Erik Duvander, previous performance director of U.S. Eventing, Olympian, and past coach for the Japanese, Swedish and New Zealand eventing teams, shares an early spring lesson with five-star rider Jennie Brannigan. She rides a top-level horse who is quite forward and works on finding more relaxation. They begin with walk work, looking for the horse to relax more with throughness, straightness and a slower mind. When they go to canter, it is quite moderated, and the canter walk transitions rebalance to the horse’s hindquarters. The jumping begins with a simple figure eight with a cavalletti on each circle, asking for balance and relaxation. As the horse becomes tense, they step back to the walk, then resume the exercise with the correct pace and calmness. After they have the desired results, they change the exercise riding over one cavalletti with four strides to a single fence. The emphasis is on a calm approach and a downward transition after the fence. They add an in-and-out at the end. Erik points out how they are now jumping with more athleticism than power.
