[VanillaBean]

Is three too early to start jumping about 2foot?

 

[ridergirl23]

I think ti depends on the breed, but i would say just wait til four just to be safe but i dont really know that much on this kinda stuff. lol

 

[White Foot]

Yes, three is way too early. Three is the age you should start basic training, jumping is way down the road. At that young of age the horses legs haven't even fully fused together yet. By jumping him you're putting too much stress on them.

 

[MacabreMikolaj]

I personally would never even briefly consider jumping a horse before it was 4 years old, unless you're referring to some light free jumping. My Arabian mare didn't start over fences under saddle until she was 5 years old.

There is so much additional pressure and weight coming down on the joints and spine, it's absolutely crucial to wait until relative maturity to begin jumping with a rider.

 

[White Foot]

Today's Horse - Why People Start Horses Too Hard, Too Young

 

[xoSonnyLove1234]

i would say 6 or 7 three is way to young,

 

[Meaghan1011]

my mare is 5 and I have only sone a few jumps up to 2;3" in her entire life time and that was only a few months ago, at three there knees and legs are not fully developed and they are mentally not ready either, i have not pushed my mare 2 hard, she has only been ridden on the flat from the time i broke her by myself until now, and she is 5 and a half, her flat work is amazing because that is all i ahve worked on, she has done a few jumps but deffinately not many

 

[equine fanatic99]

You shouldn't really start jumping horses until they're about 6-7 yrs old, but little occasional ones are ok from 4-5 yrs

 

[barnprincess]

4 -5 is when you start introducing x-rails. 5 is really when you can start the 3 footers look at the topic ive got going right now on this same topic. its under jumping

 

[gypsygirl]

is it a coming 3yo or a coming 4yo ?

i would hold off until they are 4 or a couple months into their 4yo year

whether or not they are mentally ready is different for each individual horse, so i dont tlike to make generalizations about it.

 

[Marrissa]

The spine is one of the last things to fuse on a horse. The bones fuse from the order bottom up. Jumping causes impact to the joints, tendons, and the spine and those are things you certainly don't want to go on your horse.

I think the earliest you should ever jump a horse is four. Personally I'm waiting till 5 with my boy before he even goes over a tiny cross rail. I know it sucks to wait especially if it's you're only horse at the moment (like me) but in the end I'd rather wait a few years and him last a good 15+ riding years than start earlier and cause arthritis and other health problems.

 

[EveningShadows]

I think it has more to do with physical capability...thier spines and knees aren't done growing and fusing until age 5-7, depending on the breed. Bigger horses take longer whereas Welsh ponies are darn near done by age 4.

I could see you free jumping some cross rails at age 3 just to see their form and willingness, but I see no need to rush into jumping 2' at such a tender age.

 

[VanillaBean]

thats what i thought. its someone i knows horse and he was about middle threes, they were jumping him about 2ft with a 130(ABOUT)lb rider...i also thought it was too early...
he is a QH...