We recently caught up with Lancashire based show jumper Zak Beesley, Zak who is based at Higher Silcock Stables has a great string of up & coming young horses horses for 2018 whilst the newcomers will be aimed at the age classes both home & abroad he will also have some more experienced horses that will compete at the International shows in the UK plus travelling to Europe.
We asked Zak what his 3 top course walk tips were.
ADAPT YOUR RIDING TO SUIT THE COURSE.
Walk the course exactly as you plan to ride it. Walk to the middle of the fence and follow the exact line you will ride to the next jump. In contrast don’t account for your horse too much as this could cause you problems. Some courses are designed to lead you into traps which means you’ll have to adapt your riding to suit the course.
RE-WALK THE TRICKY PARTS.
Re-walk any distances you think may be tricky and visualise how a distance may rise in relation to the stage of the course e.g. a distance that you think is long could actually turn out to be normal because it is toward the end of the course when your rhythm is more forward and visa versa.
LOOK AT THE COURSE PLAN.
In a jump off class, look at the course plan before walking the course so that you can walk the jump off course so that you have a rough idea of where you will be going if you get through to the second round
