Showjumping star Joe Stockdale is in Paris this week for the Olympic Games, where he is the alternate rider for Team GB. Should he be subbed in, he’ll be aiming for a perfect clear with his horse Cacharel.
This goal is unanimous for all riders at every level. A penalty-free showjumping round is the best way to secure a good result. Staying straight between fences is key for going clear, but drifting sideways is a common error.
Joe Stockdale shares two exercises below to help you learn to control your horse’s shoulders and stay straight.
First thoughts
When jumping a course of fences, it’s important that you have control over your horse and that they’re listening to you.
“Some horses anticipate fences by cutting corners or going too wide, so it’s about controlling your horse’s shoulder and preventing them from drifting in or out,” explains Joe.
“If your horse drifts, it affects both their balance and the line to the fence, changing your stride pattern and your approach to the jump.”
Horse drifting in
“If a horse drifts in, it makes the line to a fence shorter and means you have less space to play with. You will have to put in shorter strides to make the fence,” says Joe.
Horse drifting out
“Alternatively, if they drift out, you’ll have too much space and will need bigger strides to make it to the fence.
“Either way, when your horse is unbalanced, you’re more likely to have the fence down,” adds Joe.
Solving the issue
Before you begin this routine, warm up your horse on the flat as you normally would, in walk, trot and canter. Remember to give them a breather at regular intervals and cool off properly at the end of the session too.
Exercise 1
Exercise 1
Time: 15 minutes
This first exercise is designed to help guide your horse’s shoulders and control their stride length by jumping cavaletti on a 20m circle.
How to set it up
Set up four cavalettis so that you have one at each quarter mark of the circle (ie at 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock and 9 o’clock).
You want around three of your horse’s strides between each (distance should be measured from the middle of each pole).
How to ride it
- In canter, jump alternate fences (eg 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock). This is a good way to introduce your horse to the exercise on a larger circle.
- Aim for the middle of each fence and stay in a balanced, steady canter.
- Look for your line and stick to it, looking ahead to the centre of the next fence.
“This requires you to keep good control of your horse’s shoulders in order to maintain the correct line to the next cavaletti,” explains Joe. “It’s great practise for jumping a course. - Once your horse is jumping the two cavaletti comfortably, add in a third cavaletti.
- When they are doing this confidently, jump all four cavaletti on a circle.
Joe’s top tips
“To make the circle feel smooth and effortless, you must maintain control of your horse’s shoulder using your outside leg (when they drift out) and inside leg (when they drift in),” explains Joe.
Don’t pull your horse around the circle with your reins, as this will encourage them to fall out through their shoulder. Ride the back end of the horse, that’s where the engine is, by using your leg aids correctly.
Your horse will need to have correct bend through their body, be on the correct canter lead and be flexing to the inside of the circle so that they’re listening to you and they’re well balanced.
They must hold themselves and not drift to the outside (which will make the distance between the fences greater), or fall in (making the distances shorter). You’ll soon notice if drifting happens because your take-off spot will be affected.
Carry on with the circle and aim to correct your line for the next fence.
Expanding the exercise
“To make this exercise a little harder, you can play with the number of strides between each fence,” says Joe.
“Ask your horse to collect, making the circle smaller and taking a stride out. Then lengthen the canter by moving to the outside line of the circle and adding in an extra stride.”
Exercise 2
Exercise 2
Time: 15 minutes
This ‘S-line’ exercise involves jumping three small fences in an ‘S’ shape, incorporating two dog legs.
Using the same skills practised in exercise one, you need to ride the correct line through the combination (see diagram, right).
Ensure that you get the first fence right, otherwise the second and third parts will be affected.
How to set it up
Set up three fences on an ‘S’ line, as shown in the diagram.
The fences only need to be small. The point of it is to improve the accuracy of your lines rather than how big you’re jumping.
How to ride it
- Approach the first fence on a straight line. Ensure that you are on a straight line to the fence by the time you are two or three strides out, so that you take off at the middle of the fence.
- As soon as you land, look up to the next fence and make the turn to the middle element. Use your legs to keep your horse on the right line.
- By the time you land, if not earlier, you need to be looking at the third element.
Joe’s top tips
“The key to jumping dog legs is to stay centre to centre of each fence and break the turn down into two straight lines,” explain Joe.
“So, for example, three strides in a straight line away from the first fence, then a turn, and then three straight strides to the next.”
Remember, it’s important to turn your horse from your leg, not your hand. It’s also vital that they’re listening to you. You are changing direction after each fence, so they must be in tune with your seat.
The horse needs to stay in balance, correctly change their leading leg each time and stay locked on to the next fence. As the rider, remain balanced and still so that your horse doesn’t anticipate the next fence and change the line.
Expanding the exercise
The dotted lines show on the diagram indicate how to increase or decrease your line, depending on whether your horse falls in or out through their shoulder.
“This exercise is great for getting to know which line or stride/distance your horse prefers,” says Joe.
“Hopefully they will stay balanced and land on the correct lead. If they don’t, ask them to change as soon as possible [by doing a few trot strides is fine] so that they’re balanced for the next fence.”
Joe Stockdale is the son of the late Olympic showjumper Tim. Joe was selected to represent Britain at the Junior Nations Cup in 2017, at the Young Rider Nations Cup and at the 2019 Europeans. He made his senior championship debut in 2021 and was part of the bronze medal-winning British team at the World Championships in 2022.
Lead image of Joe Stockdale: copyright Team Stockdale
