Equestrian Life May 2018 Issue

working hunter
How to...
WALK A COURSE
Walking a course isn’t just to know
where you are going and your
course route. There are many
other factors too to consider and each fence
needs to be studied individually.
The first thing you need to notice is the
ground conditions. Is it hard or soft. And
will you require studs?
Then you need to look to see where
number 1 is and look at giving yourself
the best start to begin your course. Look
to see which rein is easiest to come off
to approach the fence. Look at where the
judge is stood as normally you greet the
judge before you begin and then give
yourself enough time and space to ensure
the horse is cantering with a forward,
rhythmical, balanced canter which is full
of impulsion before fence 1 and then
throughout the course.
Once we have that sorted you then whilst
walking the course need to decide how far
you need to swing out to give yourself the
best line to the fences. The best advice
to help here is to walk the line that
you will ride and imagine that you are
in fact riding a horse. The approach to
the fence doesn’t just include the line to
Before jumping your
Working Hunter course a
rider must first take full
advantage of the
chance to familiarise
themselves with the
layout of fences and the
fences themselves
BY JOANNE SHAW
the fence but also the way in which the
horse takes off… the line to a fence must
be straight and directed to the centre of
each fence. The horse must be given every
opportunity to weigh up his fences and
must be correctly presented at all of them
to help give the best chance for a clear
round.
ALWAYS MAKE SURE: whilst walking the
course and the line your going to ride on
look for holes, or anthing In the ground
which you make want to avoid. Eg wet
puddles, mud patches etc.
DISTANCES
As you walk the course distances inbetween
fences can be vital especially
through double and treble elements.
It is the riders job to have the horse
engaged and ready to meet the correct
distance set up for the horse in order to
clear all fences involved.
On average a horse stride is 12ft(3.6m) and
a pony stride is 9ft(2.7m) each horse has
ther ownhh pace and way of going. Some
horses may take longer strides and others
shorter.
Where a horse takes off they usually land
Top Tip
when stood at the fence stand In front on
the fence in the middle and look back at
the track and this will help you see your
best line and approach to the fence
36 May 2018 Equestrian Life