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Working Equitation Trail – The Jump

The jump is an obstacle from the Working Equitation Trail, which is also common outside of Working Equitation. As the name suggests, this is a jump in the traditional sense. For many people, this may already be part of normal training, but if you and your horse are not yet very experienced and routine in jumping, you will find instructions here on how to tackle this obstacle.

  1. Construction
  2. Task
  3. Tips & Tricks
  4. The jump in the tournament test

Construction

The structure of the jump is actually self-explanatory: with two jump stands and two poles, this obstacle can be set up quickly and correctly. The height to be overcome should not exceed 50 cm. The obstacle is set up in the form of a vertical jump, the upper pole must be able to be thrown off. If the jump is to have a substructure, this part must be firmly fixed.



Task

The task of jumping is also absolutely logical: it is about overcoming the obstacle without touching the jump and knocking down a pole. However, the WED eV tournament regulations stipulate a few other general conditions: in every performance class, the jump must be approached from a canter. The horse-rider pair should hit the obstacle at a right angle. In addition, care is taken to ensure that the rhythm of the canter is maintained before, over and after the obstacle.


Tips & Tricks

For many, the jump is certainly an unspectacular obstacle that they already know from their everyday training. However, if it is something completely new for you and/or your horse, we have some tips for you:

1. The first time – horse

If your horse has never seen a jump before, it is best to introduce it to jumping without a rider first. Many horses are instinctively very adept at jumping, but some need to learn and practice how to overcome a jump. You should test which category your horse belongs to, not in the saddle, but rather from the ground.

How it works: In such a case, free jumping is a good option. It is best to find someone who has done this before and can help you set up and send your horse through. If free jumping is not possible, you can also set up a single jump and lunge your horse over it. When jumping on the lunge, make sure that your horse can go straight ahead for a bit before and after the jump, that you as the lunge leader go along well and that you do not insist on a classic round circle.

When jumping on the lunge, it is also important that you use either cavaletti or the plastic blocks from the jumping equipment. Please do not use classic jumping stands, as the risk of the lunge getting caught on the stand is far too great! It is best to start with very low, cross-shaped jumps close to the ground. If your horse masters these well, you can put the poles higher. 

2. The first time – rider

Your horse is already an experienced jumper, but you haven't seen a jump from above yet? Well then, it's time to get in the saddle!

How it works: The best thing would of course be to get help from a local trainer. If this is not possible, you should still organize a helper on the ground who can put up any poles that have fallen or rebuild the obstacle if necessary. Here, too, it is best to start with very small, low-to-the-ground obstacles. But of course these should be high enough that your horse sees them as a jump and not as a raised trot pole.

At the beginning, it is best to approach the jumps from a trot. Make sure that your horse approaches the obstacle diligently and in the middle. If you set the obstacle as a cross to begin with, it will be easier to approach it in the middle. If that works well and you have already gained some confidence, you can gradually raise the obstacle and also approach it from a canter. Make sure that you also move well with the horse's movement when jumping (if necessary, you can go into a light seat before jumping). Make sure that your knees are close enough at the jump so that you don't accidentally get lost.


Leonie jumping
The cross jump helps the horse and rider to aim for the center of the obstacle.
Photo: Leonie with her Lusitano stallion Desejo.

3. One, two, three.. Jump!

The rhythm is not that easy. A good horse is able to judge the distance to the jump itself and adjust its rhythm accordingly. If you don't have a model candidate like that, there are still a few tricks that will help you keep the rhythm.

How it works: Counting helps. It gives you a better feeling and makes you aware of your rhythm. For example, try counting the last five strides before the obstacle. This makes it easier for you to maintain your rhythm and, with a little practice, you will also get a better feeling for the remaining distance to the jump. In addition, one or more support poles can help you maintain the rhythm during training. At some point, however, it should of course work without auxiliary poles.


The jump in the tournament test

according to WED eV tournament regulations as of 2023

At the tournament, the jump is required from performance class WA. From this class up to class WS, the jump must always be approached at a gallop. In the speed trail, knocking down a pole costs the participant 5 penalty seconds.


hop-hop

What is already everyday life for some can be a new challenge for others. However, jumping is not required in the Working Equitation Trail for no reason. In Working Equitation, the horse should be worked and trained in a variety of ways. This includes jumping. In addition to its use in everyday life (e.g. overcoming a tree trunk in the countryside), regular (gymnastic) jumping is also a welcome change for horses and riders with a focus on dressage, as well as a nice addition to the gymnastics in the dressage lessons.



Here you will find a great selection of products that are ideal for Working Equitation:

Leonie Bauer
Leonie Bauer

My name is Leonie Bauer, I was born in 1993 and come from the greater Munich area. I have been addicted to horses and equestrian sports for almost 20 years. From 2012 onwards I was lucky enough to be able to immerse myself more intensively in a real and horse-friendly riding lesson in a small but fine riding school. A year later I bought my then 5-year-old Lusitano stallion Desejo, whom I trained in many different ways with my trainer over the following years. Our focus is on dressage - but classical work in hand, lunging and small gymnastic jumps are also part of our training program. In 2018 we were able to get a taste of Working Equitation for the first time and were both immediately enthusiastic about this practical application of dressage. We are very happy that since 2020 we have had the opportunity to train more intensively in this area. Competitive sport has never appealed to me. For me, the ultimate goal is to promote and maintain healthy riding.

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