jumping the heavier horse and keeping them sound

[kcmel]

I have a 9 YO 16.1 hand medium build draft x that I adore. He was pretty green when I bought him in the Spring of 2014.

I know fitness, footing, and hoof care (he has great feet and is barefoot) are the keys to keeping him sound, but I am worried that especially once we get above BN (we are planning on moving up to Novice this year) jumping will be hard on his legs.

I see much larger draft crosses competing at training and higher, but I am curious as to how well they hold up when jumping bigger. How much jumping is enough but not too much? Do you have a different training strategy for the heavier horses vs the tbs for example?

Here is a picture showing his conformation (he is not quite as downhill as he looks in this shot!)

Thanks!

[FatCatFarm]

I’ll be interested to see what anecdotal feedback you get on this as I have three young draft crosses. I moved up to Novice last year with my oldest who is 8 this year, 16.3hds and probably 1400lbs. He is ASB x Percheron and he too is barefoot with great feet. We’ve had no soundness issues whatsoever but I do not jump the fool out of him, as we only jump once or twice a week when preparing for an event. The week of the event, he might jump four times though between home prep, schooling cross country and then the day of competition. We are hoping to do our first horse trial this year as we’ve only done schooling shows up to this point.

He is a very careful jumper and almost never hits anything, but doesn’t over jump and waste energy. I also give him decent down time. I take late November to mid February off and he gets to be a pasture puff, and we don’t push as hard in the dog days of summer, usually. We have done competitions in July and August, one each, and they’re not my fave.

ETA: On average, my guy is jumped once a week when aiming for a competition, but there are a great many weeks in between where we do no jumping at all while we concentrate on dressage and conditioning.

[Willesdon]

As FatCatFarm says, don’t jump him too much and, another thing, don’t do it in a tight arena. Give him enough space to get round the corners as tight circles and curves will be harder on a bigger, heavier horse. He will tell you when he has reached his maximum height and it might surprise you.

[PaintedHunter]

I’ve had my freight train Ollie almost four years now (OMG, where has time gone??) and he’s now 13. We’re still hanging around BN, but besides one weird incident while he was in training that must have been a stone bruise, he’s never been off at all. I usually only jump once per week and give him long warmups.

I keep him on a hoof supplement, as he’s always been barefoot.

[galloping-gourmet]

I have had many since 1996. Currently have 2. I jump up to training height, once in a great while a bit higher. Mine have always gone barefoot, and never had any soundness issues. I too, don’t jump them every ride, and not too big. Lots of straight ahead riding (trail vs arena) when possible. Mine live outside also, so not in a small stall. A couple have popped a splint, but never caused long term problem…Enjoy - they are the BEST!!!

[kcmel]

[QUOTE=galloping-gourmet;8542113]
I have had many since 1996. Currently have 2. I jump up to training height, once in a great while a bit higher. Mine have always gone barefoot, and never had any soundness issues. I too, don’t jump them every ride, and not too big. Lots of straight ahead riding (trail vs arena) when possible. Mine live outside also, so not in a small stall. A couple have popped a splint, but never caused long term problem…Enjoy - they are the BEST!!![/QUOTE]

Thanks everyone! I do limit his time in the ring–I have miles of hilly hacking available just across the road from me.

GG, I agree–he is the best. Not exactly what I expected when I bought a draft cross–big motor, sensitive, and shy around strangers. But I love everything about him (except maybe his color; I sometimes think I spend more time bathing him than riding him :lol: ).

[NeverTime]

Nothing to add on this topic except that he’s awfully cute, kcmel! Have fun and good luck.

[pologirl27]

I am a die-hard TB person, but the folks on the hunting forum might have some good opinions. They love their draft crosses!

[Synthesis]

I’ve been following the Denny’s Long Slow Miles philosophy with mine. Lots of hacking when weather permits. Lots of walk and trot, limited canter on harder ground and hills plus regular farrier to keep the feet balanced. I have access to a beach, so it has great footing in the summer for occasional faster work and the water makes great resistance training. The cold north atlantic is also great for cooling out their feet/legs after.

I actually do regular, as in multiple times per week, low jumping (between 2’ and 2’9" depending) but not a lot of jumping. Sometimes as much as a dozen jumps, sometimes as little as 4 jumps plus the regular flat work. Considering my horse pretty much has 2’ kneecaps, its not as intensive as it sounds.

I want to put some stress through the legs on a very consistent basis to generate the tendon, ligament and especially the bone remodeling to handle the rigors of harder work.

[asterix]

I evented a pretty beefy draft cross through Training with no issues - he went on to a new career at age 10 with xrays that were identical to the ones I had taken at 5.

I’ve got a little bit lighter perch cross now who is ready to go Training as well.

In addition to the advice already given - general fitness, judicious use of your “jumps”, lots of turnout…I’d add

• very good farrier care - even if barefoot, you need to keep the angles correct
• be wary of the long vacation - extra weight is not your friend
  and
  DRESSAGE.
  The more he can learn to carry himself, engage his hind end, and get lighter on his feet, the better. Both of my draft crosses spent more time doing flatwork than jumping and both were uphill and very balanced. It makes a huge difference in how they use themselves, and that will carry over to the jumping work and reduce the load on their front legs in particular.

[Foxtrot_s]

In the early '90’s Gibraltar was clocking around Advanced - he was a big heavy draft type.

I think you sound an intelligent, cautious rider who wants to do right by your horse and you would limit his jumping/galloping enough to keep him tuned and sound with the best care available.

My own horse is ‘bred’ to event - but she is a larger mare, somewhat heavy bodied and I think we will limit her to possibly Prelim and not over do it…we’ll see.

[Duramax]

My heavy Belg/TB has evented prelim and stayed sound. I was religious about icing feet and legs after gallops and after xc schooling or competitions. I kept the jumping to a minimum (once every other week) and was picky about footing. We also used Aquatread to build fitness without so much pounding. I am neurotic about good farrier work and am happy to pay for quality. I also have the vet do a once over monthly when he’s competing to stay on top of everything and notice small changes before they turn into something more.

Helliot is 17.2 and 1650 lbs (I weighed him at a truck stop once! )

[Foxtrot_s]

I think ‘Duramax’ would be an excellent name for a heavy duty event horse

[Classic_Melody]

Purely anecdotal here, but my 1500-lb Cleveland Bay cross has been much sounder than my TB ever was. Tougher feet, hardier all over, less accident prone. Mileage may vary etc. We are novice and below strictly but I’ve never worried about his feet or legs. He has developed arthritis in his neck which is due to his heavier build, but we are managing it and he continues to jump and have fun at age 14. I hope we get many more years.

[kcmel]

[QUOTE=asterix;8543892]
DRESSAGE.
The more he can learn to carry himself, engage his hind end, and get lighter on his feet, the better. Both of my draft crosses spent more time doing flatwork than jumping and both were uphill and very balanced. It makes a huge difference in how they use themselves, and that will carry over to the jumping work and reduce the load on their front legs in particular.[/QUOTE]

You sound like my dressage trainer! Yes, that has definitely been a focus and it has really helped. He use to like to drag me around on his forehand leaning on my hands. He is much better now. At a recent dressage clinic the clinician even said she thought it would be easy to teach him changes. I was like “whaaat?”

[asterix]

Well, it’s true! Proper dressage training is strength training, and balance and suppleness practice. My Belgian cross was competing at 2nd and learning changes when I sold him, and my perch cross went from having a freight train of a canter to being really soft and adjustable. we haven’t started changes with him yet (he’s 1st level), but the other day in my jump school I landed on the right lead (we’d been jumping that jump and turning right) intending to do a left rollback. As I set up for the turn he threw in a lovely change. It was easy for him! 2 years ago cantering in a 20 m circle was a challenge. :lol:

With these guys, you can dramatically improve their balance and weight distribution in motion from front to back with consistent dressage work. It takes time, though.

[FatCatFarm]

@asterix;8543892

I evented a pretty beefy draft cross through Training with no issues - he went on to a new career at age 10 with xrays that were identical to the ones I had taken at 5.

I’ve got a little bit lighter perch cross now who is ready to go Training as well.

In addition to the advice already given - general fitness, judicious use of your “jumps”, lots of turnout…I’d add

• very good farrier care - even if barefoot, you need to keep the angles correct
• be wary of the long vacation - extra weight is not your friend
  and
  DRESSAGE.
  The more he can learn to carry himself, engage his hind end, and get lighter on his feet, the better. Both of my draft crosses spent more time doing flatwork than jumping and both were uphill and very balanced. It makes a huge difference in how they use themselves, and that will carry over to the jumping work and reduce the load on their front legs in particular.
  As I set up for the turn he threw in a lovely change. It was easy for him! 2 years ago cantering in a 20 m circle was a challenge. :lol:

With these guys, you can dramatically improve their balance and weight distribution in motion from front to back with consistent dressage work. It takes time, though.

Wonderful to hear and great advice! And yes, definitely about things taking time to develop, and to allow that time without getting in a rush, and most importantly frustrated. My 2nd draft cross is 17hds and coming 7 this year, and building condition so that he has a more balanced canter and can carry himself has been a long process; and it’s an ongoing process with his one year older, 16.3hd half brother. They basically have very good canters, but packaging those big bodies and canters into a 20 meter circle or tight turn for show jumping takes building up to. Worth it though!

[galloping-gourmet]

THought I’d try to share the pics, hope it works…
http://www.screencast.com/t/mzyMEp54Fa6

[kcmel]

[QUOTE=galloping-gourmet;8548293]
THought I’d try to share the pics, hope it works…
http://www.screencast.com/t/mzyMEp54Fa6[/QUOTE]

OMG, your paint looks so similar to mine, except mine is a tri-color. Where did he come from?

[FatCatFarm]

[QUOTE=galloping-gourmet;8548293]
THought I’d try to share the pics, hope it works…
http://www.screencast.com/t/mzyMEp54Fa6[/QUOTE]

Nice horses!