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When you need to change your stride length in any related distance, aim to do it early on in the line, so you can just maintain the rest of the line. This will give you the best chance to have a smooth jump out.
Lesley's Corner
As you move up the levels, more cross country fences have some kind of “surprise” involved - often on the landing side, like with a coffin jump, sunken road, or terrain change. Other spooky jumps draw the horse's eye down before takeoff. The KEY is to fully prepare on the approach. Learn how here!
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From Facebook Fan Brenda Herzog ~ "When trying to sit the canter or trot, relax the legs down and around with each stride and to pick the horse "up" with you. This eliminates the bounce in your seat and helps to elevate the horse."
Questions
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If your horse is spooky, be careful to make sure he never feels punished for spooking or getting tense. If you get mad, pull, kick, or do anything else that can be perceived as a punishment, the anxiety that will be created will usually make your problem worse.
Questions
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The faster you are going, the more you must generally think of maintaining a contact with your horse's mouth on the takeoff of a jump.
Educational Discussions
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Be careful not to sit the trot too early on in a ride. Doing so before the horse is fully warmed up and truly moving through his topline can often be detrimental, as the horse is more likely to stay stiff and tight in his back.
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It may seem like you only need to think about a formal conditioning schedule at the upper levels, but every horse at every level will benefit from a balanced and well thought out conditioning schedule.
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From Facebook fan Nicole Cotten Ackerman ~ "I work with a lot if lower level eventers, and I tell them that when you are in the 20x40 ring you must stay bent all of the time because there's so little space between riding a corner or a circle.
Lesley's Corner