Table of contents for Practical Horseman Extra Volume 32 in Practical Horseman

Almost all jumper courses, from grand prix to smaller local shows, include an in-and-out, or double, question: a combination of two jumps separated by one or two strides. In-and-outs are also found in equitation classes (above the Short Stirrup and Maiden levels), hunter derbies and even some hunter courses as well as in the cross-country and show-jumping phases of eventing. So if you plan to compete, you need to know how to tackle them. And to do that, it helps to understand why we jump them. Our modern riding sports evolved from times when horses were used for general transportation, chasing and hunting game, and by the military for carrying soldiers into war. All of these scenarios involved covering a wide variety of natural and man-made terrain. Riders frequently encountered…

1. As we approach the in-and-out, I keep my position in balance over my deep heels and create an imaginary chute between my legs and reins to help Grace stay centered. I gently touch the saddle with my seat bones to reinforce my message that she will go over the jump. With a straight line from my elbow to her mouth, my rein contact is maintaining the connection while also allowing her to evaluate the question at hand. She’s responding with a curious, yet ready and willing, expression. 2. The result is a successful jump over the crossrail. Grace hasn’t yet learned to use her front end as well as she will later in her career, but I’m pleased with her nice, round topline and relaxed expression. I have already…

In an ideal world, all green riders would learn how to jump new challenges like doubles on as experienced a horse as Johnny. But if you and your horse are both green, combine this exercise with the green-horse exercises on page 38 by using piles of poles between the standards in this setup and poles on the sides to form a chute. Then gradually convert the piles to small crossrails. SETUP: Build a crossrail with a trot rail on the ground 8 feet in front of it. Add another crossrail five strides away (60 feet). Set standards for a third vertical three strides away from the second (46 feet), but place the poles to the side for the beginning of the exercise. You’ll jump through the first two fences at…

1. Next, I adjust the distance to 34 feet, and we canter into the exercise. My weight is deep in my heels, equally distributed. I’m keeping my instructions simple, allowing Grace to arrive at a comfortable takeoff spot. Because she is green, I don’t risk throwing her off balance by aiming for either a very long or very deep takeoff spot. Even sitting in more of a three-point position would be giving her too much input. Instead, I stay out of the saddle and do as little as possible to distract her focus from the jump in front of her. 2. The result is another nice, confident in jump. You can see by her expression that she is already focused on the out jump—as am I. I’m using an automatic…

Grace is a 4-year-old homebred by Bubalu, a member of the Dutch jumping team at the 2012 London Olympics, and out of a wonderful hunter mare named Vanity Fair. This was her first experience jumping in-and-outs, so it was a great real-life test both of her training over fences to this point and of my system for introducing green horses to doubles. When riding a green horse, I always carry a stick, both as an aid in itself and to help educate the horse to my legs. SETUP: Build a simple two-stride double with a distance of about 30 feet. Instead of putting the poles in the cups, place them on the ground between each pair of standards, squeezing two together or forming a small pyramid out of three. Build…