Preparing riders for the equestrian finals
Question: How do you help your students prepare for the final equestrian exams? ~Jessica H., Indiana Answer: I have a diverse group of students, among whom there are a significant number of equestrian kids. I usually coach in the way I would like to be coached myself. I try to be firm, but not harsh and annoying, while covering everything in detail. When we are really practicing for the finals, I try to design various exercises and tests that I have either seen before or heard about. I strive to leave no ambiguous points for my students, especially when they are about to enter the most important class they have experienced up to that point. I want them to have practiced everything that might come to mind at home. Of course, it is clear that this does not happen in one day; such a thing is unfair to both the horse and the rider. I coordinate the lesson plans with Nick Pungreats, my business partner and coaching colleague. We plan several months in advance; from when to start practicing the tests, when to address various aspects we might see in the finals, what types of obstacles to work on, what scary things to face, and when to start jumping in the indoor arena. I really try to create conditions so that every kid going to these finals feels almost over-prepared. I think the success we had last year with Sydney Moorhead speaks for itself; she won two finals, one at the Capital Challenge and the other at the National Horse Show. This just shows that our preparation has paid off. Do you have any questions about training? Team Prak — a group of our top-tier coaches in the disciplines of hunter, show jumping, eventing, and dressage — is here to provide practical and impactful advice and help you progress in your specialty and achieve a harmonious partnership with your horse. To learn how to submit your questions to the Team Prak members, click here. About Jacob Pope Jacob Pope. Jacob Pope, an international hunter and show jumping rider and coach, grew up on their small family farm in Columbia, Maryland. He had a successful junior career, winning the 2011 finals of the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program, the 2012 USEF Talent Search Finals — East in show jumping, and the 2012 ASPCA Maclay Finals. Pope turned professional after graduating from college in 2017 and now competes in both the hunter and jumper rings. He has represented the U.S. show jumping team with his standout horse, High V FBH, at several CSIO3 Nations Cup competitions, helping the team secure gold medals at the 2022 Oggerhalen in Denmark and the $75,000 FEI Nations Cup show jumping Traverse City CSIO3 in 2025. They experienced their first appearance in the FEI World Cup Show Jumping Finals in 2026, finishing in twelfth place. Alongside his competitive successes, Jacob, along with his business partner Nick Pungreats, also manages Hickory Ridge LLC; a venture active in showcasing, training, and buying and selling horses based in Wellington, Florida, and Traverse City, Michigan. Source: Practical Horseman – Training