I want to learn to ride English....

4-H is over and it doesn't start till next year. I have Blu at the fairgrounds for another week, I think. I am going to sign up for English riding next year. Is there anything I can do here to get a head-start? Blu can jump he tucks his front feet fairly well. The highest I've jumped with him was an oxer about at his chest. I don't have any English tack yet but maybe even for Christmas I can get some. Any suggestions....

Blu, what do you really want to know about english. I have experience riding both western and english, but more so english. I do know one thing, the english saddle to some feels a lot more vulnerable I guess the word would be, because it doesnt give you the same sense of stability that the western does. Also the stirrup length is generally shorter, and you use 2 hands for the reins (but I recently saw/found out that western can be the same.thought it was pretty cool.

I want to jump basically. I've ridden in an English saddle before. I've jumped bareback before, too. I'm never going to do that again. Anyways, I just want to try English and stuff. Blu doesn't show Western very well and I have been wanting to try English for a long time. I need to know things like:
Can Boo be a jumper?
Can I be a jumper?
Etc.
Stuff like that. Does that make sense???

Yeahh that makes sense Blu. Well considering you said you jumped him before, that's a definate start. I think that any horse can jump and surely anyone can jump. When you did jump Blu, did he seem to enjoy it, or did you feel like you really had to pick him up and over the jump? I would also start slowly with him to work back up to jumping. I started training my mare, and we did and are still doing a lot of groundwork. Getting her used to the poles on the ground, the jump standards, and jumping over little cross rails. Its always better to take it slowly and not move too fast. I read this whole article on jumping basics and found it very interesting, unfortunately, its no longer online, but I can send it in a message for you if you want it. Like I said before, I don't see why you wouldnt be able to jump. What I found worked with my mare, was that I assured her, even before we started the jump, that she was going to be ok, and if anything happened, it was my fault (i think it was more for me, than for her lol) But just having that in mind, seemed to help. I also free lunged her over higher jumps so she'd get the feel for picking her feet up and how to do the whole jumping thing. It also helps a lot to have someone set up the jumps when you're riding. They can also tell you what to work on, as in legs are sliding back, get in your 2 point more or sooner. I'd even suggest video taping the jumping so you can critique yourself and also see how Blu jumps and all. I hope this all made sense. Being up for 15 hours straight is getting to me lol

Thanks a bunch! When I jumped him he did great. No refusals. Maybe a few mistakes but he never did it before. Maybe I can tape him jumping sometime this week!!! At first, he was really lazy. Then he got better. I put trot poles down in a little course I made and he cleared those big time because he thought they were a big jump! Lol. Ya he does fine. I've worked with him on cross-country, too. He does really good at tucking over logs and stuff. I don't have an English saddle so if I jump him for you guys its not going to be pretty! In my opinion, he does really good for not being trained to jump if you know what I mean...

B (scroll)
>
>>
>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
You (scroll)
>
>>
>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
M (scroll)
>
>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
P (STOP!)

Sorry just amusing myself! Lol. 8) :) :roll: HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!

Well if he has cross country experience, I think he'll do great. Let us know how things go with him

Alrighty! Thanks a bunch it means a lot! I will try to get jumping videos this week. How do I post them? Same as images right on with the little <marqee>url</marquee> Is that right??? Thanks Again!! Oh and remember I don't have a helmet or anything but the arena is soft! Plus, I have a Western everything! Lol

I have no idea how to post videos. As for not having a helmet, not a good idea! Especially since you 2 are sorta new at jumping. I would get a helmet before you start jumping him.

Okay, I'll try! Thanks...