The USEA Eventing By The Levels Handbook

51 • Adjusting the horse's stride and balance inside a related line according to the quality of the jump "in". • Triple combinations as part of a course in a variety of con- figurations: Vertical/oxer/vertical, vertical/vertical/oxer, oxer/vertical/vertical, oxer/oxer/vertical and oxer/verti- cal/oxer. The oxer as the (b) or (c) element must always be on two strides/35 ft min. • Successfully jumping a water tray or Liverpool under a ver- tical or an oxer. Riders at this level should use gymnastic exercises as an integral part of their jumping training, to improve their horse's skill and strength, their own skill and strength, and to create habitual reactions in their horse and in them- selves for the jumping phases. To this end, they should: • Maintain a secure position and independent seat through- out a level-appropriate gymnastic exercise. • Be able to identify good quality vs poor quality of the shape of the horse's jump. • Understand the concepts and goals of gymnastic jump- ing exercises, including how gymnastics can improve the horse's balance, agility, rhythm, bascule, understanding, and confidence. • Know when and how to shorten or lengthen distances be- tween poles and gymnastics. Riders preparing to compete at the Modified level should be able to: • Execute an effective warm-up for show jumping. • Walk, analyze, and execute a plan over a course of 9-12 fences at level-appropriate speed and height. • Self-evaluate their performance over a course of show jumps. Exercises and Concepts The coach should confirm the rider's understanding of and ability to perform all exercises identified under Starter through Training Level Show Jumping Exercises and Concepts. A key requirement in show jumping for Modified lev- el riders is to maintain a balanced, quality canter on a rhythmic stride length appropriate for their horse over a level-appropriate course of fences. They should begin to understand the finer nuances of canter quality, balance, and engagement that they will need to be competitive at this level. The requirements for the quality of the canter rise to a higher standard and become more important. They should be able to create a canter where the horse is in control without the rider having to lean on the reins to maintain the pace. Therefore, jumping exercises which prepare the horse and rider for more exacting canter work may include: • Producing a range of balanced stride lengths, using poles and cavalletti. • Producing a specified number of strides in a related line by producing the appropriate canter prior to the first jump in the line. • Practicing variations of the curve in a bending line to pro- duce different numbers of strides between fences. While developing a quality canter is the highest priority, giving the rider tools to begin to "see" or "feel" the dis- tance on the approach to the fence, aka developing timing, is important for riders at this level. Some exercises to help riders develop timing may include: • Counting strides forward from eight strides away to a sin- gle fence, as an exercise, • Placement poles and cavalletti, • Evaluating canter quality and reacting accordingly "in the moment", • Strict adherence to maintaining canter rhythm, • Highly disciplined accuracy of the approach line. Different riders learn timing in different ways; therefore, it is important to use as many tools and exercises as need- ed to develop and improve a rider's timing. The use of gymnastic exercises, jump shape and structure, and related distances and their variables should be used in schooling and training to improve or correct specific faults in individual horses, and to strengthen horses and riders. This includes: • Gymnastic jumping exercises for use at walk, trot and can- ter, including poles on the ground alone and in combina- tion with jumps, and grids of verticals and/or oxers at lev- el-appropriate height. • Riders maintaining the forward seat or half-seat con- sistently with an independent seat and elastic contact throughout gymnastic exercises. • Recognizing when and how changing the shape of the can- ter can influence the shape of the horse's jump. Elements of the show jumping course which should be routinely used in practice: • Water tray/Liverpool as a regular element in the show jumping school. • Triple and double combinations set on 1 or 2 strides. • Use the show jump setting to set up possible technical el- ements of the cross-country, including angles, offsets and narrows in combinations, as well as the introduction to the bounce distance.

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