PACES AND RHYTHM

Even though a show jumper is not judged on the quality of his paces, and it is only the canter which is the pace being used in competitions, it is still vitally important to ride all the paces correctly. Walk and trot are just as important in creating the overall strength, suppleness, balance, straightness, obedience and collection.

In walk, the horse should be active, not hurrying, in a clear 4-beat rhythm, free of tension. It has been said that a horse should "walk like a cat". The strides should be long and even in length with at least one hoof's length over-tracking, showing suppleness through the whole body.

Lungeing helps a young horse to find his balance. By being lunged in the correct rhythm on a circle the horse learns to balance and carry himself correctly before having the weight of the rider on his back. He should later be introduced to the side reins to show him the correct contact. The rider's hands should then imitate the side reins, therefore helping the horse to understand how to be ridden in a correct contact. By working in the side reins he will become more muscled along his topline and become stronger, therefore being able to balance himself better when being ridden in an outline, having learned how to take more weight on his hind legs.

Sally and Uno

In trot and canter the horse should be ridden forwards in a correct steady rhythm, with impulsion, developing the pushing power of the hindquarters.

In trot, the horse should be active, not running, in a clear two-beat rhythm, springing from one pair of diagonal pairs of legs to the other. The horse should show elasticity thorough his whole body with the hind feet stepping at least into the same tracks as the fore feet.

In canter, the horse should also move freely forwards with ground-covering strides, showing balance and lightness, in a clear 3-beat rhythm followed by a moment of suspension.

In the initial training of the horse it is important that the paces are clearly working trot, working canter and medium walk horse and that no collection is asked for until the horse is old enough and strong enough to do so.