"In training the eventing show jumper, how do we differ the training from the pure show jumper? Surely there has to be a difference as the XC horse has to go faster and jump out of his stride and can't be set up like a show jumper?" Lisa Hamilton

H&C blogger and Olympic eventer Sharon Hunt replies: "This is an interesting question. To answer the first part of your question, there are certainly differences in how you train the eventing show jumper and the pure show jumper because although the eventer must be trained to be careful and to jump clear in the show jumping ring, we still need the eventer to be able to take a physical knock without being knocked mentally. Also, while we do train them to be very careful, concurrently they have to be quick and sharp across country as well. In answer to the second part of your question, you're certainly right that the XC horse has to go faster but you do still need to set them up - it's just at speed. In this way, show jumping is excellent groundwork for XC. Nevertheless, it's also worth pointing out that the more experienced and talented the horse is XC, the less he/she tends to need to be set up. For example, Jasper (Tankers Town) rarely has to be set up and in Hong Kong, I just used the turns to set him up as there wasn't the time.

Best wishes,
Sharon"