Part 1: Mark opens the session by explaining the importance of having the horse between the leg and hand, and making sure the horse is obedient to the leg and moving forward before trying to jump. The riders work on a small line of fences on a bend. Mark encourages them to understand that there is no bad distance on a bend as an inside or outside line can be used to take up or give more space. He draws attention to using their body position, and avoiding making motorbike turns but rather staying straight and in balance. As the riders jump down the line, Mark reminds them to use their inside opening rein and keep their balance in their heels so they are free to use their hand to encourage the horses to land on the correct lead.
Up Next in Stadium Jumping
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Riding Forward Between The Jumps | Si...
Part 2: As the horses and riders gain confidence, Mark asks them to lengthen the canter stride and complete the line of fences in five strides between, rather than six. This proves challenging, and many of the riders lose straightness as they gain speed. Mark supports them as they work to find th...
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Riding Forward Between The Jumps | Si...
Part 3: Mark challenges the riders with a course, consisting of bending lines and incorporating lead changes. They have to use their line of sight and focusing on the middle of the fences to ensure they make the lines, while riding forward between fences and maintaining straightness. Mark support...
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Riding Forward Between The Jumps | Si...
Part 4: Mark works with a rider who gets tense when the jump doesn't go to plan. He encourages her to relax and explains that her horse is unable to jump when she grabs her mouth. They work on keeping the leg on, keeping breathing and keeping the hands soft to allow the horse to jump, with much i...
