Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious show jumping events and you need years of practice to become a Grand Prix horse rider. For the Grand Prix show jumping competition, the horses need to jump a course of 10 to 16 obstacles, with heights up to 1.6 meters and spreads of up to 2.0 meters. It runs under International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) rules. Preparation for the esteemed equestrian sport event takes much dedication and patience along with expert horse training.
Raising The Grand Prix Horse Right:
The first step to start training for the race is to focus on your horse’s health and get them accustomed to the rider and all the gears. Get your horse used to all the weight of the saddle, the constraining girth, and the feel of the bit in their mouth. The best way is to dress up your horse while doing the training sessions.
Understanding your horse is the key. Every horse has a different personality just like us humans. Let your trainer guide you about the horse and how to handle it the best way. Trainers study the horse’s behaviors carefully to learn what they are picking up, and to ensure bad habits are not being learned. Your horse must be learning at a steady pace and maturing with all the training.
How to Know When The Horse Is Ready For The Race?
It takes at least 2-3 years in general to prepare and train the horse right. Plus, you need to note the body language and health of the horse to make sure it can participate in the showjumping.
- The horse should look healthy with a naturally shiny coat.
- The horse should exhibit a defined muscle tone.
- Check the eyes of the horse and make sure they have a bright focused look.
- Check the alertness of the horse. They should be able to pay attention to their surroundings.
- The horses must have a good walking pattern. Evaluate their posture and steps while walking and prancing.
Get Enough Rest:
You can not skip the resting part of the training process. When you are practicing for hours, both you and your equestrian friend need rest to relax your muscles. Overtraining can hurt you and cause major damage to your horse.
Look Out For Alert Signs Throughout The Training:
A last-minute checkup is mandatory but also keeping your horse healthy throughout the training is imperative, If your horse is sickly, it will not receive the training properly. As a result, you will see low energy in the arena and may be tempted to put extra pressure on it. This will only end as a disaster. While training the horse, make sure you are taking care of it like the best babysitter. If your horse is not healthy, it will show many warning signs if you can pick it up.
Read: 5 Warning Signs That Your Horse is Sick
Comly Sport Horses run one of the most reputed horse training services in Texas. We know how to evaluate the horses and train for the most difficult and prestigious show jumping events. We can help you become the best horse rider with just the right training and expertise methods. Check out our blog “How to become a Grand Prix Rider?”
Happy Comly Sports helps you train for the next horse show. We are experts in horse show jumping lessons. The best Jumper Lessons in Texas USA improve a horse’s performance and strengthen the partnership. Check out our Warmblood horses for Sale!