Welcome to Trainer Tuesday! Each week we ask trainers a question and gather their answers for you. These trainers have a range of experience, backgrounds, and focus points of their programs, so the answers have as much variation as you would expect and also probably much more similarity.
This week’s question posed is: What are the three key ingredients in a winning hunter trip?
Here are their answers:
“For the rider: smoothness, stillness and accuracy. For the horse: proper jumping technique, a good canter, and an even rhythm” -Geoff Case
Read more from Geoff and listen to him on the Plaidcast here.
“1. Go slow
2. Go straight
3. Go ALL the way to the end.” -Daphne Thornton
Read more from Daphne and listen to her on the Plaidcast here.
“For me, the three key ingredients in a winning hunter trip can be summed up as:
1. Preparedness. This is admittedly a blanket statement, but what I mean is the overall picture. The horse has to look well turned out, well schooled (but not over schooled), and keen on the jumps, without looking strong. The rider has to show the correct turnout as well, and have the confidence to pilot smoothly without distracting from the horse’s efforts.
2: Rhythm. All hunter trips boil down to rhythm. When I’m judging, I want to see the rider set the pace immediately and carry it throughout the course, so that the striding and distances come off as effortless.
3. Attention to detail. Sometimes in a large class, with multiple beautiful rides, it’s the seemingly small things that put you ahead. Your opening circle. Your transition into canter. Even the grateful pat for your horse as you exit the arena. A memorable round is often one that leaves a good overall impression.” -Ariel Univer
“For me, the 3 key ingredients for a winning hunter trip are rhythm, elegance across the ground, and a brilliant jump. The canter should be rhythmic and smooth, it should never change tempo and the horse should look like it’s gliding across the ground. To me, a horse with an active front end in the canter is very distracting in a hunter round. Lastly, the jump needs to be brilliant. I love to see the horse pat the ground and then softly bring his knees to his nose (or eye) and then finish it with a beautiful bascule.” -Colleen Brombach
Read more from Colleen here.
“Smoothness, straightness, and style.” -Anne Kursinski
From her book, Riding & Jumping Clinic: New Edition
“1. Pace
2. Track
3. Style.
If you have a nice forward pace in the hunter ring and ride your track correctly through the end and to the middle of the jump, your horse will be balanced and will meet the jump squarely and jump in their best style.” -Donna Pace
Read more from Donna and Nautilus Farm here.
