Cassy!! Don't be mean! This person may not know much about horses but it doesn't mean you are a horse expert! Explain it nicely and move on! She can do her way and you can do yours!
Dec 18, 2010 Rating
Jumping by: Anonymous
Hi Autumn Marie (brilliant name!)
I've trained two of my horses to jump, and if they have a natural flair for jumping, it's really not that hard. Jumping schooling should only be started when a horse knows the really basic stuff - walk, trot, canter, stop, turn, etc. Start low and using a gentle leg aid against her side, push her towards the jump at a trot (horses jump naturally from a trot; you can start to canter later).
Don't look down at a jump and as you reach the jump, squeeze with your legs and if you like add a verbal command (like "Up" or "Jump"). If she jumps praise her with pats and kind words; even if she knocks down the pole or only trots over it instead of actually jumping. Should she refuse or run out, turn around and try again.
Oh, just for the record, hitting a horse with the reins may be used as a form of discipline if you're not using a riding crop. Only do it to tell the horse that they're being really naughty and don't do it to hurt them, only to let them know they're bad (before you actually hit them let them know they're naughty by telling them so in a firm tone). Also be careful not to haul on their mouth if you use the ends of the reins to drive them on and make sure the reins are long enough.
Hope you have fun with your riding.
Apr 04, 2008 Rating
thanks Cassey by: lindygirl
I think Cassey has some good advice. I don't think you slap horses with reins, I have ridden English and Western and we never did that. Maybe you use a crop sometimes, but we never hit the horse to be mean or harsh. We use legs and communication to make them go. Also, jumping can be very dangerous, a girl I know broke her back and she was riding for years.
I am sure you love horses too, but some people have learned the old way which isn't as gentle. I love the natural horsemanship method, there's more on this site about it too.
good luck with your riding!
Mar 01, 2008 Rating
Thanks by: Kristina
Thank you, now I now how to make my horse jump. I've been trying to make her move but she just doesn't T_T
Jun 01, 2008 Rating
I don't think so! by: Windcall
I may not know as much as I wish I did about horses, but a few of the things you mentioned on your "to do" list, I DEFINITELY know NOT to do! I entirely agree with Cassey (previous commentor), and I hope that you do not treat your horse, if you have one of your own, in this manner. Please, do not treat any horse this way!
Apr 02, 2008 Rating
Excuse me? by: Anonymous
Umm.... whaaat? You need more than saddle and reins you need a whole BRIDLE and a saddle PAD, you also need back risers or gel pads if your horse has back problems or bone injuries.
When you get a horse you do not train him straight away! I mean what is that about? If you are so in-experienced with horses you don't get a green (un-trained) horse and even if you do you do NOT un-load them from the float and straight away train them!
You let them settle into their stable or paddock and let them get to know any other horses you may have over the fence.
As for "slapping" the horse with the reins that is a big NO NO! You do not slap the reins on a horse to make it move! You squeeze the horses sides with your legs and keep applying slight pressure to make them move. If the horse still doesn't move then you apply more pressure until they do.
Now, if you have a green horse you do not teach them to jump straight away! In fact you do not teach any horse to jump in this manner. You slowly introduce the horse to ground poles and you do this with the horse on a lead or lunge line not you on it's back. And you NEVER ride a horse that doesn't know how to jump directly at a jump and tell it to "jump it now or else" and if you fail the first time with a ground pole you have someone then go to the horses head and lead the horse over it you do NOT have someone force it over the jump.
If you someone followed you directions and went to a show the horse would refuse the jumps or jump by sheer luck and I highly doubt that you would get a place AT ALL. You do not get famous by using this method.
My advice, go to a riding school and LEARN something about horses.
Cassey
P.S. It is called jumping, show jumping or eventing not "fence jumping".
