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’s a mistake riders often make in a rollback turn between two jumps, and how can you ride one neatly and effectively?
Here are their answers:
“The biggest mistake that riders make in a rollback is loss of outside aids and impulsion. Riders who are just starting to ride rollback turns will very commonly do so just by pulling on the inside rein, which typically causes a loss of overall balance. With a loss of balance often comes a change in pace, which I find is usually a loss of rhythm, resulting in a missed distance.
Riding a neat turn between two jumps requires balance, which will come from a rider who is using their outside rein and leg to control their horse. By encouraging your horse to continue through the turn with the outside aids, riders will be able to maintain their rhythm and be less likely to meet the jump poorly. All riders should make a concentrated effort to turn their head and use their eyes to assist with guiding their horse as well!” –Amy Kriwitsky
Read more from Amy here.
“The most often made mistake in a rollback is the rider losing momentum in the turn due to the horse bulging to the outside. The most efficient way to execute a rollback turn is staying straight with a slight inside bend and keeping your horse going forward through the turn with your outside leg.” -Jody Moraski
Read more from Jody here.
“One of the biggest mistakes riders make that causes them to not execute a clean rollback is when they are unprepared. When a rider doesn’t have a plan, things can become very unorganized, rushed, and not carried out very thoughtfully.
I coach my riders to take advantage of course walk time at shows, and at home, we ride tight serpentines and figure eights to practice landing and organizing, where they have to establish rhythm again very quickly. Your eyes are one of your most powerful tools when communicating with your horse about where to go. You have to remember that a rollback still has an intentional track, and without a plan, it can get very messy very quickly.” -Katie Hundley
“There are a few mistakes riders can get caught in on rollback turns. One is that they can misjudge the space they have and jeopardize the approach to the second jump, or they lose all the pace through the turn and end up with a messy second jump.
A safe rule of thumb to help promote success in the rollback is to maintain the track and pace throughout the turn. Good use of your eyes and keeping the horse ahead of the leg should help riders have success in the rollback!” -Lynn Macyk
Read more from Lynn here.
“The most common mistakes are the change of pace and path.
Change of pace and path is very common–riders should plan out their track ahead of walking into the ring. If it’s a hard rollback, meaning a tight turn or on a weaker lead for the horse, think about what type of jump in and pace is the best fit for answering all the questions that come up on the way to the second jump.
A rider should then keep that same pace while landing and turning to the next jump. The same goes for their path. They should have a good idea where they want their horse’s feet landing and turning to get to the next jump, and just like in a bending line, stay on that path. A rollback turn should look smooth, not rough. Know your horse and do what’s best for both of you to accomplish being neat and effective!” -Dana Hart-Callanan
Read more from Dana here.
