Overcoming obstacles on horseback. Why “overworking” (a horse overcoming a barrier with a large margin) is bad. What should be a jumping horse
jumping
If the main views on dressage have changed little since the time of Xenophon, then everything related to jumping has been developed and substantiated relatively recently. Even at the end of the last century before the start of the First World War, horse jumps in the form in which they are performed today were not included in the program of sports competitions. Already many centuries ago, horse hunting was organized in France and England, but overcoming obstacles was not studied, and the views on jumping developed in ancient times did not withstand serious criticism.
Modern jumping - competitions to overcome obstacles - began to develop in Italy, so the current style of jumping is called "Italian". Overcoming obstacles, the rider, even more than in dressage, depends on the will of the horse and its skill. The most important condition of show jumping, which every rider must remember, is that the horse overcomes the obstacle well only if he wants to.
Record human high jump ... 2m 30 cm
Horse under the rider.......................2 m 47 cm
The average athlete jumps .............. 1 m 30 cm
A logical question: why can't a horse easily jump 1m 40cm high? And if she does not do this, then we can conclude that the rider did not teach her this.
Jumping and dressage, as many people think, are not mutually exclusive concepts. The better the horse obeys the messages, the more willingly it goes to the obstacle.
Horse training to jump
Training covers:
In order to properly appreciate these elements, one must first of all pay special attention to the character of the horse, as is done in dressage. It can often seem to the viewer that a good show jumping trainer works the same way with all horses. But among show jumping horses there are diligent, lazy, hot and phlegmatic, timid and bold; one horse responds better to affection, the other is stronger to punishment; one by nature has greater jumping ability and jumps willingly, the other does not like show jumping; one is damaged more, the other less. In this case, the memory of the horse plays a decisive role. The horse does not forget the accidents and obstacles that hurt him; she remembers the accident and will be more or less careful the next time she jumps, bending her legs more or jumping without pleasure.
When jumping, you need to pay attention to the smallest details. Training is the single most important factor in training a jumping horse and cannot be overemphasized.
The horse should jump calmly and leisurely. The demands placed on it should be increased gradually, and it should always be remembered that the horse should never be overloaded, it should be often encouraged and rewarded, and after a well-successful jump, give it a rest.
When jumping, as a rule, only solid obstacles are used, primarily poles, climbing walls, etc., which do not harm the horse. A simple log will always be a difficult obstacle.
Horses can be jumped in different ways; the height of the obstacle does not matter. Whether the rider wants to train a horse jumping over a 2 m high obstacle, or to overcome a 60 cm high with good style, the training path is approximately the same, but errors in horse handling will be more noticeable when jumping over higher obstacles.
The rider can make a lot of mistakes that will discourage the horse from jumping, and there are much fewer ways to instill this desire in him.
If the desire to jump was repulsed from the horse, then you need to start all over again. Coercion and brute force cannot instill in a horse the desire to jump. Beginning riders should allow the horse to jump close to the arena exit, in the direction of the stable or towards other horses, but never in the opposite direction.
The skill of overcoming obstacles can only appear as a result of training. The horse can be required to jump 10-20 times daily if the obstacles are low. But at the same time, one should also take into account the work that the horse still has to do on the same day. The height of the obstacles must be changed so that the horse learns to evaluate it himself.
The horse can be jumped on the lunge and under the rider. On the lunge, the horse jumps without a rider; at the same time, they also distinguish: whether she jumps completely freely, whether she is led to an obstacle (further or closer to the obstacle she pushes off before jumping), or whether she must jump in the arena.
When jumping on a lunge, you need to make sure that the reins are well tied, do not hang out and the horse does not step on them. When leading a horse to an obstacle, the rider or trainer always goes near the wall, when moving to the right - to the left of the horse, when moving to the left - to the right of it, otherwise the horse may hit him.
When overcoming one obstacle, you can only allow the horse to jump when it is moving directly towards it. If she enters an obstacle after passing a corner, she can easily slip and injure herself; This is a common mistake beginner riders make.
When jumping on a lunge, you need to accompany the horse carefully so as not to jerk his mouth as a reward for the jump.
Often the horse is forced to jump over only one obstacle, and sometimes through several in a row. This can be done both indoors and outdoors. In the open air, they use a special platform for jumping. Such sites are made quadrangular (jumping area), elongated (jumping garden) and steep (couloir). In this case, you can make the horse make a different number of jumps, with different pauses between them, you can jump over obstacles that follow one after another and are at a considerable distance from each other.
A hot horse is often in a hurry, but can be calmed down by lowering the demands or by having him jump over several closely spaced obstacles. However, the latter can also cause the opposite result - even greater ardor.
There can be no identical recommendations; you need to change the conditions depending on the degree of training and the nature of the horse, so that his desire to jump does not disappear and he evaluates the obstacles accordingly. The standard construction of training can only cause harm.
The same individual approach should be applied to a horse jumping under a rider.
You can combine both methods: jumping without a rider and with a rider - jumping should not be monotonous. You can jump for days and weeks without a rider, or you can do it under him.
All this is determined by the available opportunities: in the city, the rider is more often engaged in the arena, and outside the city - in the field. The more attention is paid to the individual characteristics of the horse when jumping, the more confident it will later overcome all obstacles. If the rider does not make the necessary effort when jumping and believes that all horses should be treated equally, then he cannot expect good results.
Approach to an obstacle
The most common mistake in show jumping is not paying enough attention to the obstacle. The moment the horse takes off from the ground, the jump is already predetermined.
There is an old rule: "Throw your heart over the obstacle and follow it!"
The sensations of the rider are transmitted to the horse through his influences, she perceives their emphasis - confidence or uncertainty. Therefore, the horse feels quite accurately whether his rider is in the mood to jump or not. The horse will jump confidently and willingly only after an energetic entry perpendicular to the obstacle to its middle, otherwise it will become stubborn, eventually stop or pass to the side of the obstacle.
You should prepare for jumping by shortening the putlischi by 2-3 holes.
The best gait for approaching an obstacle is the gallop, because it is more comfortable for the horse than others. You can also jump while moving at a walk or trot, but it is best at a canter, since the jump corresponds to the alternation of legs in a canter. When jumping from a walk or trot, the horse must change the alternation of legs at the last moment. To the right they jump at a gallop from the right foot, to the left - at a gallop from the left. But there are horses that change foot, because they only canter with their right foot or canter with their left foot. If there are low obstacles for the horse, this does not play any role.
The speed of the last canter before the obstacle is regulated by the horse itself. In the same way, an athlete making a long or high jump determines the run, its speed and the number of steps. If he is limited in this choice, then he will not be able to jump as well as if he chose on his own.
This must be remembered by every rider who is going to restrain the horse before the jump or send it to the obstacle even faster. One horse jumps willingly at a slow pace, stretching its neck, as if it wants to take a closer look at the obstacle before the jump, while the other encourages itself with a quick run, and the closer the obstacle, the faster it goes to it. The different manner in which the horse approaches the obstacle depends on the habit developed in the process of jumping. One might think that two different horses would jump better if they approached the obstacle differently. But this is difficult to judge, and even more difficult to retrain horses; and, of course, it is not available to a rider who does not have sufficient experience. The horse itself will correct the shortcomings of the approach to the obstacle in the course of a long training. Trained horses approach high obstacles most often in a collected canter, and flat obstacles, wide ditches, for example, make a faster run. But very experienced horses approach all obstacles in the same way. It is fundamentally wrong to pick up or raise the reins at the moment of repulsion of the horse, and also to send it with a blow of a whip or a voice. Some experienced riders may do this for some reason known only to them, but they are the exception to the rule. A novice rider, exclaiming “hop!” at the time of the jump, encourages only himself.
The use of the whip comes with a lot of practice. The disturbance caused to the horse by the change in position at the moment of the whip is almost inevitable. Accompanying the rhythm of movement at the time of the jump makes high demands on the rider. In addition, most riders cannot properly hold the reins in their left hand while striking with their right.
If the horse avoids obstacles or stops, the reasons may be different.
Often she refuses to jump just because she was given a new task, not prepared enough for this. Or she does not want to jump over this particular obstacle that once hurt her.
The horse can also be held back by a hesitant approach to an obstacle or by clumsy actions with the reins, legs, rider's body or whip. The reason may also be in the device of the obstacle and its appearance. Horses may be disturbed by movement, sounds, or other nearby horses. Overcoming the failure must be consistent with the cause. There can be no general recipe for all cases. Sometimes before an obstacle it is necessary to put in order the ground, the obstacle itself or the saddle; it is better to leave the whip. In many cases, success can be achieved simply by taking a secondary approach. Sometimes it is good to rein the horse in a few steps. If you need a long run-up (its value is often too overestimated), then you should first besiege a few steps, and then still make a volt. In most cases, when the reason for the failure is not clear, everything can be explained by the lack of skill of the rider. And the rider must have the courage to admit it. If the same horse under another rider jumps over an obstacle without a refusal, then no other proof of the above is required.
After the horse refuses to clear the obstacle, the rider must first of all behave calmly, and not take out his anger on the horse, which may not be at fault.
The behavior of the rider at the time of the jump
When it comes to jumping, many people care about the position of the rider. But it must be emphasized again that the behavior of the rider during the jump, while remaining important, is by no means decisive, as many believe. Jumping up and practicing approaching an obstacle (discussed in previous sections) are just as important. On a well-trained horse, even a beginner and the moment of the jump looks good. But if, on a well-trained horse, the rider jumps without proper energy, then the horse very quickly loses the desire to jump. Photographs convincingly show that some successful jumping riders at the time of the jump do not hold themselves perfectly (from the point of view of theory), although their horses jump willingly and confidently. It should be noted that a beautiful seat does not bring much benefit if the rider jumps without a soul.
Rice. 43 Proper position of the rider during the jump
There is still no consensus on the technique of jumping. Apparently, this depends on the fact that part of the show jumping enthusiasts proceeds in their judgments only from practice, while the other part decides this issue based on the theoretical foundations of the art of riding. In the end, the supporters of the Italian school won. But opinions are also different about the essence of the Italian school. There is often talk about unloading the hindquarters, about the need to accompany the rhythm of the horse's movement and require that the rider, if possible, maintain a long contact between the seat and the saddle, and also - through the reins - between the hand and the mouth of the horse.
The rider is in balance if his center of gravity is aligned with the horse's center of gravity.
During the first phase of the jump, immediately after repulsion from the ground, factors begin to act that indicate the need to accompany the rhythm of the horse's movement:
a) instantaneous acceleration after repulsion;
b) change the direction of movement upward obliquely.
The angle in relation to the ground at which the horse jumps is greater, the steeper the jump. But the angle does not depend on the height of the jump, but on whether the horse pushes off the ground sooner or later.
If the rider, wishing to maintain a harmonious accompaniment to the rhythm of the horse's movement, transfers his center of gravity to a point in front of the horse's center of gravity, then he will lean forward so much during a high jump that he will come off the saddle.
Rice. 44 Wrong position of the rider during the jump
In the second phase, the horse does not move obliquely upwards, but only horizontally through the obstacle. The rider's center of gravity at this moment is in front of the horse's center of gravity. In accordance with this, the rider could again lower himself into the saddle, but he does not do this, since he must unload the horse's back until he carries his hind legs over the obstacle.
In the third phase, before landing, the rider's center of gravity is still in front of the horse's center of gravity, even if the rider is sitting perpendicular to the horse's back; accordingly, he can lower himself into the saddle.
Before jumping, the rider cannot predict how his horse will jump. Therefore, he must always be ready to get off the saddle and, with the help of exercises, work out the ability to transfer his center of gravity forward as much as is necessary in each individual case. The study of photographs can be of great benefit in this, but one should never forget the main thing - the relationship between the two centers of gravity. One should not be mistaken in equating the tilt of the torso forward with the transfer of the center of gravity forward. If at the same time you move the seat beyond the center of the saddle, then in this position (as on a motorcycle) you can even shift your center of gravity back; this error is quite common. If the rider has grasped the basics, then the question of whether it is necessary to sit tightly in the saddle does not play a role for him, since it takes him away from the essence of the problem. If the rider can move the center of gravity forward without lifting the seat from the saddle, then he remains in the saddle. If a large transfer of weight is necessary, then the rider must rise.
Therefore, for landing at the time of the jump, another strong support is needed. This is so important that it requires close attention. A new support is formed as a result of bringing the knees together. The knees should be as close to the body as if they were part of the horse. In the event that even the putlishe breaks, the rider will not lose support.
Therefore, for show jumping, the putlische is pulled shorter so that, by raising the knees, to create a strong support; at the same time, the foot moves into the stirrup until it is lifted, but the heel cannot be raised. Schenkel should be close behind the girth. They cannot be moved further back or pulled out. This will disorientate the horse.
The reins should be taken shorter, and the hands should be kept on both sides of the horse's neck.
The arms should remain bent so that the rider, if necessary, can push them forward.
The horse begins to rise into a jump from the third phase of the canter pace, in which he pushes off the ground with his front legs to once again pull his hind legs far forward, make a push with them and carry them over the obstacle. This moment is already the beginning of the rise, the last moment when the rider must decisively shift his center of gravity forward. The earlier the rider is prepared for this, the easier it will be for him at the time of the ascent.
If it becomes necessary to send the horse, then the seat is torn off the saddle shortly before repulsion, since the sending effect of the lumbosacral region will stop immediately as soon as the rider rises in the saddle. Even experienced athletes, bringing the horse close to the obstacle, can miss the moment of shifting the center of gravity forward and fall behind the rhythm of movement. If this moment is missed, then neither the stretching of the arms nor the inclination of the body of the rider will help. These movements will make a bad impression on the viewer, however inevitable they may seem to the rider at that moment. They are not only not harmonious, but also indicate that the harmony is clearly broken and the rider has lost his balance. If the rider in this case does not compress the horse with his knees and legs, then he may lose support and fall. The rider, however, should not interfere with the horse even more with a set of reins and, landing, should try not to reward it for faithful service with a push of the seat in the back.
Well-trained horses are attracted to obstacles. On these horses, the rider must transition to a jump position much earlier. If the horse jumps willingly and must overcome several obstacles in a row, then it is better to maintain this position during the entire show jumping. In this case, only shankels are sent.
Due to the fact that the rider lowers his hands to the neck of the horse, he maintains contact with the horse's neck, and the gathered reins allow him to maintain a confident connection with the horse's mouth. In this way, the rider feels all changes better and reacts faster.
Since the contact must be very light and the pressure insignificant, it will not play any role if the connection is lost at the moment of repulsion from the ground, that is, when the reins sag. Moreover, firm contact between the hand and the mouth of the horse should not be required, because the jerking of the hands can disturb the coordination of the horse's movements. The rider must remember the main thing - that he must "lengthen" or free the horse's neck. The horse jumps with an outstretched neck not only more willingly, but also more confidently. As soon as the rider feels that at the moment of the jump he clung to the horse more strongly than before, then this means that he made a mistake. If the horse jumps without stretching his neck, then the rider has made the same mistake.
It is best for a beginner rider to learn the jumping position on a well-conditioned horse and without reins, by holding firmly on the mane or on a strap tied for this purpose around the horse's neck. It is impossible to grab the front pommel of the saddle, because this will not only not help the rider to avoid lagging behind the rhythm of the horse’s movement, but will also make it impossible to accompany him.
If the rider eventually understands how he should behave at the moment of the jump, then he himself will soon learn to enter into the rhythm of the movement and, leaning on his hands, will be able to prevent lagging behind the rhythm of the movement without holding on to the mane or belt. Over time, the ability to stay on the horse during the jump will come only with the help of the knees, without using the stirrups. It is pointless to jump with your hips pressed or your arms crossed, because this only contributes to lagging behind the rhythm of the movement.
Horse mistakes while jumping
Horses that jump very confidently sometimes make mistakes during the jump and make the following mistakes:
1) get too close to an obstacle and have to jump from an uncomfortable position;
2) push off too early and have to stretch too far over the obstacle;
3) found the obstacle too low and had to move their hind limbs to the side so as not to touch it.
At such times, the rider must be ready to loosen the reins and help the horse. Therefore, he must have his arms bent, which allows them to stretch out at the time of the jump. The neck will help the horse maintain balance. If the horse in these moments (we are talking about fractions of a second) cannot stretch enough, then he will make an even bigger mistake, which can lead to fatal consequences. During the jump, there is no need to maintain contact between the hand and the mouth of the horse, it only occurs again after the end of the jump.
Landing
Contact with the horse's mouth is not necessary at the moment of landing, as the slightest pull on the reins can prevent him from maintaining his balance. Often the horse falls only because the rider wanted to help the horse by restraining the horse.
Although the beginner rider thinks he can lift the horse in front of the reins, he will only push him down. Sometimes, by jerking the reins or by too close, the horse is deprived of the last opportunity to maintain balance. Likewise, a tightrope walker who has stumbled will fall if his balance beam catches on something at the decisive moment. The horse, on the other hand, can maintain balance when "folding" only with the help of the neck and head.
The rider will do his best to remain seated still, as calmly and firmly as possible, to exclude any shift in the center of gravity that might overturn the horse. It is a mass (rather than a balloon with lift) that must be firmly connected to the horse at this very moment, and the firmly seated rider must not fall when the horse is "folded".
From the strong tension of the reins, which the rider feels during the "folding" of the horse, one cannot conclude that it was needed and helped.
The knees of the rider at the moment of landing act elastically, so to speak, as shock absorbers, and this is pleasant for the horse, since they do not form a whole with its body, but are only pressed against it with the help of muscular effort. Also, the hands resting on the hands involuntarily spring in the elbow and shoulder joints. The seat, which at the moment of repulsion and flight largely unloaded the back, upon landing again approaches the saddle, but does not rest on it until the horse touches the ground with its hind legs.
After the jump, the rider must again and as quickly as possible gain control over the horse with the help of influences: with the end of the jump, he alone decides whether to ride forward, turn or go to the next obstacle. The lost seat and stirrups should be put back in order, and sagging reins should be dialed.
Pay special attention to the steep landing. The steeper the landing, especially when jumping into water, which slows down forward movement depending on its depth, the more necessary it is for the rider to lean back and unload the front limbs of the horse. Thanks to this, the horse will not only keep its balance better, but the rider will also stay in the saddle when the horse unexpectedly “folds”.
The initial show jumping training is one of the most exciting experiences for a rider. In addition to positive experience, we can often get negative ones too: basically, these are errors in approaching an obstacle and problems with the work of the body when jumping - “lag” behind the horse and vice versa - early delivery of the shoulders forward, before the jump (usually they say that the rider “poked himself” ). Why these difficulties arise, how to avoid them and how to deal with them if they have become an ingrained habit - we will discuss all these issues in this article.
RIDER
First of all, I would like to draw the attention of riders who begin jumping training to the amount of knowledge and skills in riding that they must possess at this moment. The necessary minimum is good control of the horse, developed balance; the ability to maintain an even pace for a long time independently at all gaits and in races, “seeing” the entire arena, and not the ground under the feet of one’s horse, and, no matter how strange it may sound, an excellent reaction to the coach’s words, that is, the ability to hear him always and quickly respond to commands. The ability to ride without a shift and move in a straight line outside the arena wall is also welcome. As a test, you can try to depict the entrance along the center line, stop (or change of gait) and move straight - the horse under you should not “dangle” from side to side and “sleep”, but remain active and sensitive to any commands. An additional plus for the rider will be the knowledge of the names of the obstacles - the cross, the Chukhonets, the uneven bars, the ability to distinguish them and the ability to quickly understand the coach's team when he says: "We go to the hurdle by riding to the right, then to the bars by riding to the left."
HORSE
The second point is the abilities and skills of your four-legged partner. They are important no less than yours, and perhaps even more - an animal with a stable psyche, able to forgive the rider's mistakes and having good show jumping training will help no worse than a coach. Of course, the rider must be able to cope with different horses, but for learning show jumping at the initial stage, a difficult horse with bad habits is categorically contraindicated. Most of the people who tried jumps and subsequently abandoned them got their fear precisely because of horses that were incorrectly selected for training - dragging them to an obstacle, throwing themselves at the first opportunity, closed, lazy or so “learned” to walk in a shift that when they try to take out from there, resisting to the last. Jumping on such a horse will not give any sense, will only bring disappointment, and in the future - self-doubt. It is also worth noting that most of the “vices”, especially spacings and throws, lead to the stable fixation of such errors in the rider as “poking” with his shoulders before the start of the jump and vice versa - “lagging behind”.
First JUMPS
Usually jumping training consists of a short warm-up - trot, gallop, cavaletti work and, in fact, jumps. In the first 30-40 minutes, the horse should warm up the muscles and tendons, and the rider should establish good contact with him. For this, such exercises as: expansion-reduction of gaits, riding “along curves” (performing races and changes in large numbers), lateral bends are well helped.
The basic exercise in learning show jumping is the passage of cavaletti at the trot and canter. A good pass is the alignment of the horse to the middle of the cavaletti already in five or six paces, the passage clearly in the center while maintaining an even pace and moving forward after the poles for another 10-15 meters. The rider sits tightly in the saddle and looks at the entire arena (and not down and sideways). After a few passes, the trainer may ask you to take a show jumping position over the cavaletti - rise above the saddle, move the body forward, rest your knees more strongly on the bi-footers on the wings, and grab the horse's mane in the middle of the neck with both hands. In this position, it is not easy to control the horse - gather the reins a little shorter, do not lose contact with the horse's mouth, keep moving actively and look at the middle. After the cavaletti, sit in the saddle and be sure to check how straight you are riding - the straightness must be maintained! All this is very important - without practicing these skills, subsequent jumps are practically impossible or will be fraught with great difficulties.
Everyone usually makes their first jump through a cross - an obstacle of small height, consisting of two crossed poles. Its execution is not difficult for the horse and the rider: the main principles are the same as during the passage of cavaletti (it’s not for nothing that you were driven through them by several lessons!) - activity, precise control of the horse, movement right before and after the jump. At the first lessons, the trainer will definitely put a “hint” in front of all obstacles - an additional pole that will help the horse and you see the take-off point for the jump and explain at what moment you need to “roll” the horse (expand the gait), where to work more actively with the leg and when to take it by the mane, so as not to "click" the horse by the mouth. It is important to remember that all jumps take place clearly in the middle of the obstacle, without shifting to the right or left corner.
ERRORS
It is worth dwelling in more detail on the most popular mistakes. During the jump training, the instructor must convey to you a huge amount of information and often he simply does not have enough time to keep track of everything and eradicate all mistakes: while you are fighting for the correct position of the hand, the leg begins to go back, and the body hunches. Make it easy for the coach - read popular literature, film your jumps on video, watch others train and listen to what comments they make - everyone makes the same mistakes at the initial stage.
"Hit" problems - jumping obliquely and at the corners of the obstacle. Most often this happens for three reasons: you do not have time to align the horse for the jump, because you turn on the obstacle too close to it, you “hang” on the inside rein, and the horse “falls through” into the turn (no work from the outside hand, the outside rein is thrown , you don’t understand the term “movement on two reins”), and the third - the horse “vomits” for a jump, the rider simply does not have time to do anything, and the coach, in order to avoid “jumps”, asks to turn to the obstacle from the volt. Almost all these difficulties are “treated” quite simply - after 5-8 paces, a pole is placed clearly in a straight line from the obstacle, the rider must pass it in the middle - then it will only be required to maintain the given trajectory. The second way (it does not cancel the first one, they give the best result when combined) is to jump crosses: the middle is best seen on them - this is the lowest point. Violation of straightness can also be observed after an obstacle - a pair of rider-horse immediately after the jump leaves in one direction. This difficulty is solved, like the previous one, only the pole is placed after the obstacle, and the student is given the task of overcoming it without losing pace, also in the middle.
“Pushing” shoulders before the jump, or “falling behind” the horse are more difficult errors that require painstaking correction by the trainer. They have extensive grounds under them: first of all, it is the fear of abandoning the horse (the student sits to the last and leads the horse, not trusting it - as a result, the horse is already jumping, but the rider is not). The second reason is the fear of jumping in general and the lack of an eye - you simply do not see the point of repulsion for the jump and either “sit out” it or jump too early - before the horse. It is difficult to deal with fear, but it is possible - you need a well-trained horse without bad habits, a correct trainer who does not require you to force events, and a calm atmosphere of a medium-sized KSK. The eye is developed by experience - put on your jumps not only the classic "hint" for the pace, but several poles - for three, four or five paces. Exercises with poles lying on the ground separately from obstacles help well - working with them at a gallop teaches you to see the calculation no less than jumps.
There are many problems with the body - most often the rider leans too hard on the horse. This error mainly stems from the head down (you constantly look under the horse’s legs) and hunched shoulders: while jumping, bend your lower back more, look between the horse’s ears and try to balance on your knees and stirrups - do not look for support in the animal’s neck. Keep your shoulders up and straighten them out - a loud coach shouting "shoulders!" helps a lot. a second before the jump, but only if it was explained to you in advance what they want from you.
Learning to jump is a complex process, where the full interaction of the student, teacher and horse is assumed. During training, you will definitely have moments of happiness and bitter disappointment, moments of despair and self-doubt - learn, nothing is impossible for a person! A few years later, having easily jumped off a route 130 cm high and looking at the torment of another beginner in the arena, remember with a smile and nostalgia your first jumps, first horses, first coaches and mentally thank them for the fact that once they were able to help you pass the path from a green beginner to an ace of jumping fields, without getting hung up on the problems of overcoming obstacles. ZM
Overcoming obstacles
Jumping, or overcoming obstacles in equestrian sports, is a topic that cannot be covered in one lesson. From the available literature in Russian, the author considers it possible to offer those interested only one translated book by D.M. Dillon "Jumping in equestrian sport", M., FIS, 1971., consisting mainly of photographs.
In horseback riding, during field riding, riders often face the need to overcome certain obstacles. When riding collectively in a shift (group), the ability to overcome obstacles is largely determined by its complexity and the experience of the coach (head), rather than the skill of the group members, since an experienced horse will take it out on its own in a difficult situation. Ditches, fords, bridges, logs, gates, narrow passages, steep ascents and descents - different types of obstacles require different overcoming techniques. So, for example, the landing of an athlete when passing "dead" (strongly fixed) obstacles at a cross-country distance is significantly different from landing when jumping on a jumping field through obstacles that fall when touched. The main task of the rider when overcoming any obstacles is to maintain the balance of the man-horse system, that is, not to interfere with it with his actions, while maintaining control.
When jumping, the horse, abruptly pushing off, as if flies out from under the rider, who must move the body forward a moment before repulsion (Fig. 24). During the flight, the horse stretches its neck, the higher and further the jump, the stronger.
Fig. 24 The position of the rider when pushing the horse
The rider must bring his hands forward appropriately, keeping contact with the horse's mouth, but without tightening the reins. For a beginner, the best way out is to stand up in the stirrups and grab the mane along with the reins. Thus, you will get an additional point of support - the neck, you will be able to better control your balance and not interfere with the horse.
When galloping in a field landing, overcoming small obstacles is a lying log, a small groove is usually perceived simply as an increased pace (jump). However, it must be borne in mind that a young horse, frightened, can make a refusal (sharp stop), run over an obstacle (shudder to the side) or perform a powerful jump that does not correspond to the size of the obstacle. Therefore, overcoming even minor obstacles, one must be attentive and collected. A stumbled horse needs support from the reins, without which both of you can fall.
When overcoming water obstacles, one must know that a ford is always better than an unreliable, rotten bridge. Small bridges are built for human weight and can collapse under a horse's foot. If the horse loses its balance in the water, gets stuck, starts swimming, it is necessary to jump off in time, continuing to hold the rein and mane. If you do not know how to swim, grab at least the tail - the horse will pull you ashore.
Many horses do not like to go through narrow places, gates, etc. It happens that the horse does not go, but after a sharp message it rushes forward. In this case, the saddle, luggage or knee of the rider may get stuck.
Steep ascents and descents can only be ventured if you are sure that your hooves have enough grip on the ground. for example, wet clay or a grassy slope after rain, even for a shod horse, can be insurmountable with the appropriate steepness. When descending, the rider should sit slightly leaning back, unloading the front legs of the horse, in constant readiness to support the horse with the reins (Fig. 25). On climbs, the rider rises in the stirrups, holding on to the mane and releasing the horse's hind legs from the load (Fig. 26).
Doubtful places, where the horse can catch on the wire or get hurt on sharp objects, invisible in the grass or in the snow, it is better to overcome dismounted. Your horse's legs are more important than yours.
When passing difficult sections of the route, not every horse can be completely trusted. Among the half-breeds and local breeds of horses, there are often animals that, being very independent, will always choose the best way to overcome a difficult site. However, most horses of European stable breeding breeds are accustomed to rely entirely on humans. On such a horse, it doesn’t cost anything to fall into a hole, cut yourself on a wire, etc. Be responsible for your four-legged friends.
Fig.25 Descent
Fig.26 Lifting
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3. The horse shakes or shakes its head while walking.
Fig. 21 Horse "goat"
There may be several reasons. The bridle is too small or too tight. You pull too tight on the reins, and the horse is used to a looser rein. If, when the reins are loosened, control is maintained, and the horse stops shaking his head, then the assumption is correct. Insects pester the horse. The horse just wants to "get rid" of your impact on his mouth, maybe something hurts him. In all cases, you must be careful. With a sharp shake of the head, especially during a field landing at a gallop, the horse can hit you with the back of the head and face. With an ingrained habit of waving their heads, martingales are put on horses - a device that limits the lifting of the head. In case of soreness or excessive sensitivity of the mouth, a softer snaffle is used, up to a special rubber one. In some cases, head shaking is a kind of test for the rider. If he does not react, jumping, "goat" may follow. Therefore, it is better to immediately understand the reason and try to stop shaking your head. For this, a change in gait, direction of movement, a sharp message and the most severe and rude reception - a sharp impact with a snaffle on the lower jaw, can be suitable. In general, jerking the rein (snaffle) cannot be recommended as a form of control. This is a very rough and strong effect on the horse and is used only as a punishment. It can only be justified if the rider is physically unable to handle the horse.
4. The horse lies down under the rider.
This indicates a complete lack of contact. Usually, before lying down, the horse tilts his head down, sniffing, and begins to "dig" with his front foot (Fig. 22). You should immediately raise your head with the reins and send the horse forward sharply.
5, The horse refuses to turn in the right direction.
For example, you pick up the left rein, and the horse, having toppled his head to the left, continues to move in the same direction. With both reins and the outer leg, turn the horse in the direction in which it seeks, but continue to move in a circle, and, having reached the direction you need, sharply send it. If the horse practically does not react to the rein, then as an exceptional measure it can be recommended (for the weaker sex) to pull on one rein with both hands (Risk of damaging the horse's mouth, tearing the bridle, pulling the snaffle out of the mouth).
It must be remembered that physically the horse is stronger, and it must not be overcome, but outwitted. Therefore, for "creative" variants of disobedience, one must always find no less creative methods for correcting them.
Fig. 22 The horse wants to lie down
6. The horse reins without command.
That is, when given a reason, it backs away. If this is not a fear of an obstacle, but an ingrained habit, then it is very unpleasant to fight it. The rein should not be loosened, the horse should be tried to turn sideways or in the direction of reining and with a leg, voice, whip to move forward.
7. The horse rushes towards the stable.
Same. as in the case when the horse "drags". Wrap on a volt and translate into a step. Moreover, when you have achieved a transition to a step, immediately give a reason - this is praise. The rider in the saddle has few means of encouragement - stroking (clapping), voice and rein. But they must be used very precisely. A reward that is "late" by two seconds may already be misunderstood by the horse.
8. The horse constantly neighs.
This is more common in stallions. Neighing at the sight of other horses, when moving away from the stable or when approaching it, is a normal reaction of a stallion guarding his herd and his territory. Neighing does not need to be frightened, it is not connected with any bad intentions regarding the rider. Most horses neigh when they meet. Having lost, the mare so calls the lagging behind foal. In short, this is a natural voice reaction.
9. The horse fights with other horses.
Fig. 23 Do not ride on the tail of the horse in front
Most often, antipathies in horses, as well as sympathies, are quite stable. The coach, when composing the group, usually takes this into account. But if you happen to ride an aggressive horse, try to keep your distance both in front and behind, be especially attentive to horse facial expressions. Simultaneously with the pressing of the ears, an attack may follow. When mounting and dismounting, do not get close to other horses. Remember that when hoof strikes, the legs of the riders suffer the most, since the horse in a fight exposes its sides with strong ribs to the blow, turning its head away (Fig. 23).
10. On a campaign and at a halt.
When returning to the stable or at a halt, you need to know some typical horse habits that can spoil the impression of a walk. After dismounting a rider, many horses tend to start itching, especially in places where they have been rubbed by a bridle or saddle. At the same time, if the bridle is not yet removed, and the horse itches about you, the buckles can tear the clothes or scratch them badly. Often the horse wants to fall out. At the same time, it can ruin an unremoved saddle or luggage, and just get very dirty.
A hot horse should never be allowed to drink or eat oats. Only hay or grass. When tying horses, care must be taken that they do not get tangled in too long ropes, they cannot trample on ammunition or luggage. In the heat, you need to choose a place for a halt in the breeze so that the bloodsuckers do not really pester the horses. In the cold, you can’t remove the saddle from a hot horse so as not to catch a cold on her back, but the girth must always be loosened immediately when dismounting, so that when bending over, the horse does not spring up.
Overcoming obstacles
Jumping, or overcoming obstacles in equestrian sports, is a topic that cannot be covered in one lesson. From the available literature in Russian, the author considers it possible to offer those interested only one translated book by D.M. Dillon "Jumping in equestrian sport", M., FIS, 1971., consisting mainly of photographs.
In horseback riding, during field riding, riders often face the need to overcome certain obstacles. When riding collectively in a shift (group), the ability to overcome obstacles is largely determined by its complexity and the experience of the coach (head), rather than the skill of the group members, since an experienced horse will take it out on its own in a difficult situation. Ditches, fords, bridges, logs, gates, narrow passages, steep ascents and descents - different types of obstacles require different overcoming techniques. So, for example, the landing of an athlete when passing "dead" (strongly fixed) obstacles at a cross-country distance is significantly different from landing when jumping on a jumping field through obstacles that fall when touched. The main task of the rider when overcoming any obstacles is to maintain the balance of the man-horse system, that is, not to interfere with it with his actions, while maintaining control.
When jumping, the horse, abruptly pushing off, as if flies out from under the rider, who must move the body forward a moment before repulsion (Fig. 24). During the flight, the horse stretches its neck, the higher and further the jump, the stronger.
Fig. 24 The position of the rider when pushing the horse
The rider must bring his hands forward appropriately, keeping contact with the horse's mouth, but without tightening the reins. For a beginner, the best way out is to stand up in the stirrups and grab the mane along with the reins. Thus, you will get an additional point of support - the neck, you will be able to better control your balance and not interfere with the horse.
Overcoming obstacles (show jumping - ippik)
Modern conditions of the largest competitions in overcoming obstacles require from athletes not only high sportsmanship, excellent physical fitness and sufficient technical skills, but also strong-willed training. The rider can only compete on a well-trained horse, as the obstacles in modern show jumping reach a height of 160-200 cm or more. To jump over such an obstacle, the horse must have a jump brought to acrobaticism (power competitions, hunting show jumping, etc.).
According to the existing rules, competitions are held by classes, for each of which the number of jumps and the size of obstacles are determined (Table 45).
Jumping competitions have different conditions. In some competitions, a mandatory route is set, and the winner is determined by the smallest number of penalty points, and only in the event of a tie, a jump-off is allowed with an increase in the height of individual obstacles.
In other cases, the championship is awarded to an athlete who completed the route faster than others (with the same results in penalty points).
The jumping power competitions, which are held in several rounds, are very interesting. In each next round, the obstacles are increased and only the athletes who have achieved the best results continue the competition. The height of the obstacles in the last round sometimes reaches 220 cm.
At major international competitions, including the Olympic Games, as well as the USSR championships, two-round team competitions are necessarily included in the program. In our country they are called the USSR Cup, in world sports - the Cup of Nations, and at the Olympic Games - the Grand Olympic Prize for overcoming obstacles. In these competitions, each team member must twice pass the route, on which there are 13-14 obstacles up to 160 cm high, up to 250 cm wide, and the width of the ditch reaches 5 m.
In competitions in overcoming obstacles for mistakes, the rider is awarded penalty points: for the horse's refusal to jump for the first time 3 points, the second - 6, and the third time - he is excluded from the competition; 4 points for breaking obstacles or kicking into a ditch, and 8 points for falling.
In some cases, so-called high-speed jumping competitions are held, in which the athlete who shows the best time is recognized as the winner. However, for the destruction of obstacles, he is charged a penalty time, determined by a special scale, depending on the number of obstacles and the length of the route. The first two failures of the horse to jump and fall are not penalized, since these errors in themselves lead to the loss of precious seconds; at the third refusal of the horse to jump, the athlete is excluded from the competition.
High-speed show jumping can be held on a mandatory route or its choice is given to the athlete with the condition of overcoming all the obstacles located on the show jumping field.
In individual competitions, the results are evaluated in positive points, which are awarded for overcoming each obstacle. The route can be set to mandatory or optional.
With an arbitrary route (optional), the rider has the right to choose obstacles. A different number of points are awarded for overcoming obstacles - the more difficult the obstacle, the more points the rider can earn. When an obstacle is destroyed, no points are awarded for it. The rider is not penalized for the first two failures of the horse to jump and fall. The third refusal leads to exclusion from the competition.
horse jump. A horse's jump over an obstacle is a coordinated complex motor act developed and improved in the process of training. The jump consists of several elements combined into a single movement. To analyze the entire jump, it is conditionally divided into four interrelated phases: preparatory, repulsion, flight, landing.
Preparatory phase - run. The run before the jump is usually at a gallop. An important element of the preparatory phase should be considered the last pace of the gallop before the jump, when the front limbs of the horse are placed at the point of repulsion and take on the entire weight of the body. In this phase, the horse drops its head and neck sharply down, which further contributes to a greater efficiency of the jump.
Repulsion phase. The repulsion phase begins with a swing of the head and neck lowered in the previous phase, which, with a simultaneous push of the forelimbs, allows the front part of the horse's body to rise above the ground. At the same time, flexion of the hind limbs occurs. Then the hind limbs put in place of the push are sharply straightened at the hock and hip joints, due to which the horse is repelled and lifted off the ground up and forward. The horse at the same time stretches the neck and head forward, as a result of which the center of gravity moves to the front of the body.
Flight phase(hanging). In this phase, the horse, as it were, flies over an obstacle. A successful jump largely depends on the strength of the push and the possible greater bending of the legs at the moment of suspension. The front legs of the horse begin to bend even in the repulsion phase and completely bend them at the moment of taking off from the ground. Towards the end of the flight phase, the front legs are straightened and the hind legs are bent, which just at this time pass over the obstacle.
Landing phase. When landing, the horse touches the ground with its front foot. To reduce the load on the forelimbs, there is a sharp reflex compensatory movement of the head and neck of the horse up. This phase ends the jump and the horse continues its normal forward movement.
Rider seat. When jumping, coordinated movements of the rider's body with a change in the position of the body and the center of gravity of the horse are important, contributing to the cleanliness of overcoming obstacles.
During the gallop (run-up), the rider must half-sit in the saddle, leaning firmly on his knees. His body is tilted forward, the lower back is slightly arched, and the knees are slightly forward and down. The stirrup should be held on the wide part of the foot and somewhat obliquely so that the weight of the rider falls on the base of the big toe. Feet should be slightly turned outward, heels _ below the toe. The ankle and knee joints absorb shocks. Landing should be flexible and soft. When approaching an obstacle, the rider maintains this seat. Before repulsion, only a slight forward movement of the body and knee joints is possible. In the take-off phase, when there is a change in speed and direction of movement, the rider leans his body strongly, bending at the hip joints, trying to approach the crest of the horse's neck. This position of the rider creates favorable conditions for maintaining balance and the most effective repulsive force of the horse. The arms are unbent at the elbows and are fed along with the reins forward along the horse's neck. The rider maintains a strongly bent position in the flight phase.
On landing, the rider straightens the body. At the same time, the hip joints are unbent, and the rider sits in the saddle.
The rational landing of the rider on the jump is largely facilitated by the special design of the saddle used to overcome obstacles.
horse management. When overcoming obstacles, proper control of the horse is of great importance.
The scheme of the route for overcoming obstacles in show jumping "Grand Olympic Prize" (Rome, 1960)
At the show jumping distance, the rider must maintain the necessary pace and rhythm of movement, depending on the nature of the obstacles. The horse should always be led to the obstacle at a right angle, the most convenient for the jump. If necessary, before the obstacle it is necessary to speed up the pace of the horse's movement, which will provide a more powerful repulsion and maximum use of momentum. Knowledge of horse jumping technique and rider seating is essential to prepare for show jumping competitions.
Preparing a Horse for Jumping Competitions. To prepare a high-class show jumping horse requires systematic and thorough preparation from an early age. In addition to general physical development and health, dressage, the development of the correct jumping technique and calm movement along the route, are important. Even one session, carried out with an overload of the horse and with the wrong effect on its nervous system, can slow down the preparation for a long time, and sometimes even spoil the horse.
From one and a half to three years, the horse undergoes preliminary training in the process of factory training. Special training and jumping of the horse starts at 3-3 1/2 years old. Regardless of the degree of preliminary preparedness of the horse, from the beginning of this period, work on the lunge must be applied. When the horse learns to walk well and freely on the lunge, it is necessary to put a pole on the ground and ensure that the horse calmly passes over it at a walk and a trot. Then, on the volta along which the horse walks, 2-4 poles are placed at approximately equal distances. When the horse steps over them quite calmly, the exercise can be made more difficult by raising the poles by 25-30 cm.
Before starting to jump under the rider, the horse must go through elementary dressage (2-3 months) and learn how to move forward from the influence of the leg, shorten and add movement, stop, easily turn and ride. Only after that, in parallel with the improvement of dressage, can begin preparatory exercises to overcome obstacles.
A prerequisite for a horse to be well trained is its calm approach to an obstacle. In addition to the generally accepted methods of dressage, this is helped by riding between obstacles at a walk, trot and canter, frequent changes in direction, and for some horses - volts in front of an obstacle (no closer than 5-6 m), stops in front of an obstacle (no closer than 5-6 m) , precipitation.
Considering that the dressage of a show jumping horse has its own specifics, which is different from the dressage of horses intended for higher education, it is possible to use all kinds of devices (strings, decouplings, elastic bands, champons) somewhat more freely.
As long as the horse does not completely easily and freely overcome obstacles of a certain height and combinations, one cannot move on to more difficult ones. An important point of training is overcoming the keys and systems. You need to start working on them from distances convenient for this horse. Gradually, these distances must be brought to an average size; one pace - 3.5 m, two paces - 7, three paces - 10.5 m. When the horse has mastered these "standard" norms, you need to start diversifying them, slightly reducing or increasing the distance. At first, these distances should not be changed very often, it is necessary for the horse to get used to the technique of jumping at a given distance.
To train horses with a flat jump, the distance between obstacles in the keys and systems is reduced, and for horses with a steep jump trajectory, on the contrary, this distance is lengthened.
In the future, it is necessary to complicate the conditions of the jump. To do this, single keys are increased to 80 cm, and for some horses even up to 90 cm, and paired keys - up to 70-80 cm with a width of 80-90 cm. At the same time, one must jump from a trot through various single obstacles of this height.
Depending on the degree of mastery of overcoming obstacles at a trot, one can switch to overcoming at a gallop, first single obstacles, and then a series. You can recommend jumping along the route, where 3 obstacles are jumping from a walk, 3-4 - from a trot and several - from a canter.
At the end of the first year of training, give the horse a month of active rest without jumping. The best thing is to provide the horse with a levada with good grass.
In the second year, you need to jump more over obstacles from positions that are uncomfortable for the horse, approaching the obstacle at an acute angle, with a short exit to the obstacle and from a turn, in uncomfortable combinations, in order to comprehensively prepare the horse for various surprises.
As an example, we give the load on the horse and the distribution of time in the second year of training. Non jumping day: walk 10-15 minutes, trot 12-15, walk 5, dressage work 40-45, walk 5, canter 8-10, trot 5, walk 15-20 minutes , only 1 hour 40 minutes - 2 hours. Jumping days: walk - 10 minutes, trot -10-15, walk - 5, warm-up and dressage - 30, overcoming obstacles 35-40, walk - 15-20 minutes. Just about two hours. After the jumps, it is desirable to do a trot reprise for 5-8 minutes.
Starting from the third year, the annual cycle must be divided into periods - preparatory, main (competition period) and transitional. For example, November - May - preparatory, June - September - main, October - transitional.
The duration of these periods may vary slightly depending on the conditions.
Of great importance is the rational distribution of loads over individual stages and periods of preparation. In this case, it is most important to plan weekly training cycles. When drawing up an annual plan, it is necessary to take into account participation not only in summer, but also in winter competitions, the conditions of which are also very difficult.
Each competition requires differentiated special training. In this regard, it is necessary to break the annual training process into a kind of microcycles. Training loads, compiled according to microcycles, taking into account the time of the main competitions and their conditions (the size of the arena or show jumping field, the height of obstacles, etc.), bring the work with the horse closer to the specific situation of these competitions, make it necessary to look for new forms and methods of training show jumping horses . After each competition, the horse is released from training jumps for some time (8-10 days) to maintain proper sports shape throughout the competition season.
The target orientation of the lessons should include, along with the development of exercises to improve the technique of jumping, the general physical preparation of the horse. Increasing the volume and intensity of loads during the training process should be applied depending on the condition of the horse and the skill level of the athlete.
Of paramount importance is the warm-up before jumping and especially before competitions. It must be remembered that the conditions of the competition do not always allow for a long warm-up of the horse. Sometimes a rider rides two or three horses with a slight break and is also deprived of the opportunity to "stretch" the horse properly. Therefore, each rider and trainer must know the exact dose of warm-up, both in terms of load and the number and difficulty of jumps for a given horse. To do this, during the training period, while jumping, you should periodically (usually on Saturdays) warm up the horse exactly as it is planned to be done in competitions.