Read About Jumping Horse

The Jumping horse is a horse of rare training, ability, and beauty. Here is everything you need to know about these horses.

Jumping Horse -- Facts

1. Type Description:

   Used in various competitions, these horses must jump courses that include obstacles like verticals, spreads and combinations, with many turns and changes in direction. The purpose is to jump cleanly over a twisting course with a time allowance without incurring any faults.

2. Varieties:

   Warmbloods make the finest jumping horses including the Belgian Warmblood, the Dutch Warmblood, Hanoverians and Holsteiners.

3. Uses:

   Used in hunter or jumper equestrian sporting events, the jumper horse develops a strong partnership with their riders in order to work through a highly technical course.

4. Training:

   Training a horse for jumping in competitions takes years of patient and repetitious work, taking into account the individual horse's temperament, behaviors and physical assets and liabilities.

5. Regular Care:

   Turnout, exercising, training, feeding, cleaning the stall, and grooming are part of the daily regimen of keeping a horse. A jumping horse is a particularly high maintenance animal in order to keep them in optimal physical shape and appearance. The jumping horse is usually clipped to help it dry off quickly from a sweat and for the ease of keeping it clean. For shows, its mane and tail are usually braided.

Jumping Horse - Characteristics

1. Shared Traits:

   Regardless of the breed, the jumping horse has great power with good free-flowing movement and a calm temperament. .

2. Behavior:

   Warmbloods are responsive to human socialization. They take direction well and form strong bonds with their riders. Ongoing training helps keep bad habits at bay.

3. Child Friendly:

   The breeds that are most used in show jumping competitions all have calm temperaments that are conducive to children. However, they are usually larger than the average horse, making them not the best choice for novice riders.

4. Physical Attributes:

   The jumping horse, while usually strong and hardy with tremendous stamina, must be well looked after to maintain their rigor. .

5. Health Issues:

   Horses used for competition and jumping are carefully monitored for physical stress. Legs and hooves should be checked daily for soundness. Although regular turn out is required, these are stable-kept horses, whose investment must be sustained.

Jumping Horse -- How to Choose

1. What to Look For:

   Purchase your horse from a credible breeder/trainer to ensure your jumping horse has been properly trained. Look for a good disposition, good conformation and an easy gait. Ask lots of questions about the horse's competition history. And never skip the vet check. .

2. Supplies:

   Your jumping horse is an expensive investment that must be sustained. High qualify feed is a must, blankets, tendon or brushing boots, and English riding tack will be required. .

3. Expense:

   Buying and maintaining a warmblood as a jumping horse can be very expensive. An experienced and proven show winner can cost well over $100,000. A greener horse will cost a lot less, but will require an investment in training. .