Course Design suggestions!

[One_Two_Three]

Every month or two we reset the jump field with new courses/grids/exercises.

Please share your favorite simple green horse friendly courses and also strides or measured distance in lines. I would LOVE to build something suitable for more than one size horse. Mine is 14.1 hands (can do a pony or horse stride) and the other horse working on the course is a draft cross who can typically make an average horse stride.

I guess I am just not that creative. It’s been years since I’ve been to a notable show to get ideas beyond what is already in my head.

What are the typical course designs for a short/long stirrup course, maybe a baby green hunter course type, etc…

All I’ve got is outside line angle outside line angle. How many strides are in between the average line of a course at most shows? I’ve always thought 5-6 strides and the current set up is supposedly set to be a 5 or 6 and I kept riding it as a 4 regardless of how many adjustments I made with my horse. Therefore I’d LOVE to know the legit measurements for spacing between a line to figure out if my horse just keeps taking it short or if the person who set the line takes a funny ‘step’ to measure the distance.

Any and all input is appreciated! Time to tear down and rebuild courses this weekend! Also add grid measurements, We have been doing a 4 fence grid, x bounce vertical bounce vertical one stride small oxer. I just want to spice it up!

[LoveJubal]

Are you setting your courses on a 12’ stride? Also, how high are you setting your jumps?

Remember, you need to add space for take off and landing, which is typically another 12’ total… So, a four stride line would be 60’ or (4x12 + 12). It could be less if you jumps are lower.

Try setting a jump that you have to jump at an oblique angle to get to the next fence in the line. We have one set up like that now. Sorry, I’m not too creative either

[VelvetsAB]

Hunters are hard to get more than two outsides and two diagonal’s…

My barn does schooling shows, and will sometimes do an inside turn to the last fence of the line, and then end over the same line–but only using the first fence, and having to circle off into the center of the ring. It is great, because you need to be accurate and have control, since the horse thinks s/he should be continuing down the line.

Sometimes we throw in a 9th fence on a quarter line that jumps both ways. It makes the arena really tight though…

Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be able to tell you what striding the coaches use to set up the jumps, as they sometimes move them in a bit due to the fact of them being schooling shows.

[Wonders12]

We don’t set very complex courses because we’re generally working with green riders. But lay out your course with poles first. Even just with lines and diagonals you can use the same jumps to create bending lines and easy rollbacks. It just takes a little planning.

I also like end fences, especially if you have the option to make it more challenging and come directly off the line or diagonal (or not, but the option is nice).

A single low bounce can be useful.

A vertical set on the center line facing the long sides is good to practice figure 8’s over.

Long approach (straight or diagonal) to single oxer.

I prefer 5 stride lines because they can so be done in 4 or 7. But maybe set one 4 stride and one 5 or 6.

101 Jumping Exercises has great gymnastics options depending on what you’re going for.
http://www.amazon.com/101-Jumping-Exercises-Horse-Rider/dp/1580174655