Going into a big competition, there are a lot of factors out of your control. You don’t have control over the weather or who the judges are. You don’t have control over the schedule or any potential distractions that might happen before, during or after you’re in the ring. But there are things you do have control over.

To help her students stave off show-day jitters and perform at their full potential, Stacia Klein Madden encourages them to focus on the many factors they can control. “You do have control over being on time and arriving with all of your equipment and being properly organized,” she said. “And you absolutely have control over knowing your course well in advance so you don’t feel rushed or overwhelmed.”

In her training program at Beacon Hill Show Stables in Colts Neck, New Jersey, Madden strives to ensure her students arrive at competitions so well prepared that it feels like second nature. “If you’ve done your homework and are prepared, you’ll feel extremely confident going into the show ring,” she explained. “That way, you can harness any adrenaline that usually causes negative, nervous feelings and channel it into a more positive feeling.”

Part of ensuring her students are well prepared involves fostering independence. “I want them to develop feel and compassion for their horses and have a huge understanding of why they’re doing certain things. I don’t want them to be robotic,” Madden noted. “So I spend a lot of time explaining what I’m teaching because equitation courses often test riders about their knowledge of their horses and the sport inside the ring without their trainers providing constant instruction.”

In her new video series on schooling for equitation courses on EQUESTRIAN+, Madden demonstrates how she helps her students prepare for elements commonly included in equitation courses to ensure they enter the show ring with the upmost confidence. (You can find more technical details on how to set up the following elements here.)

Straightness and Leg-to-Hand Connection

“A lot of times the judges we might expect to see at big competitions like the different finals have been published ahead of time. So we study what potentially could be the that judge’s favorite exercises and then practice those elements before going to a competition.

“I also try to set these preparation exercises so that the horses understand and can succeed. I don’t want the exercises to be so difficult that it destroys the horse’s confidence.

“One of the elements we might expect to see is what we have set up here in the middle line, which includes the Swedish oxer to the gray wall to the liverpool to the other Swedish oxer. It’s a nice bending line which can be done in very direct 4-4-4 or you can do it with a little shape in a 5-5-5. Today we’ll be choosing the 5-5-5 to work on steering and control.

“In this exercise, we’re looking for straightness. The horses don’t necessarily have to land the lead, but if you’re at a competition and this is part of the course, try to get any stiffness out of your horse in the schooling arena by asking them to land their leads. This way, if he doesn’t land the lead at a show, he’ll be able to make a nice change in the lines without disrupting the striding of the five.

“Your leg-to-hand connection is extremely important for lead changes because it will help you avoid losing your track. If you’re on the right track, your horse should be able to make the change in the middle of the line.

“I’ve put the two Swedish oxers as the out of the lines because riders have a tendency to overshoot and start using the track instead of collecting the horse. If they overshoot too much to try to slow the horse down, they’re going to end up on the high side of the Swedish and have it down.”

Adjustability and Quality Releases

“In another course element we prepare for, I have riders practice adjusting the length of their horse’s stride on an outside line of four fences, followed by a stop after the last fence. This is a really good line to practice your automatic releases and improve your horse’s balance because there’s no turning involved. I like using striped rails because it gives riders a focus point to keep their horses right in the middle.

“To jump this line in both directions, you’ll use a water jump to make a large circle across the ring and approach the same line from the new direction. As you approach the water, ride right up the box and give your horse a nice release to encourage him to really stretch across it.

“Then, immediately check your reins so can collect and balance to the first fence of the your new line. Use your voice to whoa going into the steady four and then collect for the shorter four stride. Back this up with a straight stop to reinforce the idea that we’ve been asking the horse to collect as this line goes along.

“Be very aware if your horse has a tendency to jump slightly to the right or left and try to keep him directly between your reins and legs.”

Setting the Pace

“Here we prepare for a more difficult element that includes a bold four-stride line to a collected five-stride line with a circle and change of direction to jump it both ways. This exercise teaches riders how to immediately set the pace on course before the first fence and then nicely collect for the five stride.

“At championship classes, the first question is often a bold one because judges want to see that riders understand of how to come in the ring and put the horses right up to the bit. It also tests your ability to lengthen and shorten your horse’s stride.

“If you’re in good balance with a strong foundation, you should be able to collect your horse well. The circle and change of direction should help you soften and collect so you can come back in the quiet five and then make the last stride a touch building so that the forward four is invisible.

“If you’re good about setting your pace early, the entrance distance is not quite as important, which is really valuable because it enables your horse to jump the first fence out of stride. Then you can just ask him to follow for four and then sit and collect him to create a little shape for the nice collected five.

For More:

• You can watch Stacia Klein Madden’s full series on schooling for equitation courses here.
• For the technical aspects of the elements described and shown here and for more of Madden’s tips on how to ride each, click here.

About Stacia Klein Madden

Known as one of the most successful trainers of young riders in the country, Stacia Klein Madden began her career as a successful Junior, winning the 1987 ASPCA Maclay National Championship and placing in the USEF National Hunter Seat Medal Final and USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals—East. She turned professional in 1988 and started working out of Beacon Hill Show Stables, now located in Colts Neck, New Jersey. Madden also worked for Johnny Barker in North Carolina, before returning to Beacon Hill where she began teaching and developed a passion for working with young riders and matching them with horses.