Show jumping is a challenging equestrian sport that requires dedication and practice to excel. However, even the most experienced competitors make mistakes from time to time. Fortunately, with the right knowledge, equipment, and approach, you can vastly reduce your risk of making costly errors and improve your overall performance. These common mistakes will help make you a better rider and help keep you out of the penalty box more often than not!
The foundation of good show jumping is riding correctly and with balance and control. This is especially true for lower level competitors who may be struggling with nerves and trying desperately to get used to the feel of the horse. At the top level, however, many riders get so caught up in the intricacies of technique or worrying about what they look like on the horse instead of riding them to their maximum potential.While most competitors are aware of this, it still happens frequently – particularly when riders are under pressure to perform well and don’t have time to go over the fundamentals again and again. Make sure you are always working on improving your riding, both in practice and in pre-competition warm-ups. If you struggle with this, consider hiring a private instructor or bringing a friend along who can help you out.
One of the biggest mistakes in show jumping is forgetting to ride the trail. While this may seem obvious, it’s easy to get so caught up in your approach, your position in the ring, and what you’re watching for on the rail that you forget to ride the trail.For example, if your approach is a flying change, but the ring is set up with short fences, you might forget to ride the long approach in the opposite direction. If the ring is set up with tall fences and your approach is a quiet walk, you might forget to ride the down the long approach at the beginning of the ring. Remember, every ring is different – there is no one best way to ride the trail, so forget whatever approach you use most often and ride the other trail in each ring.
While it’s important to ride the trail in each ring, it’s also important not to become too reliant on the rail. After all, that’s where the majority of your mistakes will happen. If you’re relying too heavily on the rail to get you through a course, you might make a costly mistake by letting the horse over-extend on the last jump. Or, you might get in a compromising position where you have two fences to clear where you only have one chance to get it right.If you’re not sure you can clear the fences in the order they’re set up, don’t be afraid to ask the ring steward for advice. Even if you’re not sure, it’s better to ask than to risk having to take a penalty for not asking.
One of the biggest mistakes made by even the most experienced competitors is not taking care of their horse and noticing when something is wrong. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in your competition that you forget about your horse’s health and well-being. You might not notice that your horse is losing interest or that they aren’t as sharp as they used to be.You might not notice that your horse is fatigued and falling asleep in their stirrups. You might not notice that their leg is hurting and that they’re moving more awkwardly than usual. If you don’t notice something is wrong, you might not be able to correct it before it becomes a problem.
Another common mistake made by competitors is not paying enough attention to jumping form. While form is something that all riders must work on, it’s especially important for those who are just starting out and aren’t as comfortable on their horse as they could be.For example, if your horse is low on the rail, you might try to bring them up by letting them stretch out their neck. While this is a good way to get your horse higher, you might be taking some risk. If you’re not careful, you might break your horse’s neck or cause a bad habit that will affect your performance in the ring.If you’re not sure if your horse is stretched out or if you’re riding them correctly, don’t be afraid to ask an instructor or fellow competitor for advice. Even if you think you’re doing it right, it never hurts to check with someone who knows what they’re doing.
The bottom line is that show jumping is a challenging sport and mistakes will happen. The best way to reduce the number of mistakes you make is to focus on improving your equitation, paying attention to the trail, and not taking your horse for granted. With the right mindset and dedication, you can drastically improve your riding and keep yourself out of the penalty box.