How to Improve Your Horse's Style Over Fences

Even in equestrian events, such as three-day eventing, where you're horse's style over fences doesn't factor into your score, it is still a good idea to make sure that your horse is jumping correctly. Poor form over fences can result in refusals, missed distances, knocked rails and even injuries to the horse. Of course, improving your horse's style over fences takes more than sheer will power.

For the purposes of this article, we'll assume that your horse's style over fences is sloppy, and that you wanted to "tighten it". Most jumpers want their horses to have a round top line, smoothly rotated shoulders and neatly tucked knees that flex up rather than out. To improve your horse's style, you'll need to engage in exercises that further your agenda.

In order for your horse to jump correctly, he must be balanced off his hind end, which means it is your job to lift him up through his top line and back. This doesn't mean tightening your reins and jerking his head upward; instead, you must get out of your horse's way, so to speak, to give him ample room to do what comes naturally. In most cases, poor jumping form is a result of rider interference.

Unfortunately, you cannot improve your horse's style over fences by jumping an endless string of courses. Since multiple jumps and turns and distances can confuse you and take your mind off the objective, it is better to work on a single jump or, at the most, a line of jumps. Gymnastics work well for this purpose, though you want to have a maximum of three jumps in a row. Trainer Lisa Fontworth of Houston, Texas recommends putting a ground pole in front of a one-stride line.

Since horses usually have proper style over higher fences---they have little choice---it is better to do this exercise over jumps that are no more than two feet in height. You can, however, aid in the roundness of the jump by working over an oxer on the back end of the line; this is a matter of preference. The oxer---or any wide jump---forces your horse to arc over the fence and encourages him to tuck his knees more soundly.

You'll want to approach the ground poll at a working trot, keeping your reins fairly loose and your eyes on the horizon. If you have a habit of catching your horse in the mouth over fences, hop up into your two-point from the very beginning to maintain your center of balance. After you trot over the ground poll, stay in your two-point and let him decide whether to trot or canter the first fence. If you have a low vertical or a cross-rail, he will probably stay at a trot.

The second fence---the oxer---is the clincher in this exercise. To improve your horse's style over fences, you want to give him a fence that forces him to jump in the correct form. Since you want your horse's knees to be even over the jump, be careful not to pull him to the right or the left as you prepare to take off, as this can negatively affect your horse's style.

As you canter away from the oxer, you'll want to maintain light contact with your horse's mouth, then slowly bring him down to a halt. Make sure that you have someone on the ground to watch and critique your performance. It is almost impossible to tell if you're improving your horse's style over fences from on his back.