Show jump training that builds your skills — and keeps it fun!
Show jump training
Looking for show jump training that pushes your skills and helps you ride more technical courses? This exercise is designed to do exactly that. It’s a step up in difficulty, with a few tricky turnbacks, some demanding related distances, and it all kicks off with a challenging little gymnastic to get you focused right from the start.
If you’ve already worked through some of my other exercises, you should be ready for this one. But if you’re new to these types of setups, no problem — just keep the jumps small until you and your horse get the feel for it. The key with technical exercises like this is to build confidence gradually. As your skills and your horse’s understanding improve, you can raise the height and the complexity.
This exercise highlights the importance of accuracy, control, and planning your ride. There are a few “pressure points” — moments in the track where things can easily go wrong if your balance, line, or pace isn’t spot on. Don’t worry though, I go over all of those key points in the video below. I also use diagrams and video clips to break down exactly what to look for and how to ride the course correctly.
Show jump training like this is what makes the difference in the ring. It teaches you and your horse to think, react, and stay balanced through tight turns and technical lines. Give it a try — it’s a great way to raise your game.
How to set up this show jumping exercise
Please note you will need the image below to follow these instructions. There are also set-up instructions on the video above that are slightly easier to follow.
This setup isn’t overly complicated, but keep in mind — you don’t ride the course exactly the way you set it up. Make sure to watch the video above to see the correct track and how to ride each part of the course.
Jump 1 – Gymnastic (Long Side of Arena)
Start with the gymnastic along the long side of your arena:
- The first jump is a tall cross pole.
- Measure 7 paces to the oxer.
- Place a placing pole exactly halfway between the two — that’s 3.5 paces on either side of the pole.
- From the oxer to the next vertical is 11 paces for a two-stride distance.
- From that vertical to the final vertical in the gymnastic is 15 paces for three strides.
Jumps 2, 4, 7, and 8 – Line on the Opposite Long Side
On the other long side, set up:
- An oxer, followed by five strides to a double combination (oxer to vertical, one stride apart).
- Measure 24 paces from the first oxer to the combination.
- The one-stride inside the combination walks 8 paces, which is standard.
Jumps 3 and 6 – Angled Oxer
Set an oxer at an angle, positioned 28 paces on a curve from the double combination for a six-stride related distance.
Jump 5 – Angled Vertical
Next, set up a vertical at an angle, 24 paces on a curve from the angled oxer for a five-stride related distance.
Jump 2 – Additional Angled Vertical
Finally, set a vertical at an angle between the two oxers, as shown in the image.
Be sure to watch the video to understand the correct lines and track — setup is just the start!
Please feel free to download this image to help build this exercise. It fits perfectly onto your phone, so it helps with the setup.
Some of our latest exercises:
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