I have a friend that recently got a Canadian Warmblood.  The horse just turned 4 yesterday.  My friend (who is petite) is jumping her over 3 feet.  She says she only jumps every couple weeks.

I am curious if others think this is old enough for jumping.  I think it is for small woman like this.  I wouldn't jump my horse at that age, but, I am MUCH heavier than my friend.

What do you all think?

 Warmbloods tend to mature slower than a lot of other horses. Personally, if it were my horse, I wouldn't have started jump training for at least another year, just to be on the safe side. It's good to keep the rider's weight in mind, however, the bigger issue is the weight of the horse being supported by legs that haven't finished maturing. Even if it's only every now and then, 3 feet sounds like too much too soon. I believe it's better to be patient, hold off a little longer on training and have a horse that'll be healthy and sound to a ripe old age than to rush it and risk a break-down by age 10.

 I would jump a 4 year old -- occassionally and over small cross rails and stuff around 2' or so.  But that is just my personal opinion.  Many many event horses are started this way and they are certainly not lame prematurely, for the  most part, lots compete well into the late teens and 20's.

I normally START my horses over fences when they are 4 but that isn't jumping every day maybe twice a week and nothing too extreme mostly just cross rails(X) that aren't very high. Normally when I start horses out I will put the outside of the jump completely at the top and then seperate the standards so the middle is barely off the ground. This will really make them head to the center of the jump but it's not too much stress on them, they can trot over it if they want to. Once they are good about that then I'll start doing normal cross rails and some small verticles. nothing over 2 foot. I'd wait till they are 5 or 6 to put them over anything higher. I have a 4yo QH and I'm just going to start him over fences this summer. Next year if he's doing well we will probably compete.

i had a quarter horse when i was 13 or so, and i remember jumping her over jumps 2 or 2.5 ft high now and again when she was 3.5 and taking her to pony club when she was 4.  it seemed like it was okay then.  of course, i don't know how she aged, but, she was probably fine.

i have changed alot in the way i think about working with my horse and i wouldn't do that now (even if i was a lightweight). but, we didn't do as much groundwork then either. groundwork was a step to riding, not, an important part of training on its own.

another difference for me is now i am of an age where my whole plan when i got my present horse is for him to be with me til death.  that makes me comfortable being a lot slower in my expectations of him.  and it makes me very concerned about his physical health so that he will age as healthy as possible.

 As with most things, the best answer is "it depends," but there are also some absolutes.  Different horses mature at different rates and in different ways. On the "absolute" end, I would never start a horse younger than 3 and a half over jumps, no matter what the condition, size, or training the horse has already had -- yet the German horse sales will feature three-year-olds free-jumping over very high fences, to show their natural abilities.

If you're getting a young jumper-prospect ready for sale,there's tremendous pressue to"see what he can do," and show him off to the audience. However, just because the young horse can clear a four-foot (or higher) fence by free-jumping in the sales arena does NOT mean he should continue his jumper training immediately with his new owner.

Warmbloods often do seem to mature slowly, and balance can be an issue as parts of them grow at different rates. Don't start any horse jumping if he's in a butt-high, withers-low growth spurt. However, starting a well-conditioned, balanced, well-grown, four-year-old thoroughbred-type over cavaletti and small jumps should not be a problem. Be careful, however, not to ask for tight turns or speed, as the twisting/torque forces on young legs can do more damage than just the force of landing over a jump.

The danger isn't just in potential damage to the legs, it's in the spine.  The horse's legs attain back and neck are the last parts of his skeleton to fully mature. Deb Bennett notes that there's no such thing as a slow-maturing horse -- all horses attain full skeletal maturity at five and a half to six years. That's how long it takes the spine to fully develop.

Some horses may not reach their full height until after the age of six -- but that additional growth is usually a result of stronger muscling and better-developed ligaments over the shoulders, which can come with improved conditioning and nutrition.

On the plus side, progressive jump training can improve a horse's balance, confidence, agility and strength in his back and hindquarter muscles. German trainers regularly use raised cavaletti and small gymnastics training, first on the longe and then under saddle, for four- and five-year-olds -- dressage horses and jumpers alike. 

 Sarah Blanchard
Author: The Power of Positive Horse Training
Jump with Joy: Positive Coaching for Horse and Rider

48northfarm:

Gailforce:

and it makes me very concerned about his physical health so that he will age as healthy as possible.

A knowledgeable horsewoman is concerned about her horse's health and comfort, regardless of her age. But I do agree, the younger you are, the less likely you are take your time with things.

 it's partly youth that makes you impatient and want to do things with your horse.  but, it's also that you are learning from others and not doing the research yourself.

i was 14 when i had a 2 yr old to train.  so, at 15 when she's 3, i was ready to start jumping.  adults around me agreed with this.  i was in pony club and had alot of experienced people around.

now today, i think that's a bit too young.  because i have had many years to read about horses and also now have the world wide web to see what so many other people think around the world, not just at my stable and pony club.

on a similar note: i am finally teaching my horse to jump. he is almost 6 yrs old. pretty sure he's full grown now .

we have done ground poles lots of times in the past year and last night i set up some 2 foot jumps to lunge him over.  he seemed to really enjoy it.  i was surprised.  it was alot of fun for both of us.

i want to have him jump a bit, for the exercise and so he is able to jump over small obstacles on the trail.  but, who knows, if he likes it eventually we might be going over a small course now and again.

but, today, i am still out of shape, so, he will be going over jumps by himself for awhile longer.