Encouraging your horse to use his shoulder effectively when jumping.

Working with a professional Show Jumper in a training session to improve your horses jumping mechanics could easily involve particular techniques to encourage a better use of the shoulder, says Horse Scout Blogger.  These techniques teach your horse to produce a better bascule, and therefore, a softer landing. One such exercise is using an A frame with a ground pole to mark the final stride into the jump.

The A Frame

Once you have warmed up and started jumping introduce two poles leaning against the top rail of a simple upright fence.  Keep the distance between these wide to start with the ends that are on the ground forming the open end of a triangle shape.  (like a perspective line on a drawing….leading the horse in towards the jumping pole).

Approach steadily but with energy and allow your horse to see his stride to the ground pole.

Once the horse is used to the idea of the leading triangle you can begin to reduce the width of the top point.

Make sure your horse remains calm on approach.

Don’t rush things

You can take a few sessions before you get to the point that the top poles are almost touching.

Once they are in this position you will notice how the horse is able to engage his shoulders and for arms more flexibly and the bascule starts to become more rounded along with a greater lift to the shoulder area.

Are you looking for a show jumping coach then take a look at the Horse Scout Professional Listings.

Here are just some of the professionals we have listed:

William Whitaker: An International Showjumper based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. I have represented Great Britain on numerous occassions, including junior and young rider Europeans and senior nations cups. I currently have a team of horses ranging from youngsters to grand prix level. Best results include winning World Cup Qualifiers in Mechelen and more recently in Stuttgart. I also recently won the CSI 3* Grand Prix at the Glock Horse Performance Centre in Austria aboard Fandango.

Laura Jackson also based in Warwickshire and Remey Ellis from Hampshire a 22 year old Grand Prix Show Jumper based in Hampshire at the beautiful Blackwater Equestrian. She is available for teaching, schooling/competing, and competition/sales livery. A Professional Rider  whose up coming competitions schedule includes The Blue Chip Winter Championships Welsh Masters Bury Farm Spring Classic Chepstow International CSI 2* Royal Windsor Horse Show Bury Farm Summer Classic Arena UK International CSI 2* South of England Show Bolesworth International CSI 2* Hickstead Derby Meeting International CSI 4* South View British Masters International CSI 3*