According to Canadian Eventing Team member Diana Burnett, cross-country courses used to be largely straightforward galloping tracks. However, modern courses now incorporate many turns and knowing how to ride them properly is an important skill.
Training
Like the pyramids of Egypt and the caramel in the Caramilk bar, accurately determining a young horse's performance potential is one of the great mysteries of the world.
Randy Roy is a senior international judge, course designer and author. He owns and operates Hunters Glen Show Stable in King, ON, with his daughter, Ryan Roy.
Interval training - commonly used by human athletes - is repeated sets of exercise interspersed with periods of rest that allow your horse to recover his pre-working pulse rate before you go to the next interval. It strengthens your horse's muscles and respiratory system so he'll have the level of fitness required to compete.
A winning show hunter is highlighted in the hack class, where judges are looking for classic movement in all three gaits, and more.
One of the most common mistakes I see riders make at shows is that they go into the warm-up without a clear plan.
Randy Roy is a senior international judge, course designer and author. He owns and operates Hunters Glen Show Stable in King, ON, with his daughter, Ryan Roy.
If you event, one of the skills you and your horse will have to master as you move up the levels is the ability to jump combinations.
The walk is an often under-utilized gait that lays the groundwork for success in trot, canter and gallop work.
Randy Roy is a senior international judge, course designer and author. He owns and operates Hunters Glen Show Stable in King, ON, with his daughter, Ryan Roy.
