United States Eventing Association

Ride Between the Flags with Stephanie Rhodes Bosch: A Training Level Turning Question

In this series, the pros walk through their approach to riding questions, fences and combinations on cross-country. This training level combinaton appeared on course at the 2014 Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships.

This looks like a fun combination!

I would likely jump this jump middle to middle and straight over each (not jumping the fences on an angle, but jumping them straight on and turning in between), but there are other factors to consider. If you're turning right after B, I'd definitely ride a curved line to land perpendicular to element B. If you're turning left, then maybe there is a slightly straighter line between the two fences, so you're jumping the obstacles on a slight angle. This is, after all, a training level combination so angles are to be expected! If you or your horse haven't nailed the technique of jumping angles, don't take a risk here when you don't have to!

The distance in between the two jumps matters! If you're taking a direct approach (jumping the two fences on an angle with a straighter route in between), you need to know where the most regular distance is based on your horse's stride. Maybe it's left of center, maybe it's right - get in there and walk! In either the case of a more direct line or more bending line, you need to know how the "math" works out in the middle and come back to a pace that will allow the horse to land in a great balance for B. Considering that this is fence 8 on course, we can expect that our horses will be rolling at this point. They may take a little extra time to set up than they would have at fence 4!

Since this an AB combination, circling or crossing your tracks in any way will be penalized. This makes your canter in the approach to A even more important. The horse will need to be quiet enough pay attention after he lands from A, but have enough impulsion that he can turn without falling behind the leg or getting surprised by the second element.

The ascending face of these jumps is very forgiving, especially in a combination where the horse may be slightly hesitant or disorganized coming out. This isn't a license to relax too much, but it does allow your horse to skim over the top rather than whack himself if he doesn't get his knees up quickly.

Some options for schooling in the ring would focus on the horse's attentiveness on landing. I like to set up small fences on the "centerline" of the jump ring and serpentine over them. Sometimes I will mix it up and continue to turn right or left on landing instead of changing direction over each fence to make sure my horse is listening to me and not just turning the opposite way each time. As you progress, you can add a slight angle to your approach until you are getting the feeling of slalom rather than serpentine. Make sure you and your horse understand single angled fences before doing this. You can also set up two jumps on a straight line and two other options for the second fence, one to the right and one to the left. You come in with a plan for which of the element Bs you are going to ride and your horse has to wait for you to give direction instead of anticipating. You will learn what type of canter on approach gives you the best balance and turning ability on landing. Greener horses and riders can start with 6 or 7 strides between obstacles. Increase the height and decrease the number of strides as needed to suit your level of competition!

Stephanie Rhodes Bosch grew up riding in British Columbia, Canada, where she fell in love with the sport of eventing at the young age of 7. Twenty years later, Stephanie finds herself living in the heart of U.S. Eventing, Area 2, where she runs a small but successful training, coaching and sales business. Stephanie did her first Advanced on her horse Port Authority who she has owned since he was 5. Together they represented their country at the 2010 World Equestrian Games where they finished 9th as the top placed North American, and helped bring home the silver team medal for Canada. Stephanie enjoys helping riders fulfill their goals with their horses and is working towards producing team horses for the future.