Question or Comment: Hi, I'm training this gelding I bought a few months ago and he's been doing really well on the flat lately. He's not rearing up and falling over any more and he's not trying to buck me off. Now that he has overcome these habits, as you might call them, I want to start training him for Show Jumping. I was wondering if you had any exercises to start him over fences. I have been working him over ground poles to get him relaxed and balanced over them. I was wondering if it would be to soon to add a small fence? If not what would the distance be between the ground poles and the small fence? My horse has a little stride. Thanks for your help!

Answer: You are going to need a great deal of information about setting fences and riding to them in order to work with this "green" horse. I would suggest that you get my book, "Winning: A Training and Showing Guide for Hunter Seat Riders," that provides lots of pictures and diagrams to support the text. You can get it directly from the publisher, Trafalgar Square, at 1-800-423-4525.

Also, if there is a professional instructor in your area, it would be very wise to work with this person in training your horse. You will avoid a lot of problems, and possibly accidents, by getting professional help early on.

As far as when to start jumping, the general rule is for thoroughbreds to start over small fences at age four, while warmblooded horses start at age 5.