Spruce Meadows had new jumps in 2014. Now half are skinny jumps and colors that draw the horse’s eye down to the bottom of the jump,” he says. “Fifteen or twenty years ago jumps were plain and set on deep cups. Now at the top level the jumps are so light. This year [2014] at the Thermal Million Dollar, I thought we’d win, and then a rail came down.” Kyle says that he
Kyle and the young Oldenburg Quig- ley, who together have won numer- ous Grands Prix in the last two years.
knows Quigley can be spooky at new venues. “He needs to see the materials. He thrives on jumping the same materials.”
Balancing the factors
of the track and the fence elements, Kyle advises, “Visualize your course. Then walk away and visualize the course.” And then he adds, “When I walk a course, especially a timed course, I notice where the timer is.”
Kyle demonstrates how to sit to direct the horse into a tight turn, with horse and rider in balance.
Jumping in Balance The equine athlete should maintain his balance every stride of the course. Kyle recom- mends that riders watch the best horses, gallop- ing with their heads up and forehands elevated, while pushing from the hindquarters. “Horses are rear end
vehicles,” says Kyle. The jumper is in front of the rider’s leg for most efficient movement off the ground, with his frame up. Kyle describes the horse’s posture. “He stays up with his with- ers up by the rider’s shoulders, not strong or pulling you out of the tack.” He continues, “I ride from the back end of the horse. The
horse moves from his back to a lifted front. Encourage the horse to hold his poll up, so his balance is up. Uphill, his ears are up and forward. It’s hard to find the jumps if your hand is too low and not connected. Watch any top rider, and his or her hand is up. The top rider has a floating hand.” This balance encourages the horse’s forward motion and
lightness. “The quickest way to get a horse soft is to stay off the forehand, and work the hind end,” Kyle says. With balance comes power to gallop and jump. The rider
builds that power through a solid position and clear connec- tion. “That’s when you ask the horse to step down to the base
24 March/April 2015 In the approach, the horse elevates his forehand.
The rider lets the horse come up in the takeoff, hands well over the wither.
of a big vertical: you’re connected with your leg, and the horse will follow your position.” Kyle clarifies that the rider is in charge. “You’re not following the horse.”
Specific Techniques It’s up to the rider to help the horse make time. Even a top jumper won’t try his best unless ridden well. Kyle says, “Find balance in a forward manner.” He advises
★★ ★
studying top riders over tough courses, to watch their posi- tion on the approach and landing. “Look at all the top riders. Their hands are lifted over the wither.” At the clinic, he instructs one rider to “keep that frame up.
Make his feet move faster, higher head and faster feet. You need the advantage, keep his head up and spur, so you have the power.” On the landing he says, “Ride away on the back side of the fence, so your horse learns to sharpen up. Land and stay on your step. You never see Beezie [Madden] grab for the balance—she lands and rides up and away.” A horse with a big jump most likely has a big landing.
The rider must prepare to stay in position and connected. Kyle advises, “When his back end is opening, you need to be
Schooling photos, this page and at right, by Charlene Strickland
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