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The initial training of a young or green horse over jumps will have a big impact on how easy and safe they are to jump. In this video, I share several key objectives of a horse’s early jump training as well as the basic progression of exercises that will help a horse learn to jump safely and effectively.
Do you have any tips to add? Leave a comment!
Thanks, Callie
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In today’s world, everybody is busy. Our cell phones and worries of what else is going on in life seem to keep us constantly distracted.
If you have a young horse, or an older one that does not have trail experience you want to start them trail riding the right
Most riders, especially those who do any kind of arena work, are familiar with the concept that a horse should “move off your leg.” This
I signed up for the Balanced Riding course after watching Callie on YouTube. I’ve learned so much from this course. As you start riding when you’re young, you learn the fundamentals, but then you drift so far away from them in different skills that you’re learning that you sometimes kind of forget or don’t appropriately utilize those fundamentals anymore. And she’s really brought me back to that level of understanding specifically how to ride with the seat. And I think that’s kind of the most powerful thing you can learn to do as a rider, is to sit your horse appropriately, not have to rely so much on your reins. So that’s been huge, just completely changed the way I ride.
I just want to say thank you to everyone for all the comments and positive comments I have read while on this site. I have taken many of the free courses offered by CRK training over the past few months and it has help with my confidence. I actually rode my daughter’s horse for the first time outside in the ring since she came home from a free lease September. I have practiced many of the lessons and watched many videos. It was just at a walk but I felt confident with every thing I have learnt so far, plus I have learnt that I am not the only one who gets nervous and that it is okay to be nervous and thanks to Callie’s lessons I have learnt to take one day at a time and work though the times I feel nervous.
As a new horse owner and rider I wanted a training series that would walk me through each step of equitation for a beginner. That is exactly what I got with the CRK Balanced Rider Series. Callie King is a talented horse trainer and accomplished rider and it shows through each of her videos. She is clear and concise when discussing her insider knowledge of horse care, training, and riding.
As with all of the work Callie does, this program is informative, thoughtful, evidence based. The course provides good resources on horsemanship, managing fear, developing confidence. The videos of “how to” help your horse manage his fear were particularly good (in that) helping my horse manage moments of fear, helps me to manage mine.
This is why I so enjoy your videos and webinars. Your approach is so positively based and therefore so kind and gentle while still being very effective. You work with the horse and not against him.
THANK YOU!
24 Responses
Hi Callie
Thank you for the infirmitive posts.
It has helped me a lot.
My fear is the canter! Any tips
How do you determine the distance between the ground poles?
Excellent! One thing I’ve done to make it easier for me to set up different grids (especially since we’ve got many riders at the barn who break down or set up their own exercises) is to cut plastic marking tape to the different sizes I need, and write on them with magic marker. E.g., 4′ trot poles, 9′ bounce, 11′ single stride. I’m not very good at pacing things off, and since the marking tape can be bunched up small, I just stick it in a pocket when I plan to set up exercises either in the arena or jump field. It’s easier than carrying or using a tape measure.
Great idea!
Callie,
Thank you for the great video! It was very helpful. I was wondering if you could do a video for the rider and jumping. I have a horse who is a good jumper, but I’m a novice. I practice with her at my barn, and I’m okay with xpoles, but once I change to a vertical, I make mistakes. I don’t want to sour her on jumping, and I want to jump better. Can you go over positioning/body mechanics and thought process through a jump? When to put leg on, how to find distances, when to send the horse? I would so appreciate it!! Your videos are always so informative, and I learn so much from you. Thank you!!
Hi Erin, great suggestions! there seems to be a lot of interest around jumping, so I will go over more of the jumping process in the coming weeks!
Are trot poles and canter poles the same distance apart? 4 ft? Does it depend on size or breed of horse? I assume a course is set the same distance regardless size or breed
Thanks
Hi Judy,
Canter poles are generally set farther apart – about 9 feet
I love using the gymnastics that you’ve suggested here. They are great exercises for beginning jumping riders and even for those who need a re-introduction to jumping. Straightness, balance, and rhythm … all good foundations for when approaching jumping.
Hi Callie,
Thank u for presenting such important topic , i appreciate if u would talk in more details about jumping higher fences and how to keep the horse straight and keep him on cantering after the jump, how to change the lead over the fence .
Thanks
thanks for advice just started juming myself small excerises like this are good for me . if you have anymore videos on proper jumping postion .
Hi Theresa, great suggestion – I will make a video on jumping position!
Hi Callie, the video was very helpful. Could you tell me the distance you would recommend between poles, my horse has only jumped one pole before. She is a 16h cob. Thanks for your weekly posts i look forward to receiving them each week here in England.
Hi Michelle, average distance between poles for trotting is 4 – 4.5 feet. Best suggestion is to start with this distance and ride through it in a medium trot. If your horse feels as though he has to shorten his stride, lengthen the distance between the poles. If she feels as though she is taking huge steps, then shorten the distance. When you find a distance that works, measure it with your feet heel to toe – this way you can set the poles again without a tape measure.
How far apart for average size horse should trot poles and canter poles be?
Average for trot is 4-4.5 feet, average for canter is 9 feet.
How do I measure the right distance for the stride of my small mare????
Great questions here on setting the poles for this exercise – average distance between poles for trotting is 4 – 4.5 feet. Best suggestion is to start with this distance and ride through it in a medium trot. If your horse feels as though he has to shorten his stride, lengthen the distance between the poles. If she feels as though she is taking huge steps, then shorten the distance. When you find a distance that works, measure it with your feet heel to toe – this way you can set the poles again without a tape measure.
Thanks Callie. Love your videos. Would love to visit your barn someday and do a clinic. I am in South Carolina. We get to ride outdoors almost year round. We host Equine therapy twice a week. Leaving for FL to get certified next week. Check out our Facebook page. Fidelis Foundation in Myrtle Beach SC. Have a great day.
Hi Nancy,
Would love to have you come up to the barn! Good luck in your certification!
Hi Callie,
Thank you for your perspective on working a green horse over fences! I had some issues with my young Warmblood initially with trotting immediately after a fence, but used your suggestion of an in and out and he has improved tremendously!
Thank you again!
We watched your video pn teaching a young horse to jump and would like to know how long you stay on one exercise before moving up to the next step. We have a 5yr old appendix who we have just started over fences.
Please let me know,
Thanks
Hi Peter, that is a great question and it really depends on the individual horse! I would love to have you check out our Building the Showjumper program for a detailed training structure for starting a horse over fences 🙂
-Julia Burdy, CRK Training Community Manager
Thank you Callie. Your videos are priceless, every single one. I have the opportunity to ride a three year old who is eager, smart and capable. Your approach is sensible and clearly stated and I am eager to apply your lessons.
His trainer took him over a couple cross rails which he did, but there was no confidence in his stride. Thank you for sharing your experience as your approach has addressed all what I observed happening – from his foot placement and balance to his confidence. He wants to please, which is what got him over the cross rail but my concern is the anxiety I perceived which needs to be nipped in the bud. If at all possible I want to help him become secure on his feet, be able to correct himself if I fail in my “job” on the approaches, and I would like him to feel confident. Your video helped me to visualize all of that and gave me hope – maybe we really can achieve these lofty goals! Thank you Callie