Another failed cross country schooling attempt this weekend (although this time my fault) left me itching to jump something, come hell or highwater. And not just jump about aimlessly, which tends to happen when I inherit someone’s jumble of standards and put them up in places corresponding to how much energy I have that day.
So I determined that I was going to work on combinations, and specifically riding in with energy, and making decisions about my path through the fences.
So I set up this configuration of roughly Novice sized verticals, based on something I remembered from Emma of Fraidy Cat Eventing‘s blog. My version was three strides no matter the path, just enough time for me to plan my lead out.
![[old screenshot] I also worked on putting my hands down!](https://ourhouseonahill.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/jump2.jpg?w=560&h=315)
[old screenshot] I also worked on putting my hands down!
The key to the exercise was definitely getting his shoulders straight to the first element while maintaining a forward canter (I rode with my dressage whip to really enforce the “go” which seemed to work), then balancing through the three strides and thinking about which way I would go after the ‘out’ element. Sometimes I would take the bending line left (single to top left option), then turn roll back right and take another bending line left (top right to bottom single fence), or continue left and circle back around, or take a single fence by itself… I found that this combination of fences gave me a lot of options and things to think about.
![[old screenshot]](https://ourhouseonahill.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/jump3.jpg?w=560&h=315)
[old screenshot]
I ended the session when I felt like Foster was listening to my aids and getting the correct lead each direction. At that point in time it was also unfortunately quite hot, about 90*, and I was getting light headed and Foster was seriously puffing.
![[old screenshot]](https://ourhouseonahill.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/jump1.jpg?w=560&h=315)
[old screenshot]
Overall I was really pleased with the day, and especially felt like we made strides in finding a more forward pace for Foster (damn why can’t I bring my dressage whip to the jumper ring- suggestions anyone??) and for myself, picking less to the fence and mentally riding every stride.
The exercise was so helpful, I think I’ll be setting it up again soon!
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![[old screenshot] I also worked on putting my hands down!](https://ourhouseonahill.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/jump2.jpg)
![[old screenshot]](https://ourhouseonahill.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/jump3.jpg)
![[old screenshot]](https://ourhouseonahill.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/jump1.jpg)
Red on the Right 
This exercise looks great, there are so many different things you can work on with it! Sadly I have no advice for how to get more forward, I’m pretty consistently trying to slow down haha.
I’ve never had a kick-on kind of horse to fences before, so figuring out how to ask for GO! instead of WHOA ($%&* #&#!!) is a new one for me!
Buy a reeeeeally long jockey whip?!
Haha and maybe add a super long tassel to the end of it? 😀 Is that legal?
That looks tough with only 3 strides! I’ll have to try it….but with like 6 strides ha.
The three strides was good for me because it meant I couldn’t get into the combination and *then* decide what to do, which I am often guilty of!
One exercise I can think of is to practice on the flat work change in speed, increase speed, decease, increase more, decrease more, then add ground poles to practice. This I will help to get the horse to become more sensitive. .. Well that is the initial hope anyways… keep working, it will come.
i had a lot of fun with this exercise too (tho thinking about leads is maybe slightly beyond my coordination skills at present haha) – sounds like you two enjoyed it!
It was really, really helpful to me- thanks for posting it in the first place!
Exercises with options are the best! It keeps you thinking and engaged, as well as the horse
My brain really needed this exercise!