In training scenarios, you can start on any fence, and in fact, you should practice all the possible placements so you are prepared for whatever may be set by the course designer when you go to a show. How the rider approaches the first fence is important for establishing the pace that should be maintained for the remainder of the course. The more advanced the rider and the more schooling the horse has had, the more turns you can include in the course and the tighter you can make the track.Ģ: YOUR FIRST FENCE ON COURSE SHOULD BE PLACED TO MEET COURSE GOALS Keep in mind that wider, more sweeping turns create smoother rounds.

There is no reason not to utilize all of the space available to you, so try to design your track so it travels across and through the entire space. The size of your ring, both the length and the width, will set the outside boundaries for your course and will determine how long your lines can be and how wide you can make the turns.

Appropriate distances between obstacles.ġ: THE TRACK SHOULD UTILIZE THE ENTIRE SPACEĪ jump course is basically made up of straight tracks and tracks that are circular, semicircular, or slightly curved.

Free-flowing forward movement for the entire course, including turns.

The primary objectives of a good course include: A course should travel across the entire space available, have approximately the same number of fences off both leads, and have an equal distribution between vertical and spread fences. Once you have a general idea of how your track will flow around the arena, then you can add the jumps.

The plan for a jump course starts with the design of a track. Image courtesy of Trafalgar Square Books.

Strides course design