THE LONG GAP
“It’s after the long gaps between fences that some riders fail. In a cross-country or timed showjumping round it’s these distances you use to try to shave seconds off your time,” explains Lucinda.
“Some people make a bid for a long stride at a fence and they go with their body — they move their body forwards. Instead, you should keep your leg on, sit back and never let your body commit just because your eye has.”
You can either use one fence for this exercise — going large around the arena before returning to the same fence — or, if you have a larger arena, you can set up two fences at opposite ends.
How to ride it
1 Imagine you are riding on grass. You want your turns to be safe.
2 Use your legs, hands and weight to guide your horse — in other words, two legs turn, two hands turn.
3 You’re getting into the swing of being on the clock so, rather than following distinct lines, work on your pace.
4 In the air over the first fence ask your horse for more speed and, if necessary, ask again on landing. Remember, though, that you want him to settle back into a safe jumping balance on the approach to obstacles.
5 Sit quietly with your leg around your horse on the approach and take-off so that he has the time and power to think for himself and adjust his footwork.
6 Choose a point on the fence line at which to halt after the second jump and make sure that your horse stops straight. Don’t worry if his head is up or he’s not square. The key is to keep his body straight so that he has nowhere to go except to sit down on his hocks.