| If you have ever been around a competitive level | | | | become better and better. |
| jumping event you are very familiar with the amazing | | | | Gymnastics is a simple and very low cost addition to |
| height and beautiful positioning of horse and rider over | | | | your jumping routine that will achieve all the goals listed |
| incredibly challenging obstacles and jumps. This is often | | | | above. By placing ground poles, short jumps and |
| the image that all equestrians strive for but find very | | | | obstacles specific distances from each other the |
| difficult to obtain. Most riders find it challenging enough | | | | horse, and rider too, are forced to focus on balance |
| to simply collect and position themselves and their | | | | and position to hit the pole or jump correctly aligned. It |
| horse for a successful jump, much less worry about | | | | also allows the horse to gain confidence in his or her |
| the actual style of the jump itself. | | | | foot position and allows them to reposition their weight |
| It may surprise you to find out that one of the keys to | | | | on the move for a more effective jump. |
| developing the high, slow jump so beautiful to watch is | | | | In most basic terms gymnastics allows the horse to |
| not specifically in just more jumping practice. It is | | | | actually shift or rock back on his or her haunches, |
| certainly not to continue to increase the height of the | | | | providing more impulsion and launching the horse higher. |
| jump in an effort to increase performance either. In | | | | This in turn allows the speed to and over the jump to |
| reality the best way to help your horse jump higher | | | | be more controlled, since the horse isn't scrambling to |
| and slower is to increase their control, balance, flexibility, | | | | try to make the jump. The centeredness of the rider |
| position and centeredness both going into the jump, | | | | through gymnastics helps to establish the cues that |
| impulsion and the landing. With increasing athletic ability | | | | help the horse in the arena for those beautiful, showy |
| and mental focus on the jump your horse can and will | | | | jumps. |