Things You'll Need:
- Horse
- Trainer
- Pen
- Cavaletti
- Riding equipment
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Step 1
Make sure that you can physically handle the challenges of jumping and trotting a horse. People with back and hip problems will find it difficult to participate fully in this sport.
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Step 2
Get lessons from a professional trainer at a stable that will allow you to ride as much as you want with your horse. Your trainer can help you perfect your posture for trotting and jumping. The horse needs guidance and you must do it with your body language.
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Step 3
Learn to stay in a 2-point position while you hold the horse's mane. You need to hold the horse's mane and the reins at the same time. This helps prevent injury to you and the horse while jumping. Remember, you control the trot and the jump. If the horse balks it's not the horse at fault, it is the rider.
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Step 4
Start to learn with a horse that is equal to your experience level. It's important that you and the horse grow together. Jumping is a relationship built on trust between the horse and the rider. The rider must be the master, but a show horse will take advantage of a beginner.
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Step 5
Dress appropriately for jumping. Wear a helmet, boots, half-chaps and riding gloves.
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Step 6
Set the cavaletti about 6-feet apart. The best place to set up a cavaletti is along a straight fence. The straight fence is a guide for the horse—it will help keep the horse focused on the task and help you control the gate you want which is a trot.
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Step 7
Walk your horse over the poles until he is comfortable; this is a time for you to build a relationship with your horse. Give your horse treats as a reward for clearing the poles while you walk over them. Once the horse is comfortable, you can increase the exercise to a trot.
