What and when???

Hello,

I have been readin through some posts on this topic and many of you seem very opinionated on what heights horses should be jumping and at what age?

Now although height is an issue i was always told that frequency of jumping and the ground on which it is done on is far more detrimental on a horses joints that anything else!?

If for e.g. a horse of 4years was jumped 4ft once a week on a turf float, level and concussion relieving surface for the year then the damage would be less than that of a 4year old jumping 2ft6 5days a weeks on a field, which gets slippy, too soft, muddy, too hard, rutty etc which is likely to pull, and put strain on a horses legs.

What do you guys think??

At what age can each height be done without detriment?

E.g

3 years = pole work
4years = up to 2ft6
5years = upto 3ft
6years = upto3ft6
7years = any height??

Looking forward to your opinions!

Elz xx

I have yet to form an opinion on this subject. But I think another factor that comes into play is the horses breed. Some breeds develop faster than others.

That is a very good point!!

This is why i find it shocking that some would right off a horse just because it has jumped big and at a youngish age, a lot of factors come into play....not just the height and age!!

Thanks for that Blossom!

Elz x

3 years = pole work
4years = up to 2ft6
5years = upto 3ft
6years = upto3ft6
7years = any height??

Can I point out in BSJA young horse style & preformance championship at..

4 yrs = 1.00m (3ft 3) ~ 1.05 max spread of 1.15m

5 yrs = 1.10m (3ft 6) ~ last two fences max of 1.20m
max spread of 1.20m

6 yrs = 1.25m ~1.30m max spread of 1.35m

7 yrs = 1.35m ~ 1 vertical 1.40 and 1 parallel 1.40 max spread 1.45m

These heights are for the first round!!

Although at smaller BSJA show they tend to be smaller at Bicton where we went over the weekend 5 yr olds were jumping 1.00m and 6 yr olds were jumping 1.10m..

My sister is hoping to get her 4 yr old ready for style and preformance which hopefully shouldn't be a problem for shirley as she's bred from good showjumping lines..

This is my piont....people saying that a horse is a right off when it has been jumping 4ft as a 5year old just dont realise that if the horse is a showjumper that is what it is geared to do!

Most of its competitive career would be over if they waited till a horse was 6 or 7 to start it jumping a decent size of fence!?

Well Shirley will be 4 in June so not even 4 yet but by no meens has she been rushed she's been loose schooled over 1.10m ~1.15m she's been out to shows and been round 80cm clear round type classes at affliated shows and shows major promise her flat work is coming on nicely as well, she should be really special her mum a grade A mare and her dad's Unbelievable Darco currently ridden by louise pavvit..

Def born to jump then!! hehe

I had a darco gelding, a concorde mare, and a nimmerdor mare last year and the darco by far had the most born gifted jump i have ever seen!! These were all unbroken 3year olds, who left me and are now jumping huge classes at only 4yrs!

Good luck to her this year!