Preparation for combinations with three or four fences providing horse and rider with experience without jumping excessively large fences.
Preparation for combinations with three or four fences providing horse and rider with experience without jumping excessively large fences.
It is a very good exercise for improving the horse’s jumping technique, especially for those that tend to jump with their knees beneath them. If I were obliged to choose only one exercise this would be it. I have tested it for decades and always obtained excellent results, especially with young horses, although the exercise is also useful for horses at all levels.
It is a very good exercise for improving the horse’s jumping technique, especially for those that tend to jump with their knees beneath them. If I were obliged to choose only one exercise this would be it. I have tested it for decades and always obtained excellent results, especially with young horses, although the exercise is also useful for horses at all levels. The aim is to allow the horse to improve its jumping technique. If the jump over the first fence is not very good, you will notice that the next jumps will improve as you repeat the exercise.
The horse :
This exercise is aimed at improving the horse’s jumping technique, and above all the way it uses its neck allowing it to quickly pull up its knees (only if the rider accompanies the movement with his hands).
The rider :
You must, above all, remain centred on your reference position and keep contact with the horse because these are short distances. The eyes are of course looking towards the end of the line. You should also ensure that the horse is kept well within the axis and at the centre of the line.
Repeat 3 or 4 times and then, for example, add a filler (or a liverpool) under the second or the last vertical to get the horse used to “strange” fences”. Since the distances within this exercise are ‘correct’, it is easy to progressively raise the fences, while maintaining heights that increase from the first to the third fence.
Number of times the exercise should be ridden :
Repeat this exercise 4 or 5 times at heights you are accustomed to.
Should you decide to raise the fences a little, raise the last fence. Stop and pat your horse as soon as he has jumped correctly.
This exercise is, in particular, suitable for teaching both horse and rider to maintain a constant rhythm and a cadenced canter.
This exercise is, in particular, suitable for teaching both horse and rider to maintain a constant rhythm and a cadenced canter. The horse repeats its movements calmly. This is excellent preparation for jumping and is suitable for all horses.
Using poles that are 2 metres long is even better. It will allow you to test your ability to keep the horse straight. If the horse drifts from the line’s median axis, it will soon exit the exercise. Using 4 metre poles makes it more difficult to notice this.
If the horse tends to rush or accelerate, place the line’s last landing spot
3 strides from the school’s wall. One should remember that - in most cases - simply imagining a 2.50 metre wall at the end of the line is sufficient for solving this problem.
Start with one pole, and if all goes well, add another every time you repeat the exercise.
The goal of this exercise is to vary the number of strides between two cavalettis. The ideal is to have a balanced canter in the entry zone, so it’s important to adjust the canter from afar to attain the contracted number of strides determined beforehand.
The goal of this exercise is to vary the number of strides between two cavalettis. The ideal is to have a balanced canter in the entry zone, so it’s important to adjust the canter from afar to attain the contracted number of strides determined beforehand.
You can start with a contract of 8 strides, and then increase the amplitude for 7 strides, then 6...
The horse
The regularity of the paces - necessarily learned while training on the flat - must be maintained when riding over poles on the ground. The same applies for the possible variations of the canter: lengthening and shortening the stride.
The rider
During this exercise, the rider must concentrate on the quality of the canter when approaching from a distance, throughout the exercise and also when landing after the last fence. One may or may not allow the horse to change legs; what is most important is to remain straight and jump the poles or fences in the middle. In doing this, be as precise as when riding a dressage test.
There is no change in the height of the fences. One is above all looking for improvement in the quality of the canter and in controlling the cadence. It is instead possible to vary the number of strides between the fences or poles on the ground to verify the rider’s ability to control his horse’s speed – such as riding over the first pole at 10 km/h and the second at
20 km/h maintaining a constant speed while approaching. In the same frame of mind, repeat the exercise doing the opposite: riding over the first pole at 20 km/h and the second at 10 km/h.
Solving a few problems :
If the strides are irregular: you can improve matters using poles on the ground to mark each stride between the first and the last poles.
If corners are cut while approaching the line, place 2 skittles or poles at
the take-off and landing points forming a corridor (10 metres before and
10 metres after the line) and make yourself approach and canter on after the exercise in a straight line.