Galop 4In the saddle
Contents
- 01WelcomeOverview
- 02Domestic lifeKnowledge
- 03Identifying a horseKnowledge
- 04The passportKnowledge
- 05Routine careCaring for the horse
- 06Vital signs and illnessCaring for the horse
- 07Needs and feedsKnowledge
- 08Feeds to avoidKnowledge
- 09How the canter worksKnowledge
- 10The aids, flexion and bendKnowledge
- 11Boots and legsCaring for the horse
- 12Snaffle bitsKnowledge
- 13The contactIn the saddle
- 14The jumping positionIn the saddle
- 15Position and strideIn the saddle
- 16Canter from walk, quarter turnsIn the saddle
- 17GroundworkOn foot
- 18Safety and hackingKnowledge
- 19Tests and revisionRevision
The jumping position and riding a sequence of fences
Over a fence, your job is to let the horse jump: to stay balanced in your stirrups, steady, without getting in his way, while controlling the gait, the speed and the direction from one fence to the next.
In the exam programme
- Describe the rider’s position over a fence.Specific part
- Be steady in balance on the stirrups at the canter and through grids of about 80 cm.Specific part
- Control gait, speed and direction over a sequence of single fences of about 70 cm.Specific part
Describing the jumping position
You jump balanced in your stirrups, with your stirrup leathers a few holes shorter than for flatwork. Your weight sinks into the stirrups; hips, knees and ankles act as springs to absorb the movement.
- Feet: the stirrup under the ball of the foot, heel lower than toe, ankle supple.
- Legs: knee bent, against the saddle without gripping, calf in contact; the leg stays still beneath you, neither forward nor back.
- Seat: just above the saddle, directly over your feet.
- Upper body: inclined forward, back flat, shoulders open. The more your legs are bent, the more your upper body folds.
- Hands: low, either side of the neck; they follow the mouth without pulling.
- Eyes: well ahead, on the fence, then beyond it, on the next one.
- Eyes looking well ahead
- Upper body inclined forward, back flat
- Seat just clear of the saddle
- Knees bent, in contact without gripping
- Heels down, weight in the stirrups
- Hands forward along the neck
| Phase | What the rider does |
|---|---|
| Approach | Balanced, steady, legs in contact: keeps up the speed and holds the line |
| Take-off and flight | Follows: the hands go forward with the neck, the upper body folds a little, without getting ahead of the horse |
| Landing | Absorbs the landing in the ankles and knees, gradually comes back up and takes up the contact again |
| Getaway | Is already looking at the next fence and re-establishing the gait |
Common mistake
Getting ahead of the horse — throwing yourself forward before he takes off — puts weight on his shoulders. Getting left behind and pulling on his mouth in the air hampers him and punishes him for jumping. Either way, wait for the jump, then go with it.
Steady through a grid
A grid lines up several fences one stride apart, or with no stride at all (bounces), often with placing poles in front. The distances are set for the horse: you do not need to interfere. In Galop 4 you stay steady and balanced through it at heights of about 80 cm, keeping the same position from one element to the next and your eyes at the end of the line.
Riding a sequence of single fences
Over a sequence of single fences of about 70 cm, it is you who builds each approach, with the three conditions you met in Galop 3: the line, the speed and the balance.
- Walk the course: the order of the fences, the turns, the lines, where to turn.
- Ride even curves, ending in a straight line that meets the middle of the fence at right angles.
- Keep an even canter: no faster on the lines, no slower round the turns, and no rushing in front of the fence.
- Look for the next one as you land, so the horse sets off in the right direction straight away.
- Think about the leg: if the horse lands on the wrong leg before a turn, trot for a few strides and strike off again on the correct one.
A word from the instructor
The horse jumps with his back, not yours. If you set off before he does, you may both reach the other side — though not necessarily in the same order.