Horse&Rider Magazine – November 2019

In this feature. . .

➤ Build

the rhythm and pace for a jump-off

Six steps to jump-off success

As told to Rebecca Philpot. Photos: Lucy Merrell

Trevor Breen helps you shave seconds off your time and get geared up for your best jump-off round yet

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ou’ve jumped that all-important clear round so now it’s time to go into the jump-off and complete the course in the fastest time – all in the pursuit of that red rosette. While speed is a key consideration, really it’s an intricate balancing act between pace and rhythm. After all, you need to leave the jumps standing, and riding at a rate of knots puts you at risk of over-shooting turns or knocking poles. By keeping everything simple, you really can improve your odds of getting that coveted clear.

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Our expert

Trevor Breen is an Irish international showjumper based in West Sussex. A regular member of the Irish team since 2007, and frequent face on the European circuit, notable highlights include winning the Hickstead Derby 2014.

Our model

Seven-year-old gelding Donvier is owned by Jennifer Bingham. He’s successfully competed in the young horse classes since a five-year-old and this year qualified for the Horse of the Year Show Foxhunter final.

In the saddle

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Route-plan the best round ➤ Deal with spooks on course

1. The need for speed

One of the most obvious ways to avoid clocking up time penalties in a jump-off is to go fast.

However, there are good and bad ways to do this. For example, I don’t agree with riders who gallop, then pull up in front of the fence – this disjointed nature of pushing on and bringing back can fry your horse’s brain and he won’t fully understand what you’re asking him to do.

Plus, a poor experience in the jump-off may lead to a really unsettled performance the next time you’re in the ring.

Of course speed is important, but it isn’t everything. Rhythm is paramount, so aim to go through the start gates a few gears faster than during your first round, and maintain that.

Try this at home…

Practise riding on and back in the arena at home. Start by asking your horse to stretch out down the long side and collect on the short Extend side. This shouldn’t Collect be too difficult for him so, to progress this exercise, change where you’re asking him to stretch out. For example, if you start by asking for a longer stride between K and H, move on to between E and C. This way, he’ll learn to balance through turns as well as on a straight line, which is really important when it comes to jump-offs.

Fast not furious

For a horse to be quick in the jump-off, he doesn’t necessarily need to be galloping flat out, but he does need to be quick-thinking, fast to turn and very focused. Remember, the best riders don’t necessarily look like they’re going the fastest, but they’re tactical with their lines and where they place their horse.

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In this feature. . .

➤ Ride

perfect circles every time

SAVVY

SCHOOLING

with Sophie

Wells

PART ONE: PRECISION POINTS

As told to Tilly Berendt. Photos: Jon Stroud

Make the most of your movements and stop throwing marks away, with Paralympian Sophie Wells’ great exercises for improving accuracy

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uccess in the dressage arena isn’t about having the flashiest moving horse or being able to psych out the competition by schooling upper-level movements in the warm-up. What makes a winner is consistency, correctness, and accuracy – and these are all things you can nail even if you don’t think you and your horse fit the stamp of a ‘classic’ combination. Anyone can increase harmony, improve the way of going, and learn geometry.

The shapes of your schooling figures won’t necessarily win you a class, but they can certainly lose it if you’re sloppy and inaccurate. Perfecting the basic geometry is a huge part of putting together a test – after all, a dressage test is just a series of shapes that flow into one another. It’s easy enough to lose a couple of marks per movement for egg-shaped circles, wiggly centre lines, and transitions just shy of the marker, and those marks can be seriously expensive.

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In the saddle

➤ Boost

your marks ➤ Perfect transition from straight lines to curves Our expert

Sophie Wells MBE is a veritable superstar of para-dressage. Competing in Grade IV, she made her Olympic debut at the London 2012 Olympics, winning double silvers.

Then, at Rio in 2016, she took team and individual gold. Sophie also competes in affiliated dressage and runs a busy coaching business out of her Lincolnshire base.

Our models

OFS Diamond Crusader, known at home as Loki, is a six-year-old gelding, owned by The Lady Joseph Trust. He’s been contesting young horse classes since joining Sophie’s string in 2018.

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As told to Rebecca Philpot. Photos: Jon Stroud

Our expert

Elizabeth Allen BHSI UKCC3 is part of the Bristol-based Collective Equestrian team. She’s a BHS, Pony Club and BD accredited trainer, and has competed internationally at Under 25 Grand Prix and at the World Young Horse Championships.

Our model

Olivia Robertson rides 17-year-old Don Dellero (Lexi), Elizabeth Allen’s Hanoverian gelding, who has successfully competed at Advanced level dressage.

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Pole-play Looking for a polework exercise to really get your horse thinking? Check out this exciting layout – its benefits definitely outweigh the set-up time

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super-sociable exercise that offers something for everyone, a demanding set-up that keeps your horse focused, or even a bit of fun to shake up a stale schooling regime – whatever you’re after, this versatile polework exercise has you covered. So, if you want an all-purpose plan that ticks all the right boxes, this is the one for you. Let’s take a look at how to do it.

In the saddle

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Set it up

You’ll need plenty of time and man-power to set this one up but, we assure you, the benefits are numerous! You’ll need...

• 20 3m trot poles • four 3.5m trot poles • four pole pods or blocks Start building from the centre outwards, with the box over X.

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M

E

B

K

F

TOP TIP

If you don’t have pole pods, keep your eyes peeled for cheap potties.

They’re great to prop up poles because their shape means they won’t roll off if your horse gives them a knock.

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TOP TIP

The 3.5m poles should be used on the first and third boxes to make rectangles. However, if you don’t have any longer length poles, you can just leave a small gap at each end of a 3m pole.

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