We find out why having a plan in place is crucial, while top rider and British Showjumping accredited coach Joao Charlesworth shares his favourite exercises in this exclusive article for H&H subscribers
The best riders in the world never look like they are in a hurry, yet they are able to shave seconds off the clock. The key to being competitive in a jump-off is to focus on a positive rhythm, smooth lines and tight, balanced turns.
British five-star showjumper Jodie Hall-McAteer is well known for turning on the turbo and delivering killer turns when it really matters, but the former Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) leading rider explains that while technical skills win jump-offs, so too does a solid mental game. When it comes to training in how to ride a faster jump-off round, that’s a good place to start.
“Mindset is so important if you want to be competitive,” says Jodie. “If you’re not cantering into the ring with 100% belief and conviction of what you’re riding for then it likely won’t come off. You have to say to yourself, ‘this is what I want to do today’, and be prepared to push yourself out of your comfort zone. This positivity will filter through to your horse, too.”
Choosing the right time to try to be competitive is important.
“You’re not going to be competitive every time you go into the ring and nor should you try to be,” she continues. “But when you are in good form, feeling confident about how your horse is jumping and you have a well thought-out plan, that’s the time to go for it.”
Jodie adds that being more competitive doesn’t necessarily mean winning.
“It depends on you, your horse and how the competition pans out on the day,” she says. “You don’t need to go all out to win a class, but by upping your tempo and cutting a corner or two you can aim to be fifth, sixth, or just a little bit faster than you were the day before. If you ride like this regularly then it becomes second nature and gives you something to build on.”
If you decide that today is the day to win some money, having a game plan is crucial.
“You’ve got to have as good a plan for your jump-off as you do for your first round,” says Jodie.
“When the jump-off happens separately after the first round it’s tempting not to want to think about the jump-off until you get that far for fear of jinxing it – that’s how I used to feel – but you soon realise that having an idea of your jump-off strategy isn’t going to change anything and now I actually find it makes me ride with greater conviction.
“There’s nothing worse than being first or second in a jump-off when you haven’t had a chance to walk or think about a new line or where there’s an option of a route that you haven’t properly looked at.”
How to ride a faster jump-off round: 3 key elements
There are three key ingredients needed to be competitive in a jump-off: a forward, stronger tempo while still retaining accuracy, the ability to ride good turns and the adjustability to take strides out. All these skills should be honed at home.
“Smooth rounds win jump-offs and this relies on setting out in a good, positive rhythm so you’re not pushing and pulling,” says Jodie. “This starts with your flatwork. If you have fences set up in your arena at home, practise riding in and out of them and circling round them in a stronger canter,” she advises.
“This extra tempo can take a bit of getting used to, but the more you practise it the more natural it will feel. Remember to ride forward out of your turns and circles as this is important training for your turn-backs.”
Jodie has two basic rules for riding successful turns in the ring — both depend on looking early.
“You should stick to your line and go with the first stride you see,” she says. “I was always taught to look to the inside wing around the turn as it will help ensure you go on the first stride you see rather than waiting and hooking. Keep your outside leg on to keep the horse coming round the turn.”
Look early, round the turn – and keep your outside leg on.
(Image credit: Alamy)
Joao Charlesworth, who has coached numerous riders to win big classes, advises riders pick and choose places to make up time.
“There will usually be three or four places around a jump-off course where you can choose how tight a line you take or come inside a jump — you don’t have to do them all, especially if you are new to a level. Instead, choose one or two to attempt,” he says.
Which turns you attempt will depend on variables such as how well your horse turns left or right, or whereabouts in the course they come.
Exercises for training how to ride a faster jump-off round
Joao has two go-to exercises for helping riders master smooth and efficient turn-backs.
1. Half turn practice
“I build an upright and a square oxer on a two-stride distance [35ft] apart. Both fences should be able to be jumped both ways,” he says.
“Start with the upright, angling past the oxer to jump it. Make a half-turn back, bypassing the upright to jump the oxer on an angle.
“This is a fantastic exercise for practising the half-turns you will need in the arena,” he says. “Look up where you are going, keep the horse in an even, forward tempo and commit to your line off the turn. Keep repeating it until you are comfortable with the half-turns.”
2. Serpentine fences
Joao uses a serpentine of small upright fences placed on the centreline.
“The fences shouldn’t be big – 90cm maximum – but by riding the serpentine shape you are recreating the left and right half-turns you will get in a jump-off,” he says. “Think about your balance and tempo, and the smoothness around the turns. Always turn your head and look in the direction you want to travel.”
Should you cut strides out?
Another way to shave off valuable milliseconds is to take one less stride between two fences on a related distance — but this should be considered with the caveat that it might not necessarily suit every horse, or save time.
“With my shorter striding horses I would be cautious about taking strides out and pushing them out of their rhythm,” says Jodie.
Easy for some! Explosion W takes a stride out en route to individual gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
(Image credit: Alamy)
Joao adds: “It’s also important to look at how the fences are situated because taking a stride out might not gain you anything if you have a tight turn after the second fence. In this case you would want a smaller, neater jump so that you have control on landing.”
It is generally safer to lose a stride on a curve or a dogleg because you have the option of riding an inside line.
“Make sure you look early, jump the first fence on the inside and ride positively on landing, keeping exactly to your line,” says Joao.
“You should always make up ground immediately on landing after the first fence to allow the last few strides before the second fence to be regular and balanced. If you are too slow to react you may be left chasing a stride in front of the second fence and this will inevitably cause a flat jump.”
