In this feature. . .
Our expert
Geoff Billington started riding on a £10 pony and has since spent four decades at the top of showjumping. With more than 50 Nations Cup appearances under his belt, Geoff represented Great Britain in two Olympic Games on board It’s Otto and took the 2007 Hickstead Derby crown with Cassabachus.
Our model
Words: Bethany Searby. Photos: Jon Stroud
Conman JX is a dark bay 14-year-old gelding owned by Geoff Billington and Michael Whitaker. He’s a successful Grand Prix horse who’s competed up to CSI5*.
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Build an adaptable, all-purpose rhythm
In the saddle
Perfect your jump-off turns
Tackle angled fences
Geoff Billington’s
no-frills showjumping PART THREE: NEED FOR SPEED Don’t leave it until competition day to get the jump-off right. No matter how you’re set up, Geoff ’s exercises will refine your timed round riding for results against the clock
T
he secret to a seamless jump-off is simple – practice. The only reason top riders are a cut above the rest is because they do it week in, week out. But even then, it’s easy to tell who has and hasn’t been doing their homework. The lesson here is to take the time to perfect your jump-off skills at home. It’s no good going clear in competition and then just winging it against the clock. People often say riding a horse is like riding a bike and I agree – with a caveat. You never forget how to ride a bike, but if you’ve got to ride a bike along a tightrope, then it’s well worth your time putting in the practice.
The golden rules of showjumping
Throughout this series I’ll be referring to rhythm, balance and control as vital components of successful jumping. They’re qualities you should focus on in each training session. This final feature recaps everything we’ve worked on so far – maintaining a consistent rhythm that you can adjust, having your horse supple and balanced enough to navigate tight turns and controlled enough to ensure he’s landing on the correct lead.
Getting started
To get the most out of this session, you’ll need… • four poles set up in a long line, a generous horse’s length between each • three cavaletti if space allows, or reconfigure and raise three of the poles instead • enough poles and wings to build three fences ideally, but a mixture of raised poles will do
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In this feature. . .
Plan for a productive gridwork session
Quick
step
As told to Megan Hurley. Photos: Nico Morgan Media
Can gridwork really boost rideability, athleticism and technique? Eventer Eliza Stoddart explains how
A
keen and careful jumper is the top of every rider’s wishlist. But, what do you do when your horse’s energy doesn’t match up with the task at hand? With enthusiasm often comes a sharper ride, while the other end of the spectrum raises its own difficulties. Having a plan for days when you just can’t get the balance right will boost your confidence and guarantee you a positive, productive session. So, here’s my quick schooling plan that you can use and adapt to suit you and your horse.
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Stretch and flex
I always try to warm my horse up by allowing him to stretch over his back and work long and low, gradually warming and loosening up his muscles. However, not all horses will immediately be relaxed enough to stretch – and your safety is always the most important thing – so if he needs more time, there’s no harm in coming back to the stretch later in the session. The important thing to remember is to not force your horse into a stretch, as this will only make him more tense and stressed. Ride lots of circles, changes of rein and gentle lateral work to encourage him to relax and focus on the job at hand. I spend a lot of time training my horses to warm up in a relaxed way. This is really useful when we get to a competition – because being soft and chilled out in the warm-up has become a habit at home, it’ll give your horse a sense of security in new environments.
In the saddle
Create a careful jumper
Boost athleticism with grids
Our expert
Eliza Stoddart is a five-star eventer who represented Great Britain in the 2019 Nations Cup series. She’s also the first rider to win back-to-back five-year-old national eventing titles in the Young Horse Championships.
Our model
Idonnna W is an is a KWPN mare by Quidaro. At eight years old, she’s competing at CCI2* and is owned by The Great Expectations Syndicate.
The set up
For this exercise, you’ll need four cavaletti plus five pairs of wings and at least eight poles – three per oxer and two for the upright. If you don’t have cavaletti at home, you can substitute these for additional blocks and poles.
3–3.2m 3–3.2m 7–7.8m 7–7.8m
7–7.8m
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In this feature. . .
Build the ultimate walk for your horse
Dressage walk WORKSHOP
When was the last time you showed your horse’s walk some TLC? Dressage rider Sarah Higgins shares her top techniques to take his walk from woeful to wonderful
D
As told to Bethany Searby. Photos: Jon Stroud
id you know that your walk work is worth at least 30 marks in every dressage test you ride? With that in mind, it perhaps deserves more of your training time than you thought. You walk your horse every time you ride – in the arena and outside of it – so why not use that time productively to boost your scores? A personal bugbear for me is an ambling, lacklustre walk. All your horse’s paces should have energy and purpose, so that’s a great place to start. Stick with me and I’ll show you how to level up his walk even further with five of my most fail-safe tips.
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Our expert
Based at Pinfold Stables, Cheshire, Sarah Higgins is a Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer.
Our model
Fiddler (Felix) is owned by Sarah Higgins and Richard and Gill Davison. He’s 11 years old and currently competing at Prix St Georges.
In the saddle
Boost your dressage marks
Produce more purpose
You walk your horse every time you ride, so why not use that time productively to boost your scores?
Which walk is it?
Before we get going, let’s take a look at all the different variations within walk. In any walk, you should be aiming for forwardness, suppleness and attentiveness, but here are the nuances of the walks you’ll come across on your test sheet… • medium walk This is your ‘go-to’ walk in your horse’s natural rhythm and the kind you’ll spend the most time in. Your horse’s nose should be on the vertical, his strides should look relaxed and he’ll ideally display a slight overtrack as he steps through from behind • collected walk This variation has a staccato quality because your horse will take shorter steps that should be higher than in medium walk – you’re aiming for him to bend his knees more. The rein contact and outline line should be more pronounced and the height of his steps will produce an undertrack • extended walk Your horse should carry his poll lower than in medium walk and stretch through his body to produce elongated, groundcovering strides and a pronounced overtrack • free walk This variation is found in at every dressage level and carries double points, so it’s an expensive movement to lose marks on. In free walk, your horse’s poll should be even lower than in extended walk with his nose out. His strides should be long and loose, yet purposeful, and his body should be free from tension
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