Simple exercise for horse straightness and pre-competition preparation
The days leading up to the competition are a great opportunity to ensure that my students and horses are ready to deliver their best performance.
Every combination of rider and horse, regardless of its strengths and weaknesses, benefits from revisiting the basic principles.
Establishing the correct line and focus in a straight line is essential for scoring high in the hunter ring and achieving a clear round in show jumping.
A crooked horse or one that drifts off the line does not create a smooth path in either of these two rings; an issue that affects both the hunter score and may lead to knocking down fences in show jumping.
There is an exercise that I usually set up in my ring when preparing for competitions.
This is a basic and simple training line and doesn't have a strange name; therefore, we can call it "Three to Three."
Three to Three: The setup for this exercise consists of a three-stride distance to another three-stride distance; that is, one vertical jump, then an oxer, and then another vertical jump.
This line should be jumpable from both directions, and ground lines on both sides should be placed directly under the rails.
I usually set this line up close to the wall of the ring to resemble one of the lines found on the competition course.
The specific advantages of the "Three to Three" exercise for preparation before entering the competition are numerous and at the same time completely practical.
The outside line in a competition can be a very distracting place for both horse and rider.
If focus can be established at home, there is a greater likelihood that this same focus will be repeated when countering towards a line next to spectators, judges, food stalls, and similar distractions.
To start, I measure both three-stride distances at 45 feet and then adjust it based on the horse's needs or by increasing the heights of the jumps.
This exercise can be kept simple with low and inviting jumps.
On the other hand, by raising the heights of the jumps, it can be made more challenging.
To assist the horse, ground poles can be added along both sides of the line to act like "lines" and help maintain the straightness; also, high sides can be created, meaning placing a pole a few holes higher on one side to prevent the horse from drifting; or poles can be placed at takeoff and landing to reinforce that both the start and end of the exercise are on a straight line.
The distances between the jumps can also be adjusted; for example, for larger jumps, a distance can be set that allows more space for takeoff and landing; or the distance can be shortened to help a horse that tends to rush towards the entrance of the ring to come in a bit more collected; or for a horse that needs to practice lengthening its stride as it moves away from the entrance, the distance can be set longer.
If you find yourself in one of the five situations below, you can go for the "Three to Three" exercise; although I believe every rider with any horse can benefit from this exercise: a crooked horse that likes to drift off the line or over the jumps.
A rider who tends to cut corners on the course.
A nervous rider, or someone who is hesitant to go to higher heights.
Young horses that need to learn straightness and focus.
Experienced horses that need a reminder to help their rider and maintain a straight path.
Bonus points: for anyone who wants to be sharp and ready before entering the competition ring.
Let's practice this jumping exercise on an ordinary day; I can train the same line with a 5-year-old hunter horse and also use it for teaching a student on a 10-year-old jumping horse.
For the 5-year-old horse, my goal is for him to focus on three consecutive jumps instead of being distracted by the outside of the arena.
For the jumping horse with the 10-year-old, my goal is for him to maintain his balance when exiting the second line of the "three-step" and not to pull his rider when approaching the entrance gate.
This horse is specifically a 16-year-old mare of the Westphalian breed named Cara, who competes in the adult hunter category at 3 feet.
She is a very experienced horse, but her rider tends to cut corners both when approaching the line and when exiting it.
Cara also likes to drift to the right when taking off to jump.
This line is a good adjustment exercise for Cara to remind her: 1. To stay between both legs and both reins in the corners, 2. To go straight through the line, and 3. To remain straight over the jump so she can perform square and correct jumps.
After warming up on flat work, I start by jumping over one or two cavaletti or small obstacles.
Then I pass through the three-step line, and after that, I take a soft and smooth stop in a straight line.
Experienced horses usually anticipate the turns, and this often leads to a lost lead change or a shallow turn through the corners.
When they have to go straight through a line and stop at the end, they gradually wait for their rider's command.
In my stable, there are many seasoned show horses that know their job well, but they still need reminders.
When Cara and I have passed through this line several times with straight jumps and calm stops from both leads, we are ready to move on to the next stage.
This is when the height of the obstacles can be increased if necessary, and the exercise can be adjusted according to the horse and rider.
As mentioned, Cara likes to drift to the right; therefore, I set the oxer in a Swedish shape, meaning the poles are sloped in opposite directions so that from the front, they look like the letter "X," with the taller side of the front rail on the right.
I also incline the paths slightly to the left of the center to encourage her to stay in the middle, and when we go in the opposite direction, I reverse this setup.
Cara is a precise and cautious horse, and as the obstacles get bigger, she holds herself back more over the jumps; therefore, I need to give a bit more leg and encourage her to move forward at the exit of both "three-step" lines.
I perform the change of direction with a simple change through a canter accompanied by leg yield.
The height and width of the obstacles, as well as the distance between the lines, will vary depending on what you are preparing for and what your horse needs.
Executing this exercise perfectly means: 1. Your horse turns evenly on all four legs in the corners, neither falling in nor out; 2. Your horse produces three straight jumps; 3. Your horse takes three even strides in both lines; and 4. Your horse waits for your command after landing.
The variations and benefits of the "three by three" exercise are designed to help every horse stay straight and true without too much rider intervention.
I have several horses that tend to drift to one side or the other, which is why I also use changes; for example, at the jumping and landing spots, I create a path or corridor with poles on the ground.
Some less experienced horses may need more poles and longer corridors to be guided.
Also, as we saw with Cara, the central oxer can be arranged in a Swedish style to encourage the horse to aim for the center of the jump.
A row of jumps, especially three consecutive jumps, can sometimes be daunting for riders.
In such situations, I often add an extra corridor before the line of jumps, after it, and also between each jump.
This naturally encourages the horse to maintain a straight line so that the rider can choose the distance and then focus on their position.
Sometimes I play with the number of strides, but the "three to three" exercise in my arena—which measures 120 by 235 feet—works best.
There is enough space at both ends of the arena for the rider to come forward after a turn and exit, and stops or turns after jumps are not sudden.
The key point to remember about "three to three" is that this exercise is not designed to surprise the horse or rider and force them into mistakes; the goal is for the exercise to be carried out with a bit of forward movement, so that any distance can successfully take you through the line of jumps.
This helps horses and riders gain more confidence while learning to maintain a straight line and practicing focus.
The beauty of such an exercise is that due to the possibility of creating various changes, it can always be tailored to suit any horse.
About Jane Earhart and River Hill Farm: River Hill Farm, managed by rider and trainer Jane Earhart, is a private training facility in Wellington, Florida.
River Hill Farm is where junior and amateur riders can achieve their goals, succeed with their horses, and enjoy their passion for the sport of riding in a positive environment.
Jane has prepared riders to achieve victories and championship titles in major events including the National Horse Show, Washington International Horse Show, Longines Global Champions Tour competitions in Monaco, Paris, and Vienna, the Winter Equestrian Festival, and the USEF Junior Hunter Finals.
For a look at Jane's boutique training activities, as well as the latest behind-the-scenes news from her horses and riders, you can follow River Hill Farm on Facebook and Instagram.
Sources and Attachments: River Hill Farm Source: Practical Horseman – Training