Books/DVDs focussed on showjump training for the eventer?

Acacia

Acacia

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Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions. There's a lot of material out there on dressage & XC training, but not much with emphasis on training for the final phase!

I have Gymnastics by Jim Wofford & 101 Showjumping Exercises....anyone got any other favourites?

My Novice horse is quite good on the flat & a XC machine, but struggles with SJ (he'd rather jump higher than tuck those legs up!). Obviously I have been having lessons & will be making a concerted effort to get out to SJ comps before we tackle a CCI*... but I'm always looking for exercises & ideas to improve. :)
 
Try this book
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Training-Show-Jumpers-Anthony-Paalman/dp/0851315488

Some of the info is a little aged; but the principles of training right the way through are brilliant- a really worthwhile read which can be adapted for eventing ponies.
I found it invaluable for stridings and some excellent exercises.

Well worth a read.

Also try "The less-than-perfect horse by Jane Wallace" - an invaluable bible of things to do when things arent hunky dory.

Good luck!
 
I love the Paarlman book. It my bible!!

I also love Ernest Dillons.
 
Reflections on Riding and Jumping: William Steinkraus
Love this book, a serious SJ orientated book and I love that given he was a weekend rider with a day job he had that unique view of training that fits with the amateur lifestyle. Often pro books can't take into account the amateurs lack of time to set up exercises etc. Not that he wasn't a pro, lord was he a pro in his day :D I can't recommend it enough:D
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reflections...r_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318329172&sr=1-10
 
I have Ernest dillon's new book and it's great - updated version if the old one I think. Well worth a read - he trains a lot of very good Eventers so isn't completely focused on the needs of a pure sj'er.
 
There are lots of good sj books - some of the above are absolute classics. I'll agree, though, it can be helpful to have an "eventer specific" viewpoint sometimes, as the demands are similar but not identical.

Most of the eventing books do have a sj chapter and there are a few "sport specific" ones. The "Celebrity Show Jumping" book is a good one. Chris Bartle's book is particularly in depth. All Jimmy Woffard's books are great and tend to be "user friendly". Pippa Funnel's book is a bit more general but has useful sj stuff in it and you can't argue she's one of the few event riders with truly cross-discipline coaching.

As above, though, I do think it's tricky for eventers to do enough jumping, especially if they lack facilities and/or are on their own a lot. It can also be useful to invest in a lesson or two with someone really good and pick their brains for homework and/or a book reference so you can get a system that works for you in place.
 
Thanks everyone, I have a big reading list now! :)

Part of my issue here is isolation...I do get to have lessons with some very good eventers, but not often showjumpers. I'm a couple of hours away from Melbourne, where the closest SJ trainers are to me.

I'm lucky in that I have my horses at home & have equipment....a lot of the time though, I'm just not sure what exercises I should be doing & knowing what to concentate on & how often I should be doing it.

I'm now going to be heading to SJ comps as often as I can to feel a bit more at home in the SJ ring. :) It gets tricky fitting it all in...at least now in this part the world, we are heading into summer and daylight saving! ;)
 
Ugh, please don't talk about summer. ;)

I know what you mean about access to trainers - I grew up in a similarly large and uninhabited Colony. :) I have found it useful over the years to attend the most prestigious clinics possible as an auditor, even if it means a hellish journey and staying over night. It seems a ton of money to not even be riding at the time but sitting watching (and taking notes) for hours and hours, really watching a system at work, can be invaluable.
 
That's what I tend to do. When we have interstate coaches visiting, I spend a weekend doing intensive training, sometimes taking both horses (6 lessons in 2 day was exhausting but so good to consolidate learning!).

I have been fortunate enough to book into a Paul Tapner 3 day clinic when he is back on a fleeting visit to Aus later this year - looking forward to that!

We have a break from HT from early Dec-end of Feb over the hottest months here, so I am thinking that will be an ideal opportunity to get some good SJ training in. :)
 
another vote for the 'celebrity' excercises book - all written by eventers with excercises focussing on sj'ing and xc all done in the arena. Great book and great value for money.
 
A third vote for the Anthony Paalman book

It's one of the few books I have read that talks in detail about where your seatbones should be and the different aids you should give to a green verses a schooled horse.

Very good book.
 
I remembered I have the Celebrity jumping exercises book - was going through it last night, lots of good exercises in there (now I just need someone to keep changing grids and being a pole mover for me! :p)

I have ordered the Paalman book since it comes so well recommended...also have William Steinkraus' book on order.

I dunno what I did before I discovered all the online second hand bookshops...I have enough books to stock an equine library. Love them though, I spend hours and hours re-reading old favourites and looking up solutions whenever training issues arise.
 
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