-Jaime

There are lots of different ways to train a horse to jump. It can be very difficult and sometimes dangerous. It's always best to take lessons when learning how to jump especially if you are teaching the horse to as well. That was a very broad question if you have any others that are more specific let me know and i can give you a more detailed answer!

--Sarah

On a trained horse, you would set the horse up to the jump, guiding with your hands and legs.  As the horse takes off, rise up into half seat and sit back up in the saddle and with release with your hands on the landing.  Those are the most basic fundamentals of jumping.

To teach a horse to jump- you should start on the ground before ever jumping him with you on his back.  Horses much more prefer to jump on their own as it is more natural than having some one on their back telling them what to do.  Start with ground poles, then progress to crossrails.  Next start riding over poles while further improving your groundwork.  Use grids and gradually add a crossrail to the end. 

You really should be seeking the help of an experianced adult before attempting to train your horse to jump.

--Jaime

name: Leg yeild?

email:Kassidy

comment:How do you ask a horse to leg yeild?

Start by walking your horse in a straight line.  Keep facing at whatever is infront of you.  In which ever direction you want to go in, squeeze and realease pressure with your outside leg.  Keep even pressure on the bit, you should be able to feel slight tugs on your reigns as your horse moves over.  You may need to open your inside reign slightly.

At first you can just be satisfied if you just get a couple steps out of your horse.  But as you progress try to keep it going longer and try it at a trot.  A good excercise for this is to set up a pole and then another pole a few strides behind it that is a little offset to either side so that you trot over the first pole straight and then leg yeild to the second pole.

--Jaime

To get a horse to leg yield (lets say to the LEFT) you are first going to slightly nudge with your right foot keeping a steady beat. Slightly lift the left rein and give repeated small jerks (more like tensing up on the reins, very subtle.) and with the right rein, pull it in a bit so that the head stays bent. Sway your body to the left with every beat to help encourage the movement. Its easier to start at the walk and then move to the trot.

--Sarah

Name:  Collecting the canter

Email: Laurel

Comment: I need help getting a 7 year old 13.1hh pony to collect in the
canter and slow it all down.  The previous owner said her daughter
rode her very agressivlely over large jumps in many shows and on a daily
basis.  The previous owner told me to use a CHAMBON for a while and that
should slow her down.  I didn't think a chambon was used while
mounted. I didn't know a chambon was supposed to be used for this purpose. I'm
nervous that my 9 year old daughter ,who  begins intro to canter soon,
will have huge control issues if the pony's speed continues.
I'm not a trainer but I want some ideas on how to tackle this myself.
Thanks!

First you must be able to collect and extend your horse in the walk and trot, practice this often.

When you have it mastered work at collecting the canter again.
First think about what you are asking your horse to do. You want plenty of impulsion from the hind end while holding it back through the forehand.

Next think about how you are going to do this. You will need to get the impulsion through leg contact by squeesing all the way down your leg and through your heel. You will collect him with your hands by keeping steady contact on the bit instead of letting the impulsion flow through the front as if you would do if you were extending his canter.

And finally preform the task. Start with a collected sitting trot and ask for the canter in the corner with out losing the collection. Hold him back with your hands and drive him forward with your legs. Canter down the long side and then ask him to circle when you get to the corner. Keep him bending on your circle and round underneath you. Circling should really help you collect him and make him carry himself. Then go long again and repeat the circle in the diagonal corner. Your goal is to keep the same pace and collection through the entire excercise, but don't worry if you don't get it right away. Do this excercise each time you ride, once in both directions.

--Jaime

Do lots of half halfs and circle the pony rather than having her use the whole stretch of the arena, the circles should be about 10 meters, if you starts to go fast- make the circles smaller, and once shes controlled you can slowly make them bigger. As you circle her, do half halts as well as the release method. If she speeds up, half halt and then loosen up on the reins, as soon as she speeds up (even if its one second later) half halt again. If you are consistent with this the horse will begin to relalize that shes not getting anywhere. This is much better than choking up on the reins which makes them mad and harder to collect. You may want to even consider another bit- as long as you and your daughter aren't too hard on the hands, you dont want the pony to develop a 'hard mouth.' Chambon should not be used to controlling speed- its only used when trying to adjust the headset of a horse and developing muscles.

--Sarah

name: where can I find a good horse?

email: Lydia

comment: OK so I have looked @ almost all of the online sites and found
one but i need more of a choice any ideas of where to find a horse

You should first look at nearby tack stores and barns-- there should be a few local ones for sale or even put up a 'wanted ad'. If you are a more experienced rider youcould try some local rescues (www.petfinder.com) or look in the phonebook and get some from there. Some other really good online websites are dreamhorse.com, equinehits.com, horsetopia.com

Try and find a horse near you so that you can ride it before buying. Buying over the internet without first trying out the horse can be a big risk!

--Sarah

Try looking in the newspaper clasifieds, tack stores, bulletins at your barn, rescue groups, or even ask your trainer (if you have one) if she/he knows of any good horses for sale in your area.  

I know you said you've tried about all of the sites but i don't know which ones you;ve tried so here are some anyways:

*All the one's Sarah mentioned

*Equine.com

*Supremehorses.com

*netequestrian.com/horses

Make sure to test ride before you buy and keep shipping in mind if you don't buy from your area.

--Jaime