Horses that really love their job sometimes get excited about what they are doing. Excitability can also be caused by not understanding what is being asked. If you are experiencing an excitability issue when jumping your horse, you'll love the exercises we filmed with three top eventers. South African rider Alex Peternell, Italian team rider Susanna Bordonne and British rider Georgie Spence all share their experience on creating a calm approach to jumping, and offer plenty of ideas for you to try at home! |
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Alex Hua Tian keeps the excitable Jeans calm for jumping |
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| Alex Hua Tian's 13 year old eventer Jeans, is aimed at WEG. Alex explains that Jeans has two main issues; he's excitable and he has a huge amount of raw power over a fence. "It's essential that he remains utterly calm at home and during the warmup at events", says Alex. This means focusing on staying soft, supple, deep, round and working in a familiar routine which includes travers and leg yield. Alex helps Jeans contain his power by placing a tight canter pole in front of the fence. He progresses to a serpentine exercise (with a twist!) as it helps both of them to think ahead, keep a rhythm and stay calm and balanced around the corners! |
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Georgie Spence uses a busy jumping grid to steady Tino |
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| Young Rider gold medallist Georgie Spence, works the eight year old Jovial Valentino through a busy jumping grid. Tino, who is aimed at Advanced in the next eventing season tends to be a bit forward going, so the exercise of six fences consisting of a bounce, to a one stride, to a bounce and a one stride, is designed to back him off his fences, keep him thinking and make him more agile. Starting with poles on the ground, Georgie gradually builds up the exercise so that each time Tino jumps it, a new fence has been added. Though the jumps are not big they have the desired effect of steadying him, and also making a good corner afterwards. |
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Susanna Bordone uses a grid to harness Carerra's power |
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| Susanna Bordone is a multi-talented rider having represented Italy in both dressage and eventing at the European Champs '09. She has also competed in eventing at two Olympic Games. Working with Brynley Powell, Susanna jumps the 4* mare Carerra who she says is her most complete horse and also the most complex. Carerra has huge power which she can sometimes overuse when going cross country, so Susanna uses a grid to open her stride up and close it down again, whilst remaining in balance. The trick, she says, is to keep her hind end engaged while doing this. Susanna works efficiently to minimise the number of jumping efforts! |
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