NEW! Open and Close

OPEN AND CLOSE

Even though the correct training on the flat is imperative to the development of the horse's body, when it comes to the work for in between the fences, I always say to my student - What do you need? You need four things, turn right, turn left, open and close.

In the flatwork I always make sure that horse and rider have a clear understanding of the shoulder-in in trot and are able to perform it correctly on three tracks. The next stage is to be good at riding the shoulder-fore in canter. Then and only then do I ask the rider to start to practice opening and closing the canter (first on a big circle) and as the rider is starting to close up the canter, put the horse into shoulder-fore position.

The reason to use the shoulder-fore in canter when closing up is to teach the horse to close up correctly from the back to the front, from the rider's leg to his hand. Closing up is not about pulling the front end in or slowing down and letting the impulsion of the hindquarters become less. The rider must keep the hind legs active and jumping under the body, even thinking about trying to make them jump more quickly. The rider must use his seat, sitting down a little heavier, close his outside hand tighter and ride with his inside seat bone and leg all at the same time in the rhythm of the canter stride. As in every other exercise it is about riding correctly from inside leg to outside rein, and in closing up the canter, this is no different. When the shoulder-fore is used in closing the canter, the horse learns to close up correctly and later should continue to do it in that way when keeping him straight. When the horse responds and closes up, the rider must then off course soften, it is about using a series of half halts to close up and after a half halt the hand must always give.

When practising closing up, always first open the stride gently and build up to longer and longer strides. Later they must of course be practised on the long side on a straight line and also on the diagonal line incorporating flying changes. Sometimes opening stride, closing up and a flying change, or doing a flying change in the longer strides and then closing up after the flying change.

As I said before, right, left, open, close, only four things a show jumping horse must do well between the fences, simple!