Prepare for horse jumping shows
An exercise to prepare for horse jumping shows.
If you’re looking for an exercise to help you sharpen your skills and prepare for horse jumping shows, this one is ideal. It combines technical turns, gymnastic work, and a related distance — all essential elements to help both horse and rider build confidence and precision.
The exercise starts with a straightforward but highly effective gymnastic line. It may be a classic setup, but it remains one of my favorites because it does exactly what good gymnastics should: it helps your horse stay balanced, encourages them to jump in good form, and gets them listening to your aids.
After the gymnastic, you move onto a track that’s designed to test your accuracy and control. It’s got some tight, winding lines with tricky turns — the kind of turns you’ll often find on competition courses or in jump-offs. Riding these turns well will help you become more confident when you walk a course and plan your lines at shows.
To finish the exercise, there’s a standard five-stride related distance. It’s a great way to practice keeping your horse straight and adjustable between the jumps. You can keep this part small for schooling, or if you’re feeling ready, you can put it up a bit higher to simulate the type of questions you’ll face when you prepare for horse jumping shows.
This exercise is simple to set up but packed with benefits, making it a great addition to your regular training routine.
Watch the video below to get all the details.
How to set it up.
This setup is nice and straightforward, but don’t rush into building the jumps. First, lay the poles out and make sure you can ride the track comfortably. It’s important to check your lines and turns before you build everything properly.
Step 1: Gymnastic on the Bottom Long Side
Start by setting up the gymnastic line along the bottom long side of your arena:
- Place three cavalettis with three paces between each — this forms your bounce line.
- From the last cavaletti, measure seven paces to set up an oxer — that gives you a one-stride distance.
- From the oxer to the vertical, measure eleven paces for a two-stride distance.
Step 2: Related Distance on the Top Long Side
Along the top long side of the arena:
- Set up an oxer, then measure 24 paces to a vertical.
- This gives you a standard five-stride related distance.
Step 3: V-Shaped Jumps on the Left Side
On the left side of your arena:
- Build an oxer and a vertical in a V shape.
- Make sure you account for the approach and landing paths when placing these jumps.
Step 4: Mirror the V-Shaped Jumps on the Right Side
- Set up another V-shape with an oxer and a vertical on the right side of the arena.
- Again, plan your track carefully to ride the turns properly.
And that’s it — your course is ready!
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