Jumping. . . for any horse?

This is kind of a dumb question, but can you take pretty much kind of horse and teach it to jump? I don't mean like show it and expect to win, but just easily make it over a 2 1/2 or 3 footer?

Any horse sound of body and mind should be able to clear 3'

That's right. You can do any low level activities with pretty much any breed out there, ranging from Standard Breds, Mules, Tennesee Walkers, Thoroughbreds, QH's, Drafts.

It is when you get to Mid to Higher Levels where proper breeding/Conformation starts to play a HUUUUGE factor in the health, the ability and the longevity of the animal.

Also, how you take care of the horse.

It drives me up the wall when I see people hop on their horses, and jump with no proper protection, and when they are done, they untack, and toss their horses back out into pasture or back into their stall - with no proper care to the legs at all.

Proper Conditioning is important regardless of what height you are jumping
Proper Feeding and Supplimenting is important regardess of what height you are jumping - aka joint suppliments
Proper Preperation and proper care to PREVENT, PROTECT and PRESERVE our horses legs, joints, minds and bodies.

Good post, MIE! I do have to disagree about one thing though - joint suppliments. There has been very conflicting reports on the effectiveness of oral Glucosamine/MSM/Chondroitin (sp?). Personally, I'm not tossing $100 into his feed every month if it's not doing him a lick of good. Then again, I'm not a 5' jumper either.
Now, proper leg care is very important. I firmly believe in wraps/boots and liniments... I'm just a skeptic when it comes to oral supplimentation. Injections are a different story though.

I agree about the Oral.

I've read articles in "Horse Health" the "The Horse" Magazines about the little effect powdered suppliments have - liquid is a stronger potancy because it is at it's most natural element, where powdered is not because it has been broken down and broken down to get it into the form it is.

Injectables are great. I use a liquid just to be sure. I like Hyla RX. But I do agree about oral suppliments.

Far too many studdies out there showing that oral suppliments aren't as effective as many like to think. The time you buy it off the shelf, it has already been broken down. And by the time it gets to your horses joints, it has been broken down even more, and most parts end up not where they belong.

As long as the confo is suitable, yes.

I have to disagree Sunny... I've seen some conformational trainwrecks jump the moon. Of course conformation plays a role, but most horses that are sound of body and mind should be able to clear 3'.

Mostly I mean for showing or if you are going to be doing it a lot. You want the horse to be comy and safe. Bad confo may create undesirable effects in the long run.

Joint supplements worked well for my horse, I gave him powder, he did great with it, then I ran out and after 2 weeks ( didnt have the money to buy more) I could feel a different in his movment. I just bought it in pelleted form, so I hope that works

I would say so. I jump my 10yr, but only for exercise and training through :)

My jumps are TINY too xD I lash a pole onto two concrete blocks. It's a bare six inches off the ground. If. He, of course, acts like it's four foot off the ground and EVIL so he just CAN'T do it it's so scary. -eyeroll- xD


So long as your horse/mule/donkey isn't totally cow-hocked/pigeon toed or improperly conditioned it should be able to go over a decent sized jump. And, so long as you take proper care of it before and after, of course.