Show jumping is a sport that requires a high level of concentration and attention to detail. Mistakes, if not corrected quickly, can have a negative impact on performance. In fact, in any type of sport, whether it’s tennis, soccer, or basketball, the worst thing you can do at any given moment is lose focus. The same goes for show jumping; if you’re not careful, you could easily make a mistake that ends up costing you the ride. Unfortunately, most riders make these same mistakes every time they compete in a show. Luckily there are plenty of things you can do to prevent them from happening again in the future.

Show up early, ready to go

One of the most common ways that riders make mistakes in the ring is by showing up late for their class. It’s not uncommon for competitors to arrive an hour or two after the class has started because of a miscommunication with the organizer or someone from the ring crew. You should always arrive early enough to go over the course rules and warm up, but not so early that you’re disrupting the class. If you show up early, you can take some time to go over the course, warm up, and walk through the ring to get a better idea of how everything functions.

Don’t lean too far forward or lean too far back

The first thing that most people do when they get into a show ring is lean too far forward or lean too far back. This is a big mistake. Leaning too far forward makes you more likely to fall, and leaning too far back makes it harder to see your horse. The best way to ride is to find a position that is somewhere in the middle.

Always ride to the inside of your horse’s footfalls

Every time you touch the bit, you should ride to the inside of your horse’s footfalls. It may seem like it’s the same as leaning forward or leaning back, but it’s completely different. When you’re leaning forward or leaning back, you’re making a conscious decision to change the position of your horse. This is because those two leaps of faith are both very long and very dangerous, and you want to keep your horse as close to the center of the ring as possible.

Don’t lean too far away from your horse

Another mistake that new riders make is leaning too far away from their horse. This is a big mistake because it changes the way the horse feels and moves. A horse that is being ridden correctly will feel the pressure of the rider’s legs and the pressure of the rider’s hands. This makes the horse comfortable and allows them to move in a controlled fashion. When you lean too far away from your horse, you’re making them very uncomfortable, and they will move erratically because they don’t know what you want them to do. Be sure to ride with a correct balance of pressure between you and your horse.

Don’t forget to clip in all four legs

Most people forget to clip in their legs, and that’s a very big mistake. Riding is a very technical sport, and if you forget to clip in all four legs, you’re going to have a hard time keeping your balance. If you don’t clip in, you’re going to be very unstable, which is the last thing you want in a show ring. It’s also important to remember to clip in your stirrups when you’re in the mounting block. If you forget to do this, the mounting block will trap your leg and you’ll have a hard time getting into the ring.

Don’t forget to use the correct leg for the whip

The whip is a very common tool in the show ring, but many riders forget to use the correct leg for the whip. The correct leg for the whip is the leg on the same side as the direction of travel. If you’re riding on a right-hand lead, the whip should always be on your left leg. This is because your right leg is the leg that you’re using to guide your horse away from the jump. If you whip with your right hand, it will interfere with your right leg, and your horse will become very unbalanced. Always remember to use the correct leg for the whip so you don’t interfere with your horse’s natural movement.

Bottom line

Show jumping is a very challenging sport, and mistakes are very common. If you want to improve your performance and make sure that you don’t make the same mistakes over and over again, you need to be prepared. Make sure to show up early, ride to the inside of your horse’s footfalls, ride to the correct leg for the whip, and never lean too far forward or too far back.