More stability in the saddle – as riders we are all guilty of being a little like Oliver Twist when it comes to it; we want more, please sir! This is none more true than when it comes to jumping as it is often the activity that makes us feel most unbalanced and ‘wobbly’ in the saddle. As riders we…
You’re cantering along, the jump firmly in your sights, getting ready for your horse to take off… When all of a sudden he begins to ‘veer’ a little off course. Before you know it, the jump flies past you, to one side… Your horse has, once again, proven that he is the master of running out at a fence! Frustrating,…
You are cantering towards the jump… 3… 2… 1… But instead of the ‘Jump’ that should have followed the 1; you get a chip in. A moment where your usually trusty horse decides to test both of you by inserting a little ‘half stride’ in there before takeoff! The result is you do a great Thelwell impression and your horse…
Have you ever experienced popping over a jump with your horse, when he suddenly realises he needs a little ‘more’ if he is going to clear the jump? He stretches, or pushes, a little farther than you expected and suddenly you find yourself very much behind the movement and bracing for the inevitable ‘thud’ that your backside connecting with the…
The bell rings, you set off aiming for the first fence, you pop over it… And suddenly it’s like everything begins to speed up and rather than being the pilot, you have somehow been relegated to passenger status. All the ‘if this then that’ scenarios you have spent months practicing are just gone and you are hoping that somehow, through…
You’ve just popped the fence and, in your mind, it was a success. Mostly because you managed to stay on board for it! However, as soon as your horse lands, you are beginning to think that your ‘upright seat’ is becoming more and more of a fantasy… In fact, every stride your horse takes is literally bumping you further and…
