Tania’s Zig Zag

WHO the exercise is for:

A great exercise for the rider’s eye, as well as for horses who need to practise jumping on angles, and horses who get very ‘hot’ when they are around a number of jumps (and often try to jump the next one when they’re not even pointed at it).

HOW to set it up:

Set 3 jumps in a row (a 2 stride distance between each at the centre of the fences). Set the jumps at about 60 degree angles, forming a large zig-zag pattern.

WHAT to do:

As a turning exercise follow the red line and jump each element separately, looping around to the next. As a straight exercise go directly through the middle of the 3 jumps (you will be jumping each fence on an angle), this is shown by the blue line.

WHY we do it:

As a rider this type of exercise tests that we are in fact presenting our horses at the centre of the fence, and that we’re riding a straight line (not wobbling around the place with uneven leg aids). For the horse this exercise teaches them that we control the approach, once they understand this they will be more confident with jumping on an angle – and it will often also stop hot horses from rushing straight at any jump near them (because they will learn to wait for you to present them to the jump).

MORE tips:

You can play with the angle of the fences – a shallow angle will make the straight line easier, but the turning much harder (and vice versa). You can also ride the straight line to one side of the fences – for example, riding to the extreme left of the fences you will have to do a short 2 strides, then a long 2 strides. Great for developing your eye for distance.