Pine Meadow Farm LLC

08/29/2026

07/05/2026

Some people do not understand the correct use of the automatic release and are opposed to using it, Geoff Teall writes. In fact, they will often exaggerate the long release–throwing their hands and body forward and making a big deal of not using the automatic release.

These people, through their theatrics, draw attention to their hands, and their body position, and their horse’s effort over the fence. More often than not, their expansive movements actually work against the horse’s natural motion in the air and can interfere with his jump.

As a judge, if I see a rider using an exaggerated long release, throwing his hands around, dropping contact early, and not taking it up on the landing side, I will fault such distracting, sloppy riding.

Other riders exaggerate the automatic release and turn it into something they call the “low release.” In a low release, the rider throws his hands down, emphasizing that he is maintaining contact without going up on the horse’s neck.

These people, through their exaggeration, go below the line of the horse’s mouth with their contact and often interfere with the horse’s jump. Using a release that is heavy and breaks below the line of the mouth will cause the horse to jump with his head up and make it more difficult for him to follow through behind.

When judging, if I see a rider who is not releasing, or stiffing the horse, or working below the line with the automatic release, that has a direct bearing on either his riding (for Hunt Seat Equitation classes) or his horse’s round (in Hunter divisions). More likely than not, such a rider has a horse that jumps with his head high, doesn’t follow through, or has unnecessary rubs or knocks rails down behind, and I will fault that.

📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2022/12/19/judges-card-beware-of-exaggeration/
📸 © ES Equine Photography / Evelyn Szczepanek

06/26/2026

The canter is the most important gait because we jump from the canter, Holly Hugo-Vidal writes. Every horse has its own canter, in terms of rhythm and miles per hour, to be the most adjustable (rideable) as well as producing the best jumping effort.

To achieve the best canter for jumping, the horse must be “in front of the leg” with impulsion and energy. They must also be light in the rider’s hand (not pulling) as well as balanced to achieve the best possible result.

Since the power comes from the hind end pushing as opposed to the front pulling and feeling downhill, the horse’s balance is of most importance. Some horses come by this naturally while others have to be almost manufactured, or of the least reminded. A thoroughbred comes by this more naturally and is in front of the leg the moment you get on. The warmbloods tend to be lazy and require the rider to put them in front of the leg.

In terms of miles per hour, each horse has its own set of requirements for the perfect jump. If the horse is below his natural good canter, or behind the leg, he will most likely chip (adding a last-minute stride) or reach for the long distance and make it look too long and weak. Conversely, if the horse is above the pace, he will look fast and cover too much ground, and the jump will be compromised. It will either be too close or too long, resulting in a poor jumping effort as well as losing the smooth canter and ridability.

This is where the rider comes into play. In order to be effective in getting the right canter, the rider must have a very good “feel” and equally good coordination as well as knowledge in order to be able to determine the correct canter as well as be able to make whatever adjustment is necessary to achieve it.

📎 Continue reading at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2026/06/25/the-canter-is-the-most-important-gait/
📸 © Carly Nasznic