Equestrian Life April 2017 Edition

show jumping
IAN WILLS
Ian, who is based in Brackley,
Northamptonshire, has his sights
set on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
as his lifelong dream.
He starts by reminding us that before
trying to school your horse over
fences he should be obedient to your
basic aids and should be willing to go
forward, be happy and confident to
work between hand and leg and come
back to the rider when asked.
It is also important to check your tack
and make sure it is safe, fits well and is
suitable for jumping.
Said Ian: “My preferred choice from
Black Country Saddles is the Vinci
range. They fit perfectly and help
provide excellent balance on the flat
and over the fences.”
Show jumping courses are becoming
more technical now, even at lower
levels and it is important the horse is
alert and maintaining a good rhythm
to stop those knock-downs or runouts.
There are many exercises to help
you improve. Here are a few Ian
shares with us:
CANTERING OVER A FAN
OF POLES:
Aim: to maintain an even rhythm
approaching, over and away from the
poles.
• On a slight curve, place five poles
three yards away from each other.
• Create your canter on a circle away
from your curve of poles. Keep a
JUMP INTO THE FUTURE WITH THE DANTE COLLECTION
www.blackcountrysaddles.com Tel: 01543 578 243
RUSHING
Problems Solved…
In this month’s issue, event rider Ian Wills talks
about stopping horses from rushing at fences
and shares a few useful exercises courtesy of his
sponsor, Black Country Saddles.
slight bend but keep the weight on
your outside rein to stop the horse
from falling through the shoulder.
• Approach the middle of your poles
whilst on a continuous circle,
keeping the circle size consistent.
• Try to keep a light and soft seat
whilst riding through this exercise,
especially with a younger or
less experienced horse. This will
encourage him to stay soft and
balanced, using its back over the
poles.
• If this exercise goes wrong it’s
usually due to the line taken,
balance of the canter or weak
rhythm. Just work on a circle away
from your poles, correct and reapproach.
• Make sure you keep your line
through the poles and do not let
the horse drift left or right. Focus
on the centre of the poles and ride
each stride accurately.
• Don’t let the rhythm change from
the first pole to the last, keep still
and your aids light, and try not to
think about the poles.
• This exercise can then be used
to practise shortening and
lengthening your canter stride.
To shorten your stride, aim more
towards the centre of your poles.
Maintain the rhythm and plan
the transition well in advance.
To lengthen the stride, aim more
towards the outside of the circle.
Increase the pace in advance of
moving out of your circle and keep
the tempo even.
• This exercise should help you
adjust the horse’s stride easier and
quicker as he will be switched on
and listening to you.
POLES PLACED BEFORE AND
AFTER A FENCE:
Aim: to improve the quality of the
canter to – and away from – a fence.
• Start a grid with a cross-pole in the
middle and the same number of
poles each side of the fence, three
yards apart. Shorten the direct
distance either side of the crosspole.
This exercise can be ridden
on each rein, which is excellent for
horses that like to rush as they will
be less likely to anticipate what is
happening next.
• Establish your canter, keeping an
even rhythm with contact having a
soft, elastic-feeling. Approaching
the grid, keep the horse in front of
your leg and straight.
• Going through the grid keep
yourself quiet and still, to allow
your horse to understand where to
put his feet. Stay in balance and
keep the horse straight.
• Don’t increase the distance
between the poles if you are
running out of space. Remember,
this is about getting the horse to
keep a slower, shorter rhythm.
• Don’t try and alter how you ride. If
your horse does rush or anything
goes wrong, just keep repeating the
grid until the horse accepts the task
given.
36 April 2017 Equestrian Life