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Initially, Dougal takes hold as he spots the fence and ignores Amy’s instructions, causing him to get too close. His jumping form suffers and his legs become untidy A F K


“This exercise also encourages the horse to be quicker with their legs. They need to be quick to snap their front legs up neatly, followed by their hind legs, ready to strike off again over the next jump.”


Which way? B E M H C


Another reason to start off small is so that the horse knows to put their feet down in the middle, rather than try jumping the bounce as a whole.


For an inexperienced horse, introduce them to the jumps in trot, and encourage them to canter away. When they can trot in confidently on each rein, then start to introduce their approach in canter.


“What I’m aiming for with this exercise is for the horse to come into, and come away from, the bounce in the same rhythm. If you want to come away with a bigger, longer striding canter, that’s the canter you need to enter with,” Amy explains. “A working hunter course needs to be ridden as a whole course, rather than individual jumps, so you need to plan in advance how you need your canter afterwards, and ride for that.


A working hunter course is all about rhythm and fluidity, so if your horse lands in good balance, regardless of which canter lead he is on, it makes sense to just continue without pulling up into trot to change leads. However to give yourself the best shot at a good, clean clear, landing on the correct canter gives your horse the best chance at setting up well for the next fence.


Using the same bounce set up as previously, start in trot, with the first element a pole on the ground and the second a small jump. Enter the combination as if you were asking the horse to pick up canter, applying pressure with your inside leg, supported by your outside leg behind the girth and your inside seat bone slightly forward, to encourage


him to land on the correct lead. Keep your weight over the centre of the horse rather than over the shoulder, to help the horse to keep their balance. If your weight is too far forward, you will upset their balance. Open up your inside rein slightly in the direction of your desired canter lead, and shift your weight ever so slightly in that direction. Look in the direction that you want to go or in the case of a working hunter course, look towards your next fence.


It’s unlikely your horse will get it right first time – so practising is key. Eventually he will tune into your aids.


Stepping it up


Amy then set up a cross pole on a dog leg after the bounce jumps (see diagram, left). Not only does this require the horse to land on the correct leg to enable him to make a balanced turn, it also requires concentration to get the best line and set the horse up for the centre of the jump. The cross pole was set up to be six strides away from the bounce.


Uno


Uno is Vikki’s promising working hunter ride for this season. Bred to jump, with lines tracing back to Numero Uno and Voltaire, he will look at open classes this season.


Dougal of Dykes


Dougal of Dykes is Amy’s 12 year old Highland pony stallion, who has campaigned both WHP and flat classes.


The pony qualified for both of these at Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) 2017, as well as the Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) where he came eighth.


On second attempt, Dougal allowed himself more space and made a better shape over the fence


Horslyx are delighted to support Amy Smith and her team.


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