FROM HARNESS TO JUMPING

If the owner has the knowledge and skill, formal jump training is a great idea. Here Robyn Cuffey’s mare Wendy Ridgecrest rounds up beautifully on the longe line.

After being introduced to the idea of jumping on the longe line, a skillful rider can begin schooling the horse over jumps in the arena. Here Meaghan Martin takes her mare Chagoal Grey over a low vertical. This is about as far from harness racing as a horse can physically get, but many STBs absolutely love jumping.

This is a wonderful photo that captures one of the most thrilling bits of fun that any rider can experience: cantering along a woodland trail and popping over a few logs. Natural obstacles are more inviting to many horses than are arena jumps. Cynthia Bowers on her STB Murray Fishman and a friend are clearly having a great time, and their horses appear to be enjoying it too.