( Schooling Q&A )


Mountain Horse and Imogen Gloag team up to answer your schooling questions


International event rider Imogen Gloag, 23, is based in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.


In 2016, Imogen was the youngest competitor at that year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials riding Brendonhill Doublet and the pair are former Pony Club Champions and British Junior team members.


In 2018 made her first appearance at the Mitsubishi Badminton Horse Trials on the same horse completing with just one unlucky run out.


Imogen’s ultimate goal aim is to be selected on to British teams and to ride at the Olympic Games.


Imogen is sponsored by Mountain Horse which makes stylish, elegant and durable riding gear. Visit www.mountainhorse.se.


How do you ride a good counter canter?


To ride a correct counter canter, your horse leads on the wrong leg, and he is flexed over that leading leg. For example, if you ride a counter canter to the right, your horse will lead with his leſt leg, and he’ll have leſt flexion.


You need to be riding forwards, and try not to over-bend your horse to stop him changing leads, as you will put more weight onto his outside shoulder which will push him on the forehand and he’ll probably break back into trot.


To ride counter canter on the right rein, put your leg on the girth for impulsion.


The right leg goes behind the girth to control the hind quarters


Then leſt rein asks for flexion at the poll. WIN A Mountain Horse SaddlePad & Kit Bag


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6 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 For the latest news visit www.centralhorsenews.co.uk good steady trot with an even rhythm.


Turn to the fence, making sure you are looking ahead, that your horse is straight, and you are maintaining a steady rhythm in trot.


Aſter the fence, ride in a straight line back to the track and repeat on the other rein.


Once you’ve mastered jumping from trot, try canter using an upright fence with a canter pole on either side. Add another canter pole of both sides eight yards away from the first pole. Establish a good, steady canter, look for your jump, keep your horse straight. Canter over the first pole and aim to have two strides of canter to


Right rein controls the speed.


Sit centrally in the saddle, and put a little bit more weight into your leſt stirrup.


My horse seems to rush into his fences when we showjump. He gets long in his body and I find it difficult to engage him. We are competing at British Novice level.


It’s always good to go right back to the basics. Make sure you have a good contact which will help you to be better prepared when it comes to jumping as you will have more control.


Once you have really established this, tackle a course of jumps with your trainer so that you can see where the problems lie. Keep the jumps small, while you establish the basics.


Two exercises to help


Jumping from trot will encourage your horse to think about where he places his feet.


Set up a cross pole and place a canter pole at either side, about three yards away diagonally across the school.


Ride large around the school, establishing a


the second pole. Jump the fence and ride two strides of canter to the second pole.


Repeat this exercise until your horse happily fits two strides of canter between the poles, and then you can very the distances to shorten or lengthen the canter strides.


I really struggle when I hack my horse on my own. He just doesn’t seem to enjoy it all and is quite hard work to keep going, and he always wants to return home. What can I do to perk him up?


If your horse is better in company, and you’ve had everything checked, like his back and teeth, I’d suggest trying to find a short circular route where you don’t have to retrace your steps, as this will stop your horse from anticipating when he’ll be turning around and heading for home.


You could try the hack with a friend on a horse for the first couple of times so that you are really familiar with where you are going. Then perhaps someone could walk with you, or cycle, so that your horses retains his confidence.


I find chatting to my horse, signing, and generally being in a really good humour and full of confidence always seems to perk my horses up too – daſt as it may sound!


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