Jumping Trainer

Jumping is a sport where riders memorize a course of jumps at a set height with the goal of clearing all of the jumps while being faster than the optimum time. Knocking a rail, refusing a jump, or being over the time allowed will result in faults. Four faults are incurred for each rail knocked, even if the rails knocked are on one jump. Four faults are also acquired for a refusal and one fault for each second over the maximum time allowed. In this race against the clock, the event is all about strategy as the rider needs to know how to set up their horse for success at every jump while moving at a fast gallop to stay under the optimum time.

Riders fall in love with the speed and adrenaline of this sport and the feeling of the horse taking off from the ground and reaching over the jump. The sport is so technical and the challenge of applying everything you have learned in all your lessons in that course while racing against the clock is so exciting for both horse and rider. While horse and rider do not have to have a strong relationship in this discipline, there is a much greater advantage to riders that have a strong trust in their horse and vice versa. Horsemanship becomes more and more important as the rails are set higher and choices become riskier.

Age is just a number in jumping. Trainers will typically have their riders show in hunters before moving to jumpers in order for riders to be prepared and more aware with their movements as well as the horse’s. Young riders can also participate in pony jumpers gain experience managing a fast and smaller horse with smaller jumps.

Riders need to have at least a year of experience before stepping in the jumping area. They need to have had lessons with a trainer knowledgeable about the event to ensure the safety of the rider and horse. Riders need to have mastered the basics of riding: walk, trot, canter, lead changes. Before showing, riders need to have had jumping lessons with their trainer and be well equipped to perform in the area.

Contrary to jumping, hunter jumping assesses the performance of the horse rather than striving for a time. Judges look for a well mannered horse galloping at a consistent pace and study the quality of the horse’s movements over fences.

When looking for a jumping trainer, experience is key- especially in the show ring. Your trainer needs to have several years of experience showing in order to be generally qualified to teach. They also need to understand that, as the rider and client, your safety and health of your horse comes first.