It is common to describe horses in terms of their area of specialization with phrases such as, 'He's a "scopey" jumper,' or 'This mare will excel in dressage.' The course of a horse's training is determined by this initial label; for example, the jumper will work over cavelletti and through grids, and the dressage prospect will master various movements and develop collection.
What must not be forgotten is how one sport can benefit another. In Training the Modern Show Jumper, internationally renowned jumper rider and trainer Elmar Pollmann-Schweckhorst reminds us of the advantages o cross-trianing - and explains how classical concepts and flatwork fundamentals are critical to the development of a willing, flexible, and ultimately successful jumping partner. In his lively and intelligent manner, the author accounts for the longevity of what we know as the 'Classical Training Scale', guiding the reader point by point as he applies teh different phases of dressage training to the creation of a show jumper capable of excelling on today's courses with their tight distances and lightweight fences.
In addition, Pollmann-Schweckhorst explains how to assess a show jumper and his individual technique, and how to transfer what has been learned on the flat to the actual process of jumping a fence and a combination of fences. He provides diagrams of exercises to perfect a jumper's form and his ability to see a distance and adjust his stride, as well as tips on riding courses in competition and jumping 'against the clock'. A discussion of the popular methods of 'sharpening' horses for competition (and the related controversy), the history, progression, and future of fence and course design, and basic guidelines on care and health of the working show jumper, are also included.
From the start, the author creates a training system of universal value, one that can work for any horse and any rider regardless of breed or level of competition. The result is a book that addresses issues relevant to all trainers and riders, whether amateur or professional, while at the same time offering a methodology appropriate for developing a winning show jumper in the twenty-first century.
Hardback.