Feature


The first time, Una gets excited and takes off far too early, forcing her to make a bigger jump over the cross pole


“First, ride through the combination and make sure your horse can make the six stride distance,” Amy says. At first, Dougal takes hold of the bit as he spots the second element and ignores Amy’s instructions, causing him to get too close. His jumping form suffers and his legs become untidy and Amy corrected him aferwards by bringing him back to a halt, and then asking him to rein back before turning and re- presenting him.


“It’s so important that he’s paying attention to what I’m asking,” she continued. “Now let’s do it again, and this time watch as he attacks the second


The next time she is more attentive to Vikki’s aids, taking off at a sensible distance and making a better shape


part in better balance, staying out of my hand.”


The second attempt sees Dougal clear both parts with ease. “I try to avoid arguments where I can with their schooling sessions,” Amy comments. “Dougal is still running on a bit, so to keep Dougal thinking ahead but also encourage him to take a better look and back off the jump a bit, I have added a water tray underneath. It gives him something to think about and stops him rushing.


“It’s such a versatile exercise, and a lot can be added to it without having to move the equipment. For example, you could add a back rail onto the cross pole to make it wider, or you can introduce fillers.”


An exercise for any horse


Amy’s sister, Vikki, then takes over riding the exercise on her Warmblood, Una, as Amy instructs from the ground.


Vikki Smith


Amy’s sister, Vikki Smith, is equally well known on the show circuit, and competes in a range of classes from flat ridden M&Ms, to working hunter and coloureds.


Vikki is also a judge for the Sports Horse Breeding of Great Britain (SHB (GB)), British Show Horse Association (BSHA) and Coloured Horse and Pony Society (CHAPS).


“This exercise is just as beneficial for Una as it is for Dougal,” Amy explains. “Una is a big powerful mare and can get a bit carried away, ignoring Vikki’s aids and charging on. This exercise is short and sweet, which means Vikki can keep Una’s mind focused on the task.”


After warming up over the exercise, Amy asks Vikki to shorten Una’s stride to fit in seven, rather than the six. “To do this, Vikki needs to be thinking and preparing her stride before she’s even made that turn for the first element, the bounce.”


Asking for a smaller canter this time by keeping her leg on but applying a few half halts on the outside rein as she turned for the bounce, Vikki and Una approached with a smaller stride, but not small enough as Una took off early over the cross pole and launched herself over the fence.


“It’s good that she’s keen,” says Amy, “but come back round again and this time mean business! She was running on too much. Apply a stronger half halt this time, and sit back between the fences.”


Instead of going straight for the bounces, Vikki circles in front of them a couple of times until she has the canter that she wants, rather than the one Una would prefer to give. Once happy with the canter, Vikki rode the combination again and this time Una contained her canter.


Next, Amy asked Vikki to decrease the strides between the two elements down to five. With


V-poles on the jump encourage Una to aim for the centre of the fence


a big moving horse, it may seem easier but rather than bowling on into bigger canter, Vikki needs to keep the mare between her hand and leg.


Vikki keeps her leg on in her approach to the first element but softens her hand forward a little to allow Una to extend her stride slightly, while keeping well anchored with her weight down in case Una tries to take hold. At first, Una spots the jump and runs on and her line suffers as a consequence.


Amy then adds V-poles to guide Una into the centre of the fence, keeping straight and Una’s lines start to improve without asking too much of the horse.


“Like I said, avoid arguments whenever you can. You’re unlikely to win against an animal 10 times bigger than you. It’s all about guidance and seeing what you can add in to make the horse think about their job rather than encouraging them to fight your aids.”


Una is a big, powerful warmblood and can get a little carried away in her jumping


This was the final instalment of our working hunter training feature with Amy Smith. Missed an issue? Call 01380 730888 for back copies.


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