United States Eventing Association

VIDEO: Rideability Exercises with Boyd Martin

Earlier this month, five-star eventer and Olympian Boyd Martin taught a show jumping clinic at Wheatland Farm in Purcellville, Virginia where he guided participants through a series of exercises designed to improve rideability. By riding three verticals separated by five strides on alternating bending lines, riders have to be accurate and patient while the horses have to be listening to the rider and quick on their feet. Martin added to the exercise by asking riders to continue to an oxer-to-vertical line on six strides which required riders to ride forward to the question. Then, he reversed the exercise so riders would first jump a vertical-to-oxer line on six strides and then have to collect to approach the bending vertical line.

Martin is one of the world’s leading international event riders and has enjoyed international competitive success at every five-star in the world. Martin has also represented the United States in two Olympic Games, three World Equestrian Games, and one Pan American Games. He has consistently been at the top of the FEI world rankings for over 10 years and has been on every U.S. Championship team since changing his citizenship in 2010.

Thank you to Wheatland Farm for hosting the clinic and Event Clinics for connecting riders and organizers by simplifying the registration process for equestrian activities.