At 18:05:16 on 25.08.11, Natasha wrote:
Jessie, my pony, was from Ireland. She started jumping just before 3 and a half, and by 3 and a half she was jumping 60/70cm, and then by about 4 she was jumping 1.15. I know thats extremely high for such a young horse, and she was only 14.1hh, and she jumped it with rider. I think she started too early so I started again with her, jumping small from the age of 4 and now were jumping 80/90 courses, shes 5 now. Is that okay for her, or not? She clears them easily and is still growing I think as shes 14.2hh/14.3hh now?

At 08:03:40 on 26.08.11, kibby wrote:
lots of people jump them at 5... If you really wanted to I'd just keep it to soft ground and not too often... being a pony she should be reaching the end of her growing life... Also if she is going to be a jumping horse get her on a good joint supplement from the word go...

At 14:20:53 on 10.12.11, EmandBlueX wrote:
yeah keep to flat work for a bit , only jump occassionally and keep it small, and yeah jjust be careful of her joints and her legs etc apart from that she should be fine with it, just make sure your not jumping her everyday and giving her a variaty of work as she is still young xx

At 15:25:48 on 11.12.11, Flicka wrote:
I agree, you're doing the right thing not going too high too soon, work on the schooling instead. The better you can get her to carry herself and use herself the better her jumping will be in the long run anyway and the longer she'll stay happy and healthy. You'll also build up her confidence and then when she's older and stronger she will trust you and herself and probably jump the moon for you! I think its so sad that so many talented horses get pushed too quickly too soon usually so they can make some money out of them, then they get sour or go wrong quickly-a horses bones aren't fully developed until eight. Don't let people push you into doing too much-good luck, sounds like you've got a nice mare :)

At 22:33:37 on 11.12.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
I am the one that would say, whats the rush? The slower you take it the more years of jumping she will have ahead of her, grenville being a racer was started at 2yo on flat gallops and was jumping hurdles and chase fences by 5yo, by 7 he was chasing regularly, he is 13 now and has arthritis in 3 legs, your case is not as severe you jump 90cm (the pic it 90) and your pony is 5 as long as you don't over do it you will be fine i would just take it easy a horse should live 30+ years if everything runs smoothly so there is no hurry :)

At 03:50:48 on 12.12.11, apcodyody wrote:
If she is fine now, I think your going to be okay :) After the age of 3, her growth pallets shouldn't be able to be harmed. So if she is jumping great now, well, wonderful! She should be fine :D