After the crossrail, McLain had the riders jump through a gymnastic."I live and die by the gymnastic. There's not many horses that this doesn't help," McLain said. He also canters most of his gymnastics unless a horse gets aggressive. "I don't win too much trotting fences, so I don't do it very much," he said to the chuckle of the auditors. He has the horses in his barn go through gymnastic exercises three to four times a week.
"Jumping courses takes away from the jumping. Gymnastics bring the style back."
The gymnastic consisted of a ground pole, 9 feet to a vertical, 18 feet to another vertical, then 18 feet to a third vertical. Each vertical had a ground line, and between each vertical, there were ground poles to help the horses realize they needed to put a stride between each fence.
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- Jessica Springsteen
- © 2009 by Sandra Oliynyk
He told the riders to find the distance to the first ground pole, not the fence. He also explained why he preferred ground lines. "I believe in ground lines. I think it helps the horse jump in good style. I don't want to trick the horse," McLain said. When Carolyn's horse got a little quick to the final vertical, he said the ground line helped him find his balance.
Adjustability Over Fences
Another exercise McLain had the riders work on was jumping a pair of verticals set a slightly forward six strides apart. "We're using simple jumps to practice everything you see on course," McLain said.
He told the riders to first jump the line in the six strides and gave each rider individual advice. "Carolyn, your horse hasn't seen the fence before. No attacking it. Just be there for him."
He told Jessica Springsteen to be careful not to jump ahead of her horse. "Close your leg up into your hand. Let your horse bust up through you. I want you to feel the fence coming up through your sternum and chest."
Then he had the riders ride the line in the opposite direction in 7 strides. "I want it smooth, no jerking. I want you to do it quietly, but that doesn't mean burying your horse."
He told Matt that it would be harder for him to get the seven strides because of his horse's stride. He said to fit in the strides by asking his horse to come back a little each stride. He also told him not to collapse with his body if he got close to the fence. "Even if it's a little deep, that's the time to stay more connected. If you're deep, fine. That's one mistake. Don't compound it with a second mistake. Don't collapse. Let the horse jump up to you."
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- Chelsea Moss
- © Sandra Oliynyk
Then he had the riders go back and do the line in eight strides. McLain praised Carolyn for working to settle her horse throughout the lesson. "He's getting more relaxed now. He started nervous and spooky. That's progress without getting tough with the horse. I hate getting tough with the horse. Everything has to be with sympathy."
After the eight strides, he had the riders do the line in five strides. "You got your horses really listening and collected. Now you have to gallop down in five strides. It's a very simple exercise, but it's all the questions that are asked in the ring."
McLain concluded by reminding riders to put together a program they believe in. "All good programs a based on similar basics with slight variations," he said. "Stick with your program but stay open-minded about different horses and different training techniques. Stay consistent, but look for ways to make your program better."
Sandra Oliynyk is the editor of Practical Horseman magazine.
The training session is hosted by Bates Saddles and Equestrian Sport Productions and supported by the U.S. Equestrian Federation. In addition to Bates, supporting organizations include Purina Mills, the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation, the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association, the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament, Nutramax (Cosequin ASU), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Practical Horseman.
