Get to know your horse and the jumping course.
- Understand your horse’s character and personality
- Understand your horse’s physical abilities
- Get to know the course.
The first step in learning how to jump a horse is talking with any professional trainers you have on hand, who may have experience with that particular horse. This can help you understand what kind of horse you’re dealing with and how best to approach riding them safely through an obstacle course.
The right horse jumping footing can make or break a jump.
The right horse jumping footing can make or break a jump. This is especially true for beginner riders, who may not have been properly taught how to approach the jumps and their horses. The footing should be even, well maintained and deep enough for the horse to land on without injuring themselves.
The footing should not be too hard because this can cause injury to your horse’s legs. It should also not be slippery as this makes it difficult for your horse to take off from or land in the correct position after making the jump. This will result in lost points and frustration among both you and your animal if they are not experienced enough yet with what they are doing on course!
It needs to be free from debris so that they don’t get snagged or stuck when overflying them which could cause an accident (and maybe even injure someone).
Your horse jumping attire should help you stay safe and comfortable.
You will also need to be prepared for the weather. Some riders like to wear a helmet, but there are many who disagree with this decision. If you choose to wear a helmet, make sure it is ASTM/SEI certified and has a chin strap attached so that it can’t fall off while your horse is jumping over fences. The safest footwear includes boots with low heels and stirrups made of leather or nylon straps that hold your feet securely in place. Your jodhpurs should be comfortable enough so they don’t restrict your movement; however, they should not be too loose as this could cause injury when your horse lands on his hooves after jumping over high fences (especially if he lands sideways!). Finally, don’t forget about gloves—they’ll help protect against injuries caused by splinters from wood fences!
Beginner horse jumping tips are important for staying comfortable, safe and confident on your first jumps.
- Have a good relationship with your horse. Of course, this is true of any sport, but it’s especially important when you’re just starting out. If you know your horse well and can read their body language, they’ll be more likely to listen to you in an unfamiliar situation like jumping over fences.
- Take care of the footing on the course before or after riding. Depending on how much experience you have with jumping courses and what kind of rider you are (green or experienced), determine whether or not the ground needs some work before or after riding it. For example, if there’s a lot of mud on the approach to a jump that could potentially cause slipping but there isn’t any water nearby then try cleaning off as much mud as possible with a rake first so that it doesn’t get packed into horses’ hooves while they’re walking around during warm up time. If there are small rocks littering the area where riders will be getting ready for their first round then pick them up now so they don’t end up injuring themselves later on!
- Wear safety gear such as helmets, goggles/glasses/sunglasses etcetera when riding in unfamiliar environments such as arenas at fairs where different owners may use different types of equipment–for example: wooden rails versus metal ones instead