups. I know it's not the same as an English saddle, but if I can w/t/c bare back I think I can pick it up. I can post and sit the trot.

I will definitely get the manual. I feel like I have a basic foundation, and I don't think I want to compete in big competitions but it would be fun to do smaller local stuff.
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