Comments on: I need to retrain my dressage horse for hunter/jumper How?

By: anreag

anreag — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:16:59 +0000

if your horse is already "trained" in dressage you shouldnt have to "retrain" for jumping. sounds like you need to retrain in your basic flat work. have you tried a loose ring snaffle? Let her learn to stretch her head out before asking her to collect. If she is tucking the way you say she is, sounds likeshe needs really soft hands. Hopefully she wasnt taught to collect by doing the "sawing" on her mouth as so many riders do and think because the head is down that their horse is collected. Hunters have low even heads. I say you dont have to retrain to jump because jumping is dressage with Obstacles. If you want to do jumpers, it doesnt matter what you look like, as long as you go fast and clear. Good luck.
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By: tbjumpergirl

tbjumpergirl — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 02:51:59 +0000

Don't ask her to collect ask her to move out from under you and her for forward movement. Put her in a regular bridle and a D-ring snaffle and see about that, it's probably majorly less than whats she is used to, and use your seat to direct her. If you need anymore help email me, good luck!
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By: allie

allie — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 02:19:59 +0000

Hmmm… so she wont cut it as a dressage horse…. and if shes over collected and the lines are all wrong, hunter may not be a whole lot better, as its judged on conformation (amongst other things). Start with ground poles during a fun ride (not a serious trainig session) to see how she takes it. Slowly take it into a small x over your next couple rides. Hopefully you’ll be getting an idea as to how she feels about tit at this point. I would start her off yourself, then perhaps seek proffessional help if you want to her to be a show-worthy jumper/hunter
Good luck
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