| it is and Why Teach your Horse | | | | his back. |
| If you have a young horse that is destined to a life of | | | | You can also use free jumping to evaluate your |
| jumping, or if you are looking to sell a young, unstarted | | | | horse’s natural talent over fences. Because |
| horse, free jumping is an excellent way not only to | | | | there is no rider to mess up his concentration or adjust |
| evaluate your horse’s potential over fences, but | | | | his jump, your horse has the chance to jump naturally. |
| also to give him a head start into the world of jumping. | | | | While at first, he may not show a lot of ability, with |
| Free jumping is the process in which you ask your | | | | practice many horses greatly improve their jump and |
| horse to jump over one or more jumps when working | | | | become quite efficient in the chute. |
| free in the arena. While this can be done with nothing | | | | Once you progress to jumping under saddle, your |
| more than a single jump along the side of the arena, it | | | | horse already had the confidence to jump small |
| is better to set up a jumping chute to prevent refusals. | | | | fences. In fact, since you will be starting with smaller |
| A free jumping chute can be as long or short as you | | | | fences under saddle than you used in the chute, you |
| want, but ideally it should cover the length of the long | | | | rarely have problems with refusals or other confidence |
| side of your arena. The chute should be as wide as | | | | issues that green horses generally show when jumping |
| your jump poles, generally 10-12’ in width. The | | | | under saddle for the first time. |
| entrance of the chute should be open so that you can | | | | There are some drawbacks though. If you horse tends |
| either lead your horse into the chute, or allow the horse | | | | to race through the chute, or has a bad experience, it |
| to enter the chute freely. The exit can either be open, | | | | can cause difficulties once jumping under saddle. He |
| so that your horse may exit freely to continue jumping, | | | | may also fall into bad habits, jumping from bad |
| or it can be closed (usually against the end wall of your | | | | distances or compensating in ways that are difficult to |
| arena) so that you can catch your horse and lead him | | | | correct. If you see signs of this, it is important to either |
| back to the entrance of the chute. | | | | correct the problem in the chute, or stop free jumping |
| Within the chute, a horse can be asked to jump a | | | | until you can make corrections under saddle. |
| single jump, or a series of jumps designed to improve | | | | A horse can start free jumping as young as a year |
| his form or test his jumping ability. Usually you would | | | | old. As long as the sessions are short and you |
| start out with something simple such as a pole on the | | | | don’t push the height of the fences, your young |
| ground, and then you would progress to more | | | | horse should be able to manage without difficulty. It is |
| complicated combinations of jumps. | | | | also important to avoid too many sessions through the |
| There are many benefits to free jumping your horse. | | | | season. A yearling should only free jump once or |
| For young horses, it is a great way to build their | | | | twice a month, if that. As you horse gets older, you |
| confidence over fences before you even try to jump | | | | can add a bit more height and train more often. By |
| under saddle. By gradually building the fences, you can | | | | three, your horse should be able to manage heights up |
| teach him that he is capable of jumping bigger jumps | | | | to 4’ and train 3-4 times a week. |
| and more difficult combinations that he would normally | | | | As with any training, be careful to watch your |
| have tried. With the side of the chute preventing him | | | | horse’s progress. Avoid pushing him too far, too |
| from running out, he is forced to face the jumps ahead | | | | fast. Don’t repeat the same exercise too often, |
| of him. The trainer insists that the horse goes forward, | | | | or you could burn him out. Free jumping can be an |
| so that refusal is not an option; in this way he | | | | excellent training exercise, but should be treated with |
| becomes an honest jumper even before you get on | | | | care. |