1. Teach Single Fences
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2. Teach Single Fences Overview
Phases of Jumping
Placing Poles
Ground Lines
Teach Single Fences
Teaching a rider how to ride a single fence or jump is the next step in learning to jump after the rider is competently riding over trot poles in 2 and 3 point seat. This workbook follows the theme of teaching a single or individual rider (private lesson) how to ride a single fence; group lessons on this topic are covered in future workbooks.
We start with revision on phases of jumping, placing poles and ground lines before progressing to the main topic of teaching single fences to a rider.

3. Phases of Jumping Approach
The approach to a jump can affect the quality of horse the horse performs over the jump. On the approach it is important to maintain consistent rhythm and tempo which will help to keep the horse balanced. Lower fences can be approached in trot or canter. If a jump is approached in canter you will also be riding to maintain or adjusting stride length to take off over the jump from the correct spot.
Approach

4. Phases of Jumping (cont.)
This is the phase in front of the fence when the horse begins to push off to jump over the fence. Where a horse takes off from can determine the quality of the jump.
Take off

5. Phases of Jumping (cont.)
Flight
Flight is when the horse is in the air over the jump. All four legs are off the ground.

6. Phases of Jumping (cont.)
Landing
After the flight phase the horse begins to land on the other side of the fence.

7. Phases of Jumping (cont.)
Departure
The departure away from the jump the horse has just landed from is often the approach to the next fence therefore it is important to maintain balance, rhythm and tempo

8. Placing Poles
Placing poles are simply a normal jumping pole positioned on the ground in front of a jump and assist in the horse and rider finding the correct take off point. If the horse and rider are approaching in trot then the trot should be maintained over the placing pole, the horse shouldn’t be allowed to trot into the placing pole and then canter over it.
The average distance for a placing pole for a horse is 2 to 2.5 metres (6 to 8ft).
The picture above shows a yellow placing pole in front of a single jump (this type is a cross rail). Cross rails help to encourage the horse to stay in the centre of the jump as that is the lowest point and makes the middle more visible for the rider. This rider also has two poles to help guide her over the centre of the placing pole.

9. Ground Lines False ground line
Ground lines are important when setting up and constructing jumps. A ground line is the bottom point (ground) under a jump and can be as simple as placing a jumping pole under a fence.
A horse will judge where it needs to take off from by looking from the bottom of the jump up. If there is no guide where the bottom of the jump is relative to the top it makes it harder for the horse to determine where to take off and the overall height of the jump.
Ground lines can be directly under the jump or set slightly in front of the jump. These are known as a ‘true’ ground line. ‘False’ ground lines are those which can be misleading, where the ground line is on the landing side of the jump. Shadows can produce false ground lines.
The image below shows a false ground line because the pole on the ground is on the landing side of the fence and the jump has created a slight shadow on the take off side of the fence.
False ground line

10. Teaching Single Fences
Beginner riders
A single fence is the next step up in learning how to jump from trot poles. A rider should be able to maintain 2 and 3 point seat in walk, trot and canter, ride the transitions between these paces and steer and guide the horse before being taught to jump. They should also be able to maintain speed, seat and direction over trot poles. In making sure a rider can ‘tick all the boxes’ in this checklist before jumping you will ensure they have the skills to be able to jump as safely as possible.
Quality is more important than quantity at a beginner level. A ‘beginner’ in this workbook means a rider whom can competently do all the above mentioned skills and exercises but has never jumped before.
Beginner riders
As a warm up to jumping the rider should practice or revise riding over a single trot pole. This will also ensure the horse is calm and confident over a pole on the ground before raising it to a jump. At this level you will be aiming to continue teaching the rider to maintain a secure 2 and 3 point seat during the jumping exercise. Beginner riders will need a steady and consistent horse to build their confidence and skills in jumping. Jump height needs to be relatively low to begin with. It is a good idea to have their first few attempts at jumping at a height which is about that of a raised trot pole (about one trot pole width off the ground). This will slowly introduce them to feeling what it is like to spend more time off the ground as the horse “jumps” and allows them to still concentrate on maintaining line and direction before and after the jump.
This level of rider should be introduced to jumping from a trot approach. Approaching jumps from a canter requires a certain level of timing and an “eye” for seeing where and when the horse will take off over the jump; beginner riders will not yet have this ability. The consequences of a horse refusing or stopping in front of a jump from a canter will probably be dire for a rider of this level as they are still developing their balance and security in their seat.
A placing pole or trot poles can be used on the approach side of the jump to assist the rider in maintaining the trot to the base of the jump and to help them find their take off spot. Remember if trot poles are used on approach you should have the rider warm up over a series of poles before a jump is added.
Because of the low height of the jump horses will be unlikely to canter away on departure from the jump. Once you have seen that the rider can ride accurate lines and maintain 2 point where required through the exercise you can encourage the rider to pick up canter on landing after the jump.
Cones can be used to help guide the rider on their approach and departure and also as markers for when they should be in 2 point seat. Cross rails are ideal for this level of rider to help them find the middle of the jump. On departure from the jump it is good practice to have the rider circle and work on the quality of the canter and their accuracy. This will develop good practice for when they are ready to begin riding related fences.
There are a few things a rider should demonstrate before the height of the jump is increased:-
The rider can ride accurate approach and departures lines
The rider can adjust and maintain even and consistent rein length
The rider can adjust and maintain trot approach
The rider can pick up and maintain a canter departure & ride an accurate circles and turns after the jump
The rider maintains a stable 2 point seat before, during and after the jump (this includes the heel down, shoulder-knee-toe line, crest release/holding the mane, looking where they are going, secure lower leg, even weight in stirrups)
The rider can bring the horse back through the paces to walk after the jump

11. Teaching Single Fences
Intermediate riders
For the purpose of this workbook an intermediate rider is one which already has some jumping experience but needs further work to firmly establish their skills (you should check with your riding establishment about what they consider and define as an intermediate rider). At this level you will be looking to teach them or improve their skills in accuracy (in their seat/position and navigational) and working towards developing their ‘feel’.
Ground lines can slowly be introduced for riders whom are timely and accurate in getting and maintaining their 2 point seat before the jump. You should still be looking to improve the quality of the jump rather than the quantity (i.e., height). It is very easy to over-face riders and horses in jumping exercises and it takes a long time to rebuild that confidence once it has been lost.
There are some things you can do to make a single fence with a trot approach more challenging for an intermediate rider:
Create an exercise where the approach line is of shorter distance, requiring the rider to be more organised in preparing for the jump.
Do the exercise on different lines. For example set up the single fence on the long diagonal or on the centreline parallel with the long side.
Have the rider check and if necessary change their canter lead after the jump
Intermediate riders

12. Teaching Single Fences
Experienced riders
Experienced riders
Experienced riders are those whom already have jumping experience. These riders can recognise canter leads, have an established 2 and 3 point seat and ride accurate lines. Once again it’s about quality; quality of the pace before and after the jump, quality of the way the horse is moving (e.g., bend, flexion), quality of the rider’s position, effectiveness of the aids and improving feel and timing.
Though riders at this level may be confident in 2 and 3 point seat they often have aspects of the position that can be improved (as most people do!). For example they may lean to one side more than the other over jumps, draw their heel up or throw away their reins.
This level of riders may find trot approaches more tedious and therefore it is up to you to make them interesting and challenging:
Create an exercise where the approach line is of shorter distance, requiring the rider to be more organised in preparing for the jump.
Do the exercise on different lines. For example set up the single fence on the centreline; this will require greater preparation to ride the half 10m circles onto and off the centreline.
Do the exercise on a curved line.

13. For more information see your workbook.