News - Classic Showjumps in Equestrian Lifestyle Magazine (July 2008)

Get a Jump Start

Rising fuel costs now mean that it is much more expensive to go to shows. Consequently, many people are cutting back on the amount of competing they do, but there are still plenty of options for enjoyment at home, even on a shoestring.

It may be the time to try something new, so why not invest in a few key pieces of equipment and get jumping?

When buying jumps it is important to consider your situation. Where will you store them? How often will you use them? If there is no undercover storage would plastic be the best option? If the budget is tight then maybe lightweight and long lasting plastic would work for you. When just starting out there is no need for a full course of jumps with all the accessories, Di Towers from Classic Showjumps explains the options for getting started.

“When starting out it is important to begin with a couple of poles and some small wings. Look for small but stable wings, perhaps in a cone shape, to ensure greater stability and find out if they can be extended to enable greater height as you get better. Lightweight poles are important as they will not hurt the horse if he kicks them and using striking colours will brighten up your ménage as well as getting the horse used to some of the styles of jumps seen at shows.”

Trotting poles are always the first place to start with jumping and even two or three poles are plenty to help you. A couple of heavier poles are best as they will stay put and not roll under the horse’s hooves. Set them out in the field or ménage with a measured distance to start but also try a fan shape or even single poles placed widely to prevent your horse becoming complacent.

Whether it is you or your horse that is inexperienced at jumping, starting small and working up is important. With just two poles and three low wings or blocks it is possible to create a simple exercise that will help you and your horse take off.

Set up the jump as an L shape on a flat section of field or ménage, ensuring the jumps transect the diagonals. Start on one rein and approach from a steady trot, ensuring you keep a rhythm and a straight approach. By jumping on a diagonal you can ensure you ride the corners deeply and change the rein, making the most of even limited space. Having landed and changed the rein, ride around the top of the schooling area and set up to approach the second arm of the L. By riding this way and changing the rein you can continue to ride a steady figure of eight.

This exercise, ridden carefully, can help a novice rider or horse gain confidence over fences and improve rhythm, balance and accuracy. Just two poles can in this way help the rider to ride into, over and away from the fence, the basic skills required for jumping a course.

Once confident over low poles, it could well be an interesting progression to try a cross country jump. Mobile cross country jumps enable you to experience cross country fences in a ménage so it is worth investing in one or two. The mobility of the jumps means that without constantly updating your jumps you can still introduce your horse to new things. Try placing the jump close to a corner, next to a shady hedge or across the centre line to vary your approaches and keep both you and your horse thinking.

The key to saving money is careful spending. Buying a few key pieces of equipment will keep you and your horse more interested in schooling at home and means that when shows are once again an option, you could even try entering a showjumping class.

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