How did you get started jumping? What was your progression?

[MissCoco]

I’ve recently re-started jumping after switching to a new instructor about 8 months ago, and I’m starting to feel confident over little fences, which is awesome!
But I was jumping for about a year with my old instructor.
After 6 months with an instructor who has a much more hands-on (and demanding) style, I’ve been thinking about the different ways riders are introduced to jumping, and how long it takes different riders to progress to different levels.

So, how did you get started jumping and what is your jumping history?

I’m just really curious about how other people got started and progressed. Share as much or as little as you like.
I thought I’d list some specific things I’m wondering about to hopefully get people started : )

How long did you only do flatwork before you started jumping?
Were there specific skills you had to demonstrate before you started jumping?
For the instructors and trainers here, how do you like to introduce jumping to new riders?
How long did you spend at different heights before progressing to the next level?
Did you have to overcome fear(s) as you began jumping or gained experience?
Did you have a moment when jumping really “clicked” for you at a given height or with a certain horse?

[qhaftershock]

I started out riding AQHA all around and did that for 12 years before I started jumping. So I had 12 years of flatwork before I ever went over any jumps. I could w/t/c both directions, post and sit the trot, knew how to 2-pt ( albeit not well). I could also get good quality lateral work, knew how to ask the horse to come onto the bit, and had relatively quiet hands. Then I took a jumping lesson and was hooked. I already knew how to ride, and had good position, so starting jumping was relatively easy for me. We have had to pretty much relearn how to do proper flatwork, and how to go forward, but I wasn’t also learning to ride while I learned to jump. We spent a lesson or two on crossrails, another lesson or two at about 2’ and after that was jumping 2’6" courses pretty quickly ( my horse knew what he was doing). Have pretty much stayed at 2’6"- 2’9" due to horses age and limitations. Never really found any fears, if I find I am getting nervous I just focus on cantering one stride at a time and forget the actual jumps. By the time they come up, it is too late for me to do anything about it, and I just have to go with. I have actually found that the higher jumps ( 2’9" plus) are easier to ride, as the pace and the jumps put your body in the right position over the fence. The higher jumps are usually where it clicks for me.

[RAyers]

I was seduced into jumping by a woman of dubious morals and low standards.

[NoSuchPerson]

At my riding lessons:

1. “Jumping position” on the flat at all gaits. (Back when I was learning to ride, I never had an instructor use the term “2 point.” It was just called “jumping position.”)

2. Trot poles, starting with just one, then expanding to a row of them.

3. Single cross rail, trotting in and out

4. Multiple cross rails trotting in and out

5. Cross rails trot in canter out

6. Small vertical.

7. And so on.

It was a gradual progression starting with establishing a solid 2 point position on the flat.

At home:

Look! A log!

Run pony at full speed toward log.

Grab mane, squeal and laugh.

Muscle pony to a halt.

Turn around to face log again and repeat. :lol:

[2DogsFarm]

@RAyers

I was seduced into jumping by a woman of dubious morals and low standards.

:lol: & Iam guessing that is Ms. RAyers?
I did the same for my CityBoy DH… @ age 56 got him on a horse w/o a word from my (angelic) self.
He came to watch a lesson at the barn I was working at, & commented that it “looks like fun” & A Rider was born

@MissCoco When I was a child the only discipline available to me was Huntseat.
My decrepit memory does not recall any jumping before 10yo, so 2yrs weekly flatwork before that.
On a veritable Circus assortment of schoolies :uhoh:
Then at the tender age of 11 or 12 I do recall hearing Trainer chastise us kids that it was “Only a 4’ fence!” < the English version of Cowboy Up.
We schooled @ 3’ & jumped picnic tables on our loosely supervised Trail Lesson rides.
Things were different back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth…

At 15 I took a near-20yr vacay from riding & started back with another Hunter Trainer.
Whole new ballgame.
About 1/2 of every lesson was flatwork, then smaller - 2-2’9" fences.
(This was Back in the Day - before fences were measured in meters)
After about 3yrs the Bug bit & I bought my own horse.
Did the Green Hunter, then 1st Year, 2nd Year (Yes, I know, a “Pro” division - oh, the horror!) AA & Novice classes with the occasional 3’ Medals for the next 4-5yrs, then switched to Dressage & Eventing at a different barn…
Also trailrode, jumping anything that presented itself as an opportunity.
He was a lovely TB who had me so comfortable O/.F we schooled to Training level Eventing on the home course, showed BNH.
Also schooled to 3rd Level Dressage (started flying changes) when I moved to a Trainerless barn.
Setting my own fences activated my lazybone & jumping pretty much went to the back burner.
I still miss it, but have not had a horse who made it as much fun since him.
He’s the Hey Vern! in my sig & a pic of us schooling 3’ -#KneesInEars #WoodAllergy - sits on my desk at home. :sadsmile:

[fordtraktor]

@RAyers

I was seduced into jumping by a woman of dubious morals and low standards.

If this is your mother who still jumps, I hope she beat you early and often as a child!

[RAyers]

@fordtraktor

If this is your mother who still jumps, I hope she beat you early and often as a child!

I never had a shot.

Because of her, I will never have a valid excuse to not jump. :winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin:

Oh and to @miscoco, I started riding when I was 2 and jumping when I was 6 because the aforementioned mom wanted to jump and she wasn’t going to leave us kids at home.

[MissCoco]

@NoSuchPerson
What a lovely snapshot of growing up riding!
@RAyers
I love it! I’m picturing your mother riding through the woods with a number of children on ponies at her heels!

It sounds like many people go up in height quite quickly once they get started, I wonder if part of that is just that lifelong riders have better balance than adult newbies, or if it is just that children are more adaptable!

[Scribbler]

I think that if you develop good balance and form on the lower heights, it seems as if going up in height is not that difficult (I speak from observation only).

But if you don’t development good balance and form, you will not be able to start adding height. I see lots of kids started jumping in lessons when they don’t have much seat, hanging onto neck or grab strap, and that’s not a good foundation for adding height.

[GoodTimes]

My experience was very similar to NoSuchPerson. I spent probably 1-2 years flatting ponies before ever actually jumping. However, the flatwork involved a lot of poles. My first coach was a stickler for correct equitation, over 20 years later I’m still very appreciative.
I started riding when I was 7 or 8
Showed short stirrup when I was 10 (Full courses at 18", included oxers and fill, no trotting, flying changes required, etc)
Moved up to the regular small ponies at age 11 (2’3")
At age 12 I got my first horse (my mom and I shared horses my whole junior career). I showed him 2’3", he was only 5 at the time.
At 13 I moved up to 2’9" with him.
From 14 through the rest of my junior years I consistently showed the Childrens hunters (3’) as well as catch rode a variety of young horses at varying heights.
As an adult I now show my younger gelding in the A/Os (3’6") and my moms older gelding in the 1.10m jumpers.

I stagnated at 3’ not because of skill, but because of the horses my family could afford. They were safe, and were nice horses to learn on, but were limited in scope. Fortunately because I had good instructors I developed both a solid foundation, and was taught important skills such as riding back to front, and that the secret to finding distances is keeping a forward rhythm. Now I can purchase fancy babies and develop them myself into 3’6" horses.

I am a proponent of finding a coach who is good at teaching beginners. Someone who is loose in the tack on the flat should not be jumping. A good beginner coach will be able to help develop a good base BEFORE anyone starts jumping.

I do also believe that it’s more difficult for adults to learn to ride. They’re usually less flexible, are crooked from past injuries, etc.
My mom is an example of this. We started riding at the same time. She’s just as knowledgeable as I am, she can pick the winning trip or the hack winner 99% of the time. Yet, she sticks to 2’6". She has no flexibility in her ankles so she has trouble weighting her heels, it has only gotten worse as she gets older, and without a strong base it’s hard to ride effectively. I’m definitely not knocking her though. I hope I’m still riding and jumping when I’m 55.