"In the last 4 years since course designing and teaching clinics, the primary fault I’ve seen among novice and intermediate riders is Pace Management.  I see all too often as a rider nears the second half of a course, they no longer have the ability to shorten and relax the horse.  This problem, I believe, starts with the program of flat work the rider practices with.  I see a lot of riders exercise their jumpers like they are in a hunter under saddle, going round and round in the same direction never changing their pace and the horse just leaning down in the riders hand (and usually over flexed in draw reins). 

When I flat my horses I practice a few very important things:  the first being balance changes.  I would start working in a low and long frame for stretching, where the horse’s head is below his withers on a soft contact.  Working in straight lines and smooth round turns.  Next I would work in a level frame, where the horse’s eye is about level with the top of his wither.  In this frame, I work a lot of patterns, figure “8”’s, serpentines, lateral stretches, constantly changing pace and turns.

On a normal jumper course you usually have to be making some sort of adjustment every four or five strides, so I want to practice with flat work consisting of a lot of transitions.  The last part of my flat work I work on pace changes ranging from a full gallop to a halt.  I want to practice the amount of strength and time it takes to change my horse’s stride both forward and backward.  These should be done often and smoothly.  Horses learn from repeating the same thing over and over.  So be sure you apply your aids consistently until they understand."