The Mane Event riders returned to Jay Hayes' training session Saturday morning. Jay started right back at the basics and reviewed the things he talked about the day before. After the review he got the riders to work on some basic lateral work.
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Jay Hayes takes riders through a second session Saturday.
Photo: Christine Sweet
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"The key to lateral work in jumping is not to give up the forward to the lateral. You need that forward to jump," he explained.
Hayes then went on to discuss lead changes. "One of the most popular bad habits in preparing for the lead change is to approach it as an 'S' curve. The horse doesn't know what you want when you are zig zagging into the lead change. You need to approach the lead change with a straight line across the diagonal, look where you are going and then go there. Send clear and simple messages."
Hayes also made it very clear not to interfere with your hands when you are asking for a lead change. "Riders think they are helping when they are really hindering the horse's movement. Let them have their head. It won't be pretty at first but once they find out you aren't going to pull on their mouth with every lead change it will improve."
As the session progressed to jumping four fences in a circle, Hayes finally had to take matters into his own hands with one young horse in the class. He asked the rider if he could get on to show the horse what needed to happen. Hayes borrowed the rider's helmet after a reminder from the crowd and then they went to work. After a few rounds of riding over the fences the horse settled in and was returned to its rider to try it the other direction.
Hayes' final message was that there are two types of mistakes in jumping. The first is the bad mistake: lengthening the stride and taking off long. That is an accident waiting to happen. The second is a good mistake (one you learn from): ask the horse to take the deep distance instead. It may mean a knocked rail but there is less chance of injury, a learning moment. If you learn from it that is a good mistake.