how to remember show jumping course

Give the picture of the course to a friend or family member and have them ask you which path you’re taking. Recite the jumps in order using the memorization techniques you’ve used. Have them ask specific questions, like where a certain jump is, so you can memorize the course from any starting point.

Full Answer

What is a show jumping course?

A show jumping course consists of a series of obstacles (10 minimum) in an arena. There will be a start and finish line to establish the time it takes a horse/rider team to finish the course.

Is it hard to memorize the course for jumping events?

Since many jumping events don’t show the course until the day of the show, it can be difficult to memorize the path you need to take. With careful planning and some easy memorization strategies, you won’t forget the order of the jumps you need to make!

Is show jumping hard to learn?

Show jumping is a popular equestrian event that challenges both the horse and the rider to quickly go through a course of jumping obstacles. Since many jumping events don’t show the course until the day of the show, it can be difficult to memorize the path you need to take.

What makes show jumping special?

There is something particularly exciting about show jumping in particular due to the variation in courses as well as the incredible artwork on the fences themselves.

How long does it take to learn show jumping?

For instance, a very experienced rider might be ready to do it within a month even on a very green or inexperienced horse. A rider who is new to Jumping might take six months, even if they're on a very well established schoolmaster who has jumped far bigger in the past.

What are the 5 jumping phases?

The five phases of a jumpPhase one – approach. ... Phase two – takeoff. ... Phase three – flight and bascule. ... Phase four – landing. ... Phase five – recovery.

How many jumps are in a show jumping course?

8-16 jumpsCourses are usually made out of 8-16 jumps. You'll want to make sure you can control your horse and complete a course. A show jumping course can consist of turns, angles, combinations, certain stride-lengths, and intimidating jumps.

Is show jumping hard to learn?

It's very difficult today, but it's a different difficult. It doesn't encourage blood and guts. The most important characteristic of jumping was developing courage in a person, and that's what riding did and that is what it is supposed to do.

What is the 1st stage in preparation for jumping?

Phase 1: The Approach. To understand how to achieve a better result without worrying about seeing strides, it's helpful to break down jumping into the five phases of jumping: the approach, takeoff, in the air, landing, and getaway.

How do horses see jumps?

Horses do not see the full spectrum of hues seen in show jumping courses. Equines have 'dichromatic' vision ('di' meaning two, and 'chroma' meaning colour) in blue and green. In human terms, horses are said to be red-green colour blind, unable to see reds as we do, probably viewing them as hues of blue-grey.

Is dressage harder than jumping?

Which Discipline is More Difficult? Most riders find it easier to switch from dressage to jumping than the other way around, since beginning dressage is taught in a manner that is more technically intensive, and most find it far more challenging.

Is show jumping cruel to horses?

Any horse can get hurt at any time, of course. But hunter, jumper and hunt-seat equitation competitions make demands that set horses up for certain injuries. Jumping stresses tendons and ligaments that support the leg during both push-off and landing. The impact of landing can also damage structures in the front feet.

What is the calmest breed of horse?

Keep Calm & Ride On: Meet the 5 Calmest Horse BreedsAmerican Quarter Horse.Morgan Horse.Appaloosa Horse.Norwegian Fjord.Connemara Pony.

What is the hardest equestrian sport?

If you're a daredevil, these sports might have the adrenaline rush you need!...Top 10 Most Dangerous Equestrian SportsHorse Racing. ... Steeplechase. ... Cross Country Jumping. ... Barrel Racing. ... Pole Bending. ... Trick Riding. ... Show Jumping. ... Fox Hunting.More items...•

What height is C grade showjumping?

HeightsGradeShow Jumping HeightsEventing HeightsD Grade60cm to 75cm60cmC Grade *75cm – 90 cm80cmB Grade *90 cm – 105cm90cmA Grade *105cm to 120cm105cm3 more rows

Is show jumping an expensive sport?

Obviously, the cost of show jumping is far and away the most expensive facet, as it requires a horse and, as discussed earlier, horses don't come cheap. But there are other costs from training for all the other events, such as the costs of fencing equipment as well as the purchase and maintenance of guns.

8 Ways to Remember Your Show Course

The off-course elimination is one the more frustrating outcomes for the equestrian competitor � maybe because it feels like a mistake that doesn’t carry any learnings with it. If you miss at a jump because your horse bulged left out of the corner, well, you have something to work on for next time.

1. Name the Jumps

Every jump has some defining feature that’s worthy of a descriptive nickname. Maybe it’s a white panel or a brick wall or an ugly coupe or pillar standards. In the jumper ring, you can make use of the colors � for example, here in St. Louis, we see a red-and-yellow setup by Mo’s Jumps that we’ve fondly named McDonald’s.

2. Break the Show Course into Sections

If remembering the individual jumps feels overwhelming, group combinations together and remember them as one unit. This is particularly effective for your more straightforward hunter courses. Your pre-ride mantra, for example, might be something like: quarter-line jump, diagonal five-stride, outside one-stride, etc.

3. Plan out Your Turns

For jumpers, equitation and even handy courses, memorize your turns along with the jumps. If you described the course out loud, it might sound something like this: McDonald’s oxer, right turn, cotton candy bending line in five steps, left turn to the horse-head one-stride, etc.

4. Repeat the Course, Jumps and Turns out Loud

Repeat your course out loud in detail to anyone who will listen, or no one in particular. You could even add in any riding tips that are specific to your horse. For example: “McDonald’s jump, then balance” or “right leg, right rein to cotton candy vertical.” If you’re the creative type, you could even make a song or a poem out of it.

5. Visualize Your Ride

Visualization is just another form of repetition. It’s most effective if you can get very detailed � the jumps in your visualization are full-color, you can hear your horse’s stride and you can feel the reins in your fingers. Anytime you have a free moment before your round, run through the course again in your head.

6. Walk the Course if You Can

If you have the opportunity to walk the course, do it. Look at every jump head-on and take a mental picture of the approach. You can then use that for your visualization later.

Building a simple course

Make the first fence an easy one: an ascending spread – that is, one where the second rail is higher than the first – is the best. It should have good groundline. This is the easiest type of fence for the horse and will give him confidence at the outset.

Types of fences

Vertical or upright fence – that is, those in which all the poles or planks are in the same vertical plane – look simple enough but are the most difficult for a horse to jump well.

Walking the course

However modest the size of the fences, you should always walk a course before you try to jump it. Not only does it help fix the route in your memory, but it also enables you to stride out the distances between the fences so that you know in advance how many strides your particular horse will be able to take between each obstacle.

Shortening and lengthening the stride

When you come to jump a course of fences, and in particular combinations, you will soon realize how important it is to be able to lengthen and shorten your horse’s stride at will – and how invaluable all that flatwork is, particularly the upward and downward transitions within a pace, in this case, the canter.

Safe jumping

When building spread fences never use anything other than a single pole for the back element and never put any type of filler under the pole.

When did show jumping start?

Show Jumping first appeared as an Olympic sport in 1900, but not in the same format we currently know it to be as it initially did not include any “faults” or marks down for hitting a rail. It wasn’t until 1912 that the Show Jumping format we now know so well became commonplace.

What do you need to show jump a horse?

Basic needs for show jumping your horse are pretty minimal, though you can certainly invest in far more gear if you desire. source: shelby dennis. Bridle (black or brown) Bit (make sure it’s legal for competition) or you can use a legal bitless bridle. Standing or running martingale.

Why do horses run out of jumps?

Not managing straightness is also common as riders may inadvertently cue the horse to go around the jump or “run out” due to nerves on the approach. Jumping ahead or behind the motion is also super common for beginners which is why learning over small, easy fences first is so important for the development of a rider.

Why do horses pack a rider around?

It’ll also help build rider confidence due to feeling safe and in control on a more experienced horse.

Why is my horse jumping so fast?

Riding too fast makes for an inability to rate the speed of the horse as you get in close proximity of the fence, this can result in the horse jumping very “flat” and across the jump, increasing the potential for a crash. It could also make the horse more likely to slip around corners.

Why do horses stay off the fence?

By staying off the back and moving with the horse over the fence, the rider makes it easier for the horse to jump correctly. It also avoids the back pain that is associated with a rider getting left behind or sitting too much over the fence, accidentally thumping onto the horse’s back.

What is a three day horse trial?

Also referred to as horse trials or combined training, a three-day event judges a horse and rider combination in three different disciplines—Dress age, cross-country, and show jumping, (also called stadium jumping).