In this feature. . .
➤ Make
jumping fun with a creative exercise
Jumping for
FUN
As told to Bethany Searby. Photos: Jon Stroud
Mixing up your training regime with some unconventional exercises will strengthen you and your horse as a partnership, says eventer Ben Hobday
I
n training, the focus for many riders is pushing the height of the fences, mastering complicated turns and angles and building fitness. All this plays a part in boosting performance, but I’m also a big believer in training outside the box and pressing pause on popping jump after jump – something I like to think of as a bit of constructive playtime. Not only is it mentally beneficial for your horse to have a break from the norm, trying a less conventional exercise injects a bit of fun into your jumping. It takes you and your horse away from the comfort and familiarity of wings and poles, too, and secretly builds up important course-riding skills along the way.
A different challenge
On my yard, playtime in training takes the form of tackling obstacles and combinations that are a bit alien to anything you’d usually find on a course of showjumps. For example, I might set up a triple bounce of water trays on the floor, or come to a narrow obstacle, such as a filler on its own. The idea is to ask your horse different questions from those in everyday training. Rather than, ‘jump higher’, or ‘turn tighter’, you’re presenting your horse with a question that asks him to ‘be brave’ or ‘trust me’. Despite looking like just a bit of fun, playtime still adds a pressure element to your training and will test the skills you’ve already cultivated. It could reveal areas to improve that might not be so apparent over showjumps, too.
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Our expert
Ben Hobday has a number of eventing titles to his name, including under-21 National Champion. He’s since stacked up numerous clears and completions in the sport’s top CCI5* events. He also produces event horses from backing right to the top as part of his business, Shadow Sports Horses.
Our model
Nine-year-old Shadow Man II is a chestnut gelding by Fidjy Of Colors who stepped up to CCI4* level last year.
In the saddle
➤
Improve your partnership with trust ➤ Put your skills to the test
Fun by the barrel
Something I love to do with my horses is ask them to jump a line of three barrels. As well as being a bit of a thrill, this exercise tests... • the quality of your horse’s canter, to maintain balance and power • straightness, to ensure a clean line to the middle of the fence. The barrels’ narrow width really highlights the importance of straightness and if your canter is steady but powerful, holding your line will be much easier • trust and bravery, so ensure you give your horse clear, confident instructions • your reactions, so that if your horse breaks his focus you can set him back on course with effective aids As a combination, if you’re lacking in any of these factors, this exercise will soon flag it up. However, don’t let that dishearten you – keep practising and you’ll soon improve.
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In this feature. . .
➤ Prepare
Level
up
As told to Rebecca Philpot. Photos: Rose Lewis for Piaffe Limited
Want to improve your horse’s paces without repeating the same old exercises? Ingrid Klimke’s on hand to show you how to spice up your routine
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imilar to doing yoga or Pilates, cavaletti are a fantastic gymnastic exercise for building your horse’s strength and suppleness. This, in turn, helps improve his rhythm and regularity, as he starts to carry more weight behind. With the cardiovascular benefits it brings to your training, it’d probably be better likened to a Pilates-meets-circuit-training session so, before you know it, you’ll have built the ultimate, full-body workout by just getting out some poles. Aside from fitness perks, introducing cavaletti to the arena will make your horse’s routine more varied, regardless of whether you simply school him, or compete in dressage, showjumping or eventing. So, if you’re hoping to improve your horse’s paces and are bored of the same exercises every session, breathe some new life into your schooling and take your training to the next level.
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your horse to tackle cavaletti
In the saddle
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Adjust stride length between poles ➤ Try cavaletti on a circle Our expert
Ingrid Klimke is the current European eventing champion, and has won eight gold medals, including two team golds at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. She’s the daughter of Reiner Klimke and, like her father, competes in both eventing and dressage.
Our models
Chuffy Clarke rides her own Morelands Celebration (Clarke), a nine-year-old AES gelding eventing at Advanced level. Chuffy describes him as a careful horse with a bright future ahead of him.
A working warm-up
As part of your warm-up, dedicate time to trotting large and really focus on your own riding position. Consider your… • hands Are they soft and are you offering your horse an even, steady contact? It should feel as though he’s lightly chewing on the reins, rather than pulling against them • legs Do they feel stable and secure? • body Are you sitting comfortably, in balance and relaxed so you move with your horse? Your body position should be upright but relaxed. Make sure you don’t collapse your core or tip your balance downwards Before moving onto cavaletti, assess whether your horse feels ready to move on by checking his… • rhythm He should be working in a relaxed, steady tempo, not relying on you for support • responsiveness Test he’s active and reactive with transitions within the pace – collect him down one side of the arena, before moving him up to a medium pace down the next. Make sure that when you open up his stride, he isn’t running or coming onto his forehand • lightness Focus on keeping your horse moving uphill. Don’t bury your hands in his neck as this will direct him downwards – lift your hands to lift his way of going Don’t neglect your position as you introduce poles. Maintain a dressage seat as you go – they’re not big enough to warrant folding – just make sure your body follows your horse’s movement and you’re offering a soft contact with relaxed elbows.
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Hacking
homework The key to happy hacking is the assurance that you and your horse can tackle every situation confidently. Practise these skills at home to enjoy qualm-free country rides
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Mind matters
What’s that object?
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f your horse is an inexperienced hacker or you’ve had a confidence knock, heading into the great outdoors together might feel like an insurmountable challenge. Above all else, hacking should be good fun, but if you’re concerned about what might be coming around the next corner, it’s unlikely you and your horse will have a relaxed, enjoyable experience. Like in any kind of training, perfecting your skills in a familiar setting enables you to repeat them away from home in a confident manner. The same is true of hacking – if you nail the challenges you might face on a hack in the arena or on the yard first, you’ll be able to deal with them easily when you’re out and about.
In the arena
It might seem bizarre to run through hacking skills in the school, but trying new or challenging things in a familiar environment removes some of the pressure your horse might feel encountering them away from his comfort zone. You can use the space to introduce him to a variety of stimuli and exercises that will give you both the experience and confidence to go out on the road or a bridleway.
TOP TIP
Sometimes, encountering an unfamiliar object can be pretty scary for your horse. We often joke about horses being afraid of plastic bags, but if his propensity to spook is putting a barrier between you and hacking, it’s important to address it safely in controlled conditions. Whether it’s a wheelie bin, an umbrella or a rather suspicious-looking log, taking the time to increase his confidence will mean hacking goes a lot more smoothly... 1. Choose your object and place it in the arena. It’s a good idea to turn him out in the arena with it first for half an hour or so –that way he can interact with it independently while you keep an eye on him to get a feel for how he reacts. 2. Next, work your horse in the arena alongside the object, whether that’s in-hand or under saddle. Start schooling or doing groundwork as normal at a distance where he shows interest in the object, but not anxiety. 3. If he remains calm, gradually move him closer to it – you could try leg-yielding towards and away from it up the long side. Ensure you reward relaxed behaviour with a pat or a scratch. 4. Now try to approach the object as if to pass it. He may not be keen to walk towards it, so you could try circling him around it and gradually decrease your circle size. Take your time, allowing him to stop and think if he needs to, and rewarding any forward steps towards the object. Always praise any steps toward the object or any interaction with it, such as sniffing. It’s important to end your session on a positive note, which might be after your horse has walked past the object calmly. However, it may take your horse a couple of sessions to become desensitised, so don’t push for an end result he’s not ready to achieve it – if he seems wary of the object, perhaps don’t approach it at all in the first session, and build up from there.
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If your horse is keen to nuzzle or sniff a new object when you’re out and about, let him interact with it until he loses interest if it’s safe to do so. Allowing him to be inquisitive and investigate a novel item on his terms will help him understand it poses no threat.
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