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Stage 4 Senior Ride for Training Show Jumping Syllabus

  • Last reviewed: 25th September 2024

Stage 4 Senior Ride for Training Show Jumping

Learning Outcomes Table
Learning Outcome Assessment Criteria Guidance on the Content to be Learnt During Training and Sampled During Assessment Assessment Method
1. Understand the training of young horses 1.1 Explain a range of methods of training horses from birth to riding away Range = 3 or more. Methods to include:
  • Learning theory
  • Appropriate introduction of equipment and tack
  • Leading in hand
  • Lungeing
  • Long reining
  • Initial backing process
  • Using assistance
  • Field and stable care
  • In hand showing
  • Young horse evaluations
  • Travelling
 Trainer endorsement*
1.2 Explain the training of young horses May include:
  • Directional control
  • Moving forward
  • Transitions
  • Responding to the leg and rein aids
  • Rhythm
  • Bend/straightness
  • Hacking out
  • Variation of training
  • Rest periods and down time
 Trainer endorsement*
1.3 Explain the Training Scale Training Scale:
  • Rhythm
  • Suppleness/relaxation
  • Contact
  • Impulsion
  • Straightness
  • Collection
 Trainer endorsement*
2. Be able to ride safely 2.1 Maintain health, safety and welfare of horse, self and others To include:
  • Ride with consideration for other users of the school space
  • Consideration of individual horses
 Observation
3. Understand how to progress the training of a dressage horse NOT APPLICABLE FOR THIS UNIT
4. Understand how to progress the training of a show jumping horse 4.1 Describe the requirements of different show jumping categories/levels Requirements to include:
  • Content at each level (types of jumps, height and distances)
  • Progression route
  • Variations in tack and equipment
  • Different competition opportunities
 Trainer endorsement*
4.2 Outline a training programme for introducing a horse to jumping Training programme to include:
  • Understand relevance of the Training Scale
  • Use of poles; individual, trot, canter, placing
  • Introduce a fence following the pole exercise
  • Ability to ride on all surfaces including grass
 Trainer endorsement*
4.3 Explain potential problems and suggest methods to overcome them Potential problems may include:
  • Irregular paces
  • Loss of balance, rhythm
  • Inappropriate speed
  • Lack of adjustability between obstacles
  • Poor quality of turns and approach to fences
Methods to overcome to include consideration of:
  • Choice of work
  • Choice of exercises
 Trainer endorsement*
4.4 Evaluate the value of grid work May include:
  • Development of the horse’s jumping skills
  • Improving straightness
  • Regulating length of stride
  • Building confidence
  • Improving technique
 Trainer endorsement*
4.5 Plan a training schedule to progress a horse to show jumping 1.10m Training schedule to include:
  • Pole exercises
  • Grid exercises
  • Introduction of canter poles
  • Further improvement of the horse’s way of going on the flat
  • Referenced to the Training Scale
 Trainer endorsement*
4.6 Explain factors that influence the distances between fences Factors to include:
  • Trot and canter approaches
  • Dealing with different length of stride
  • Reasons and needs for shorter and variable schooling distances
  • Competition rules
  • Terrain, for example; grass/surface, uphill/downhill, distance to/from a corner, going
  • Knowledge of jump distances
 Trainer endorsement*
5. Be able to ride a trained horse in a double bridle with a view to developing its way of going NOT APPLICABLE FOR THIS UNIT
6. Be able to ride an inexperienced dressage horse with a view to developing its way of going NOT APPLICABLE FOR THIS UNIT
7. Be able to ride an experienced horse over show jumps up to 1.10m (3ft 7ins) with a view to developing its way of going 7.1 Evaluate the horse in preparation for show jumping A progressive assessment of the horse may include:
  • Assess horse in all paces
  • Change pace between fences
  • Responsiveness to aids
  • The ability to influence the canter
  • Horse’s balance through turns and corners
  • Jumping skill, identify horse’s strengths/weaknesses
  • Jumping from trot and canter
  • Use of a placing pole
  • Relating fences
 Discussion
7.2 Ride the horse over a range of fences To include:
  • Relate fences to show understanding of training and the process for jumping a course
  • Show influence, control and confidence
  • Show a balanced, secure and influential position that has a positive effect
 Observation
7.3 Evaluate the work undertaken To include:
  • Paces, forwardness, attitude
  • Softer/stiffer side
  • Ease of movement
  • Quality of jump
  • Response to the aids
  • Reference to Training Scale
 Observation and discussion
7.4 Justify a plan of work to develop the horse's training Plan to include:
  • Future possible work, short term (one month), medium term (six months)
  • Use of grids and gymnastic exercises to improve the horse’s technique
  • Use of alternative work programmes which may include lungeing, hacking and outside work
  • Flatwork exercises
  • Progression towards jumping 1.15m
 Discussion
8. Be able to ride a horse cross country over fences up to 1m (3ft 3ins) with a view to developing its way of going NOT APPLICABLE FOR THIS UNIT
9. Be able to ride horses used for training others, with a view to developing their way of going 9.1 Ride in an influential balanced position Influential balanced position to include:
  • Maintaining a secure balanced position whilst maintaining integrity of the aids
  • Riding forwards to a receiving rein aid with rhythm, bend and straightness within a working frame appropriate to the horse’s level of training
  • Demonstrate empathy and feel
 Observation
9.2 Evaluate the horses’ way of going in line with the Training Scale Evaluation with reference to the Training Scale. Way of going to include:
  • Pace
  • Balance
  • Suppleness
  • Attitude/rideability
  • Technique
 Observation and discussion
9.3 Use exercises to develop the horses’ responsiveness to the aids As part of Unit 5: Stage 4 Senior Ride for Training Dressage, exercises may include:
  • Transitions
  • School figures
  • Lateral work
  • Lengthening and shortening stride
As part of Unit 6: Stage 4 Senior Ride for Training Show Jumping, exercises may include:
  • Related distances
  • Grid work
All, making reference to:
  • Suppleness
  • Impulsion
  • Straightness
 Observation
9.4 Use poles to develop the training of the horse To include:
  • Incorporation of poles into the training
  • Use of pole work for jump training
  • Different exercises using poles
 Observation
9.5 Evaluate the effectiveness of the work To include:
  • Reasoning for the selection of the work
  • Effectiveness of the work
 Observation and discussion
9.6 Justify a plan of work that develops the horses’ training Plan to include:
  • Future possible work; short term (one month), medium term (six months)
  • Use of alternative work programmes which may include lungeing, hacking and outside work
 Discussion
10. Be able to ride an inexperienced horse over show jumps up to 1m (3ft 3ins) with a view to developing its way of going 10.1 Evaluate the horse in preparation for jumping A progressive assessment to include:
  • The horse’s way of going in all paces
  • Change of pace between fences
  • The horse’s responsiveness to the aids
  • Ability to influence the canter
  • Horse’s balance through turns and corners
  • Horse’s jumping skill (strengths/weaknesses)
  • Jumping from trot and canter
 Observation and discussion
10.2 Ride the horse over a range of fences Relate fences in a way which shows understanding of training and the process for jumping a course. Range of fences to include:
  • Combinations
  • Related distances
  • Uprights
  • Spreads/oxers
 Observation
10.3 Ride in an influential balanced position Influential balanced position to include:
  • Jumping the horse with a well-balanced, secure and influential position that has a positive effect
  • Showing influence and control
  • Demonstrating empathy and feel
 Observation
10.4 Evaluate the work undertaken Evaluation to include:
  • Paces, forwardness, attitude
  • Rhythm, bend, straightness, outline
  • Softer/stiffer side
  • Ease of movement
  • Stronger and weaker movements
  • Response to the aids
  • Gymnastic ability
  • Reference to the Training Scale
 Discussion
10.5 Justify a plan of work to develop the horse's training Plan to include:
  • Future possible work; short term (one month), medium term (six months)
  • Use of alternative work programmes which may include lungeing, hacking and outside work
  • Progression towards 1.10m
 Discussion