Many eventers acknowledge that show jumping is their weakest phase. Even five-star eventer and Team Prac member Hannah Sue Hollberg has struggled to finesse her skills in the discipline. While simultaneously recovering from an injury and trying to improve her show jumping game, Hannah met her now husband, grand prix show jumper Matthias “Matt” Hollberg, who has helped refine her technique.

“For eventing, it’s so helpful to have someone in your corner who specializes in show jumping—like Boyd and Silva [Martin] for dressage. Matt really helped me find success through simplicity,” she said. “Eventers tend to get caught up in all the details because we have so much to think about with the three phases to focus on.”

Hannah strives to put Matt’s simple training methods into practice for the three eventing phases. For show jumping, she finds it essential to warm up her horses for the competition ring the same way she does at home.

“I desperately needed a routine, because I felt like I didn’t know what I was doing at shows. I didn’t feel prepared when I went in the ring and was always terrified,” she said. “When I met Matt, I was like, ‘Wow, this is so nice,’ because I didn’t have to think about what I was doing. It became second nature because I just stuck with the routine every single day.”

Hannah notes that this simplistic approach to training is also beneficial to her horses because they, too, thrive on routine. “The horses love it because it feels dependable. You’re not trying anything crazy or new in the warm-up,” she said. “You’re just going through your normal routine.”

Setting Your Horse Up for Success

For show jumping, Hannah says this simple approach has helped her see distances better and be able to tell where she is going down a line. At home, she keeps the fence height minimal and practices doing a varying number of strides down lines to develop adjustability and practice straightness and pace control.

“In the beginning, I might get too close to the second jump, but by the fifth or sixth time, I figure out how make each stride the same,” she said. “When you ride better at home, your horse goes better at shows. There are no tricks; it’s just good riding.”

Especially in the top levels of show jumping, Hannah says there tends to be a mentality that the horses need to try their hardest over every jump. “But when it’s that hard, no one—horse or rider—could do their best every time. So, it’s about showing them an easy way to clear the jumps,” she noted. “If you stay consistent and show them an easy way to the fence, they will jump well. Horses are the best animals; they’re so giving. We just need to give them the best possible chance to do their jobs well.”

Straightness, Shoulders and Staying Settled: Inside A Lesson with Hannah Sue Hollberg

In her new video on Practical Horseman+, Hannah coaches a rider with her Advanced horse—Diana Burnett and Mint Monster (or “Minty” as he’s known in the barn)—through a show jumping course and has the pair focus on small but crucial basics to produce a smooth, settled ride. Here’s a sneak peek and four key takeaways from their lesson together.

1. When preparing for a right turn to a crossrail, Hannah advises Burnett to pay attention to Minty’s left shoulder to finish the turn, keep him straight and avoid getting the add. “Your pace looks good but watch that left shoulder through the turn by looking early,” she said. “That’s pretty much the ticket. If you have to add, it’s because he snuck through the turn with that left shoulder.

2. Next, Hannah had the rider progress to doing a small course starting out going left over a vertical and then going right to the oxer. “Really think about staying straight on landing and keeping your upper body tall. The first time through, you fell forward a little on landing. Especially when you’re facing a left turn after a fence, focus on keeping Minty straight because he tends to lean left.”

3. Hannah then had Burnett put together a small course. “I want you to practice having that nice, open canter and staying really straight on landing, especially when you’re turning left afterward. Take a deep breath before the plank and try to stay smooth and settled.”

4. To finish the lesson, Hannah had her student ride the same course once more after putting the jumps up. “We’re doing this twice, because I want you work on the lines and practice putting your leg on to make sure you totally understand closing the gap,” Hannah said. “Especially on the lines, try to jump in and keep every stride the same instead of speeding up and slowing down. Just let him canter down the lines and see what happens; it’s a vulnerable place, but you can do it. When the jumps are bigger, they can actually get down the lines easier. Continue looking straight and keep him right between your leg and hand.”

Takeaway

Instead of overcomplicating your training and obsessing over the myriad details that eventers contend with, focus on mastering the fundamental basics for show jumping—rhythm, pace, adjustability, straightness. Sometimes the simpler you keep things, the better your horse can do his job.

About Team Prac Member Hannah Sue Hollberg

After serving as a working student for eventers Karen and David O’Connor, Hannah Sue Hollberg started her own training business. She competed in her first five star at Kentucky when she was only 20 and helped to secure a team gold and individual silver at the 2011 Pan American Games aboard Harbour Pilot. She has also represented the U.S. in a number of European events. With Capitol H I M, Hannah Sue competed in the 2023 Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, where they finished fourth and were the highest-placed U.S combination. 

Click here to read Hannah’s full Team Prac bio that includes her career highlights, favorite horses and fun facts about the five-star eventer and lifelong horsewoman.

For More:

• Do you have a training question? Team Prac—our group of top trainers representing hunters, jumpers, eventing and dressage—is here to provide useful and impactful advice to help you improve in your particular discipline and develop a harmonious partnership with your horse. Learn how to submit your questions to our Team Prac members here.
• Read more articles with Hannah Sue Hollberg on Practical Horseman here.
• Learn more about Hannah’s training program HSB Eventing here.