In the right gear
YOUR HORSE’S TRAINING COMPETITION SPECIAL
AGOOD CROSSCOUNTRY horse has a repertoire of varying canters and gallops that his rider can access swiftly and successfully in response to different questions, allowing each fence to be met at an appropriate pace. But don’t panic if gears aren’t yet in your rider’s toolkit as solidly as you’d like. From instilling them at home to putting them into practice on competition day, Caroline Moore explains the ins and outs of gear use on the cross-country course.
Why use gears?
For me, gears are all about stride length versus power and balance. Lower gears have a higher rev count, delivering power over a shorter stride with a more established contact to promote balance and control over a tall, vertical fence. Higher gears encompass a longer stride length to energise a big, wide jumping effort and cover the ground.
Gear changes happen in response to:
