horse Create AN AGILE
PART 3: Triple measure
Challenge your horse’s agility using Saskia Rioux’s innovative exercise that uses just three jumps
Saskia Rioux is a 3* eventer and BECC Level 3 Coach based in Gloucestershire. Her current international 3* ride is 19-year-old gelding Singing Usk. EXPERT
In the last part of my series, I have a jumping exercise to challenge any combination’s agility over fences. Your horse will need to be balanced and strong, and you’ll have to be focused, accurate and trusting in your own judgement. Build it up slowly from start to finish and your horse will quickly grow in confidence while you’ll feel ready for anything.
Set it up
For this exercise, you’ll need…
• 6 jump wings
• 6–8 poles
Start by placing three poles on a curved line. Walk one canter stride between each (6.4–7.5m) from centre to centre. It’s easiest to place the middle pole horizontally first, then angle the other two either side to form the curve. Place the jump wings by the poles for later and store the remaining poles to the side so they’re to hand.
STEP 1: Warm up
Warm up with poles on the ground…
• Weave in and out to work on rhythm and suppleness and walk or trot around the poles like a slalom to encourage bend and relaxation. The curve will naturally regulate your horse’s speed and encourage him to step through
• Approach them individually and introduce the poles one at a time. Ride over the middle pole straight on, check your rhythm stays the same and that your horse isn’t speeding up or becoming unbalanced. Then come around over each pole individually on both reins
In this feature
Teach your horse to jump straight
Test your accuracy
Refine your balance over fences
• Ride over all three on the curved line you’ll take when they’re fences. Look ahead and aim for the centre of each pole. Ride the exercise on both reins and note if your horse is easier to turn one way than the other. He’ll need to be straight through his body to do the exercise successfully.
STEP 2: Simple start
If your horse is working happily through the poles, it’s time to build some fences. This exercise is tricky, so don’t overface him. You can start by introducing the jumping e ort with the middle pole raised to a low upright and approach it on its own without any other poles. Some horses tend to get quite long and strung out when approaching a single fence, so try riding a large circle rather than cantering all the way down the arena in a straight line. Pop it a few times in each direction, aiming to keep the rhythm the same while always maintaining a soft contact with your horse’s mouth.
Your horse will quickly grow in confidence while you’ll feel ready for anything
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Use uprights for this exercise so you’ll still be able to make the jump if your horse drifts. Once you’re confident in your accuracy, you can try it with cross-poles to up the challenge.
4 reasons to try
longreining
Discover how long-reining can be a valuable addition to your horse’s regular work regime
EXPERT
Fizz Tickridge-Marshall has had a varied career, from Equine Therapy Centre Manager at Hartpury College to stints working for Jonjo O’Neill and Carl Hester. She now runs a livery yard in Herefordshire.
Traditionally, long-reining has been viewed as something done with a young horse to provide a solid grounding prior to starting ridden work. And while it’s commonly used in this way, the benefits for horses at every stage of their careers are often underestimated.
In fact, long-reining is one of the most versatile types of exercise you can do with your horse, and with some regular practice, you’ll find there are few things you can do under saddle that you can’t do on long reins.
Photos: Jon Stroud
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Take time getting him used to the reins on his side and quarters. Have a helper while doing this and to walk next to him initially. Good brakes and steering are vital before going it alone.
Hacking on the long reins is useful when your horse is coming back into work and would benefit from exercise on a firm surface but without the weight of a rider.
There are few things you can do under saddle that you can’t do on long reins
Flexible benefits
The obvious di erence between long-reining and lungeing is that you have two lines rather than one. This gives you a more consistent contact and greater scope to influence your horse’s way of going. Even if you’ve never given it a go before, it’s never too late to learn to long-rein. It...
• allows your horse to work freely without the weight of a rider.
• builds strength
• improves proprioception
• encourages your horse to go forwards
• helps improve straightness
You need...
bridle with reins removed or twisted and fixed with the throatlash
two long reins or lunge lines
roller with rings on each side large enough to thread the clip of your lines through
lungeing pad, or a saddlepad folded in half
hat, gloves and sturdy boots
Pole plans for everyone
PART ONE: THE HEXAGON
Try Tania Grantham’s simple polework exercises that give maximum benefit
Tania Grantham is a rider, trainer and polework specialist, as well as a writer and the host of podcast Poles, Pia e and Prosecco. She is also the author of Inspire Dressage Polework Journal EXPERT
Polework has so many benefits, mentally and physically, for horse and rider that it’s easy to understand why it’s increased in popularity in recent years. However, layouts can be complex and resource heavy, which makes them hard to recreate at home. With this fun hexagon set-up, there’s no striding required and it only needs six poles. And the best thing about it? This one layout has multiple lines, which means even more benefits for you and your horse. Let’s get started!
Set it up
Build a hexagon shape in the middle of the arena, with X at the centre. For it to work, it’s important to use 3m poles.
Exercise 1
After completing your usual warm-up, no matter how experienced your horse is, it’s important to introduce the fact you’re doing a polework session. This exercise is ideal for that.
Why it works
This loop requires your horse to step over perpendicular poles that aren’t close together, as well as work through changes of bend. It helps prepare him both physically and mentally for what’s to come.
How to ride it
Loops can be ridden in walk or trot. Begin on the long side and aim to cross each pole at the same point (striped poles are really helpful for this), returning to the track before the corner. Ride the exercise equally on both reins.
Techniques for
success
Simple ways to achieve your competition goals
EXPERT
We all love watching the top riders, often wishing that we had even the smallest amount of their talent. It seems completely unattainable, but, really, is success all about talent? Could there be something else going on, too? Of course, if you’re to be successful, you’ll need commitment and hard work, but just as important is the mental training process. In other words, you need to work on priming your mind for success rather than failure.
The three elements
For most riders, the approach of competition season brings a familiar mix of excitement and apprehension. Yet while we spend countless hours perfecting our discipline-specific skills, many of us overlook the vital importance of mental preparation. In fact, sports psychology research consistently shows that mental preparation significantly impacts performance outcomes. But what exactly does this look like for most of us?
At its core, mental preparation involves developing three key areas...
• focus
• emotional regulation
• confidence
Work smart
Practice, without doubt, is important but how you practise is also crucial.
The concept of deliberate practice, first introduced by psychologist Anders Ericsson, goes far beyond simply spending time in the saddle. By approaching it in this way, you can transform every schooling session
These elements work together to create what’s termed competitive resilience – the ability to perform consistently under pressure – and it’s something all riders are capable of developing.
Create a routine
The closer you are to competing, the more important your mental preparation becomes. So, 8–12 weeks before your competition, start developing your performance routine – a systematic approach to competition day that helps manage anxiety and maintain focus. This is your foundation and includes...
1. Visualisation training. Spend 10 minutes each morning mentally rehearsing a test or course in as much detail as possible – all the sights, sounds and sensations. This mental practice creates neural pathways that support actual performance.
2. Anxiety management . Recognise your personal anxiety triggers and develop specific coping strategies, such as breathing exercises, positive self-talk, or progressive muscle relaxation.
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Remember that having some anxiety is perfectly normal and it can even enhance your performance when carefully managed.
3. Focus development . Practise maintaining concentration during challenging situations. When training, identify what disrupts your focus and work on developing recovery strategies – for example, try counting your horse’s footfalls or focusing on your breathing.
Work on priming your mind for success rather than failure
into an opportunity for meaningful improvement. To achieve this...
• set specific goals
• remain focused
• obtain immediate feedback on how you’re doing
Consider a typical schooling session. Rather than working generally on lateral work, deliberate practice might involve
spending 20 focused minutes on perfecting your horse’s reaction to the leg aid in shoulder-in, or your approach to a set of poles on the ground. This targeted approach, combined with immediate feedback (perhaps through mirrors or video), accelerates improvement far more e ectively than hours of unfocused riding.
Jacqueline Malone MSc is an accredited coach and runs Ahead for Horses. She has a passion for empowering riders to improve by using performance psychology and mental skills.
Words: Kiera Boyle. Photos: Bob Atkins. anjajuli, Carlo Prearo, cynoclub/shutterstock.com
Bare necessities
Thinking about ditching your horse’s shoes? Make the switch from shod to shoeless a smooth transition with our helpful guide
Adecade ago, it was pretty uncommon to see a barefoot horse other than in the field or retirement. Unshod hooves were typically reserved for youngsters, horses turned away for recovery, roughed-o eventers or horses winding down their ridden careers. Today, however, barefoot horses are increasingly seen in a wide range of disciplines — from endurance to dressage, and even on the Olympic stage.
As a result of more scientific research into hoof function and health, many owners are now reassessing the role of traditional shoes. For some, removing shoes has resolved long-standing issues or supported improved hoof development. For others, it’s simply a way to explore a more natural approach to horse care.
The decision to go barefoot is personal, but understanding the process and its potential benefits can help you decide if it’s the right move for your horse.
The barefoot buzz
The question of whether or not to shoe has been a much-discussed topic in recent years. Increased interest in barefoot means there is a growing body of research, and it suggests barefoot can o er several benefits, including…
• improved circulation
• better shock absorption
• improved hoof flexibility
• reduced joint and tendon stress
• enhanced proprioception
• greater long-term soundness and performance
That said, barefoot isn’t a universal fix. Some horses transition quickly and thrive without shoes, while others may struggle to adapt depending on their conformation, workload, environment and hoof condition.
The place to start is by consulting a qualified farrier who works with barefoot horses and therefore has a deeper understanding of the demands of barefoot management. They will be able to answer your questions and help you make an informed decision on whether to give barefoot a go.
