Last month, I enjoyed judging the 4 year old International Jumper Futurity with Alan Wade at Princeton Show Jumping. He is a great Irish horseman, with super observations of conformation, way of going, types etc. The horses handled the course well, some greener than others. A few improved on day 2, others fared about the same. I feel it is a great program and experience for these youngsters.
We had a great result at the Devon Fall Classic. The Devon show grounds are unique and very special. The footing is extraordinarily good. I have many fond memories of great wins here in the Dixon Oval. Motto enjoyed jumping here too and brought home 5th places ribbons from the Open Speed and Devon Classic,
We celebrated Eros' 29th birthday this month! He got his favorite treats....pears. When he was competing Hermes would send him a monthly box of pears from Harry & David's.
Equipment for Jumping - Excerpt from Anne Kursinski's Riding and Jumping Clinic
Just as on the flat, less is better. I school even the most difficult horses in the simplest possible equipment. In most cases, lots of flat work gets rid of the bad habits (head tossing, for example) that might otherwise require extra equipment. If I'm really having problems with a horse, I may add a running martingale just for showing, but I do so rarely; even Starman, the stallion I rode at the Olympics in Seoul, showed without a martingale. Generally, I advise riders to try not to school in a martingale ~ to save the reinforcements for showing. Even if a horse is a little difficult to ride without help from additional equipment, you'll learn to ride better if you don't routinely depend on it.
If you'd really feel more confident with a running martingale, however, adjust it loosely, so that the rings can reach the withers. (I prefer a running to a standing martingale because it's less restrictive. But a standing martingale will give you a bit more control on a green horse. If you use one, be sure to adjust the length so that the leather will easily reach the throat latch; you want to provide some boundaries, not "fix" your horse's head and neck position.)
For jumping, I always use open-front shin boots. I add bell boots only if my horse has a real problem with overreaching.
Starman, the stallion I rode at the Olympics in Seoul, showed without a martingale
Riding and Jumping Mentor Updates: This month we added excellent footage of me teaching a student with a young horse who started the lesson very distracted. Watch part 1 and 2 in the flat work videos section to see the amazing transformation!
As we near my annual Market Street Clinic, I felt it was a good time to share some videos from last year's clinic. Members can watch me teach gymnastics and the automatic release. Members click here to log in to your account.
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Olympian Anne Kursinski's acclaimed book on riding horses over fences delivers on-target counsel and the kind of sophisticated, quality instruction you can only get in top barns around the world.
"Finding a distance to a jump, rhythm, timing - my exercises help teach a rider to dance with their horse. Watching the video you’ll see how these exercises help the horse and rider become one.”
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