Loosejumping with great scope, technique and carefulness
Fein Mithra Gii
The Gustavii stud had bred this wonderful mare born in 2013. Fein Mithra Gii, 2013, approx 167 cm bay mare by Fein G – Marco Mitras 891 – Aarstein.
Fein Mithra Gii is a sweet mare with a fantastic trot and canter, she is relatively untried to date, but shows a beautiful jumping technique and a lot of scope. She is also very careful which is a trademark of this dam line. This mare has a very kind and sweet temperament, she is willing and enjoys working with you. She continues to impress and we think this mare will have a great future both in jumping or eventing. She would also be an asset to anyone wanting to breed top class show jumpers.
The sire of Fein Mithra Gii
The sire of Fein Mithra, Fein G, is also bred by the Gustavii Stud. He had an enormous capacity and was competing internationally for the Pessoa stables in both Grand Prix and Puissance classes. Fein G was later sold to Mexico. His breeding is a product of the combination of the two highest ranked mare families internationally, with the very valuable bloodlines from Feinschnitt 1 and Ramiro Z. Both stallions competed at the highest international level. Fein G’s mother had a full-sister Ram’s Girl Z who competed internationally, like their mother Fanny Girl.
The dam
The dam Annabell is by Marco Mitras 891 (by Irco Marco). Marco Mitras 891 competed up to 1.50 GP and additionally was placed in the Swedish eventing championships.
Annabell is out of the very capable international 160 show jumper Ferrara (by Aarstein). Ferrara was successful internationally with 4 different riders, and comes from very reliable bloodlines producing international jumpers like the Nations Cup horse Lugano and also Alex H, who had a successful World Cup career ridden by Ludger and Marcus Beerbaum and Leslie McNaught.
Siblings
Older siblings have competed successfully up to World Cup level and they show an extremely good technique and capacity and are also very careful. Fein Mithra Gii is a full sister to Ferdinand Gii.
Education
This mare was to be kept by owner. Due to change of direction she is now for sale. She has had a saddle on and had a rider over her back but has not yet been ridden.
The Gustavii stud has bred this 3 year old colt, Ferdinand Gii, born in late 2016. He is by Fein G – Marco Mitras – Aarstein and currently measures approx 165 cm. He is the full brother of Fein Mithra Gii.
Fein G – the sire of Ferdinand Gii
The sire of Ferdinand Gii, Fein G, also bred by the Gustavii family, had an enormous capacity. He was competing internationally for the Pessoa stables in Grand Prix and Puissance classes. Fein G was later sold to Mexico.
His breeding is a product of the combination of the two highest ranked mare families internationally, with the very valuable bloodlines from Feinschnitt 1 and Ramiro Z, who both competed at the highest international level. Fein G’s mother had a full-sister Ram’s Girl Z who competed internationally, just like their mother Fanny Girl.
Annabell – the dam
The dam Annabell is by Marco Mitras 891 (by Irco Marco). Marco Mitras 891 competed up to 1.50 GP and additionally was placed in the Swedish eventing championships.
Annabell is out of the very capable international 160 jumper Ferrara(by Aarstein). Ferrara was successful internationally with 4 different riders, and comes from very reliable bloodlines producing international jumpers like the Nations Cup horse Lugano and also Alex H, who had a successful World Cup career ridden by Ludger Beerbaum, Leslie McNaught and Marcus Beerbaum.
Siblings
Older siblings have competed successfully up to World Cup level, and show an extremely good technique and capacity and are also extremely careful. Ferdinand Gii is full brother to Fein Mithra Gii.
Training
This youngster has a very kind and sweet temperament and is easy to train, he is willing and enjoys working with you. Very nice trot and canter. He shows a very promising jump when loose jumping.
Gustavii Stud has 4 year old colt. Lariico Gii was born in 2015, he is approx 162 cm but still growing. This is a bay colt by Lars Irco Gii – Baloubet du Rouet – Irco Marco – Menelek xx.
Lariico Gi, as you can see above, is bred in the purple. His sire, by Irco Mena, was a favorite of Nelson and Rodrigo Pessoa and won his first international GP victory with them. A proven pedigree that has scored international victories both in show jumping and eventing. The dam is considered one of the three best mares in Europe by Baloubet de Rouet and the World Cup mare Mirca, full-sister to Irco Mena and Marcoville (6th ind Olympic Games). This is a very strong pedigree with proven world-class performers both from sire and dam.
With line breeding on the reliable producer Irco Marco with a dam by the great Baloubet du Rouet and the international mare Mirca, we feel this colt has the best possible base for a sparkling future.
Future
There is no doubt that this horse is going places, with a known lineage of proven showjumpers combined with 3 lovely paces and a scopey, deliberate jump we feel this is a horse for the serious show jumper.
Information
For more information, please contact owner and breeder Ann Gustavii on messenger please.
Looks like Milton. This mare is WOW! She just makes it look sooo easy
Fabulous canter with a lot of expression
Getting those hind legs underneath.
Positive outlook on life
Good active walk
Half brother Master Darragh with Trevor Breen who jumped up to 1,50m level.
Diamond Lad, one of the great sons of the supreme King of Diamonds. Diamond lad is the Dam Sire of
My Class Quality – a true gem.
My Class Quality is a mare born in 2015. This mare is by OBOS Quality, a sire of many top class horses both for show jumping and eventing. OBOS Quality himself is by Quick Star (Galoubet) out of a Domino mare. The dam of My Class Quality is Moyglass Bay, a Diamond Lad mare who has bred several 1,40 and 1,50 horses out of which Master Darragh ridden by Trevor Breen is the most well known.
This mare really has golden traditional Irish breeding on the damside, with the oh so valuable Diamond Lad / King of Diamonds combined with top class european bloodlines via her Sire OBOS Quality. The true “In the purple” breeding really shows in this mare, wow she can jump!She also has 3 stunning paces which makes her a real eyecatcher.
Education
My Class Quality has been broken to ride early spring and is now jumping a course of fences. As a part of schooling she has also been introduced to cross country fences which she absolutely loves. She has an extremely positive outlook on life and really enjoys her work. She rides out on her own or in company and is used to traffic including farm traffic.
All handling is just a breeze, simply very easy and laid back horse to care for which includes grooming, washing, clipping, farrier, loading and catching in the field.
Future
We feel that this horse really has a bright future. Maybe her strong point would be eventing but she can definitely go far in the show jumping ring too. Along with a very promising career as a sports horse, My Class Quality has her breeding and good looks to fall back on. Her value as a broodmare is immense.
Foxhall X, a mare born in 2014, measuring 147 cm (14’2). This pony was broken to ride over the winter and is now well on its way to a competitive career the showjumping world (she would also suit superbly as an eventer. She has 3 lovely paces and a scopey, deliberate jump. X is very kind hearted and very sweet to care for, always tries her very best. Never any problems when it comes to grooming, washing, clipping, farrier, loading etc.
Training
Foxhall X is progressing nicely and is now jumping a course of fences. She is very rideable and works in a lovely outline. This pony has a very positive outlook on life and feels very laid back but also a real “machine” to jump. She rides out alone and in company with others and is used to traffic including farm vehicles and machinery.
Future
We feel that this pony has the ability to go far in either showjumping or eventing. With a lovely temperament she would also make a lovely allrounder.
Madam Maxine is a 148cm / 14’2 mare born in 2014. Coloured in fifty shades of grey, she is an absolutely stunning pony that does not leave much more to wish for.
This pony has 3 lovely paces and a very scopey, promising jump. This is complemented with a seriously good temperament.
Education and handling
Maxine has done pony club, showjumping and eventing. Everything is easy, she simply does not put a foot wrong. She has the capacity to jump a big course of fences. She has progressed with Showjumping Ireland up to 1m.
When it comes to handling this pony is a pure saint. She is lovely to handle, care for, clip, wash, catch in the field, farrier and loading. She rides out alone or in company and is used to traffic including farm traffic.
Future
We do believe that this Madam Maxine has a very bright future and may well reach the top in either showjumping or eventing. She will suit any competitive rider who wants to advance up through the ranks. Having said this Madam Maxine has such a fabulous temperament that she would also suit the the less advanced rider.
Cantering in the school, this mare knows how to tuck her hind legs underneath her body.
Kilickle Laurel jumping a fence in the school
Wonderful Connemara pony Kilickle Laurel cooling down after work.
Kilickle Laurel – pony for showjumping and eventing
This lovely dun / grey mare is born in 2014 and measures ~147cm. She sports a scopey jump and a very kind, rideable temperament.
Kilickle Laurel is a very kind pony through and through, she handles nicely in the stable including shoeing, clipping, washing, catching in the field etc etc.
We have ridden her out both on her own and in company and she is used to a variety of traffic including farm traffic. Laurel is still a little green but is keen to learn and is progressing fast. She is ready to start a competitive career shortly in either showjumping or eventing.
Laurel takes everything in her stride and does not get spooked by new types of fences, she has been out to see both show jumps and xc fences. She also travels well and keeps her calm at new places.
Future
We believe this pony will be a great asset to anyone looking to further their career in showjumping or eventing. Definitely one for the future.
Barnaboy Gamble Cruise Lady working nicely at trot
This young mare is a dream to ride, she has a naturally good outline.
Cantering towards a fence.
Gamble Cruise Lady has a scopey deliberate jump, we believe she has a great future to come
Cooling down after work. No problems to relax! This pony is just lovely all around!
Filly for the future!
This talented pony is by the Irish stallion Gamble on Diamond who jumped successfully up to 150 level.
She combines a very scopey and promising jump with a “to die for” temperament. Born in 2014, she is now 5 years old (2019) and is about to embark on her competitive career. We have high hopes for this one and it is going to be a pleasure to follow her up through the ranks.
More information about this fabulous filly coming soon….
Woodpark Dainty is a mare born in 2012, 146.5, dun.
This is a real little lovely lady. Woodpark Dainty super honest and a rock for anyone starting out showjumping.
Dainty has done pony club so experienced Both cross country and over show jumps. She is a dream to handle in all aspects, including loading, shoeing, clipping etc etc
Dainty
Woodpark Dainty pony clubbingTrue beauty. Dun pony Woodpark Dainty
A grid with oxers to improve technique, strength and straightness.
Grid with oxers
Improve technique, balance and strength.
Jumping grids, especially a grid with oxers have many benefits for both horse and rider, and is definitely something to include in the training from time to time, especially if you need to improve on the horses technique over a fence.
The rider also benefits hugely, the focus must be on keeping the horse straight. It is also great for the more cautious riders as a way to introduce bigger fences. As the exercise starts in trot, with a trotting pole and a bounce chances are pretty good for the rest of the grid goes to plan too. The focus can be on keeping straight rather that seeing the stride which often can pose a problem.
Build
Build this grid in stages. Start off with trotting poles, for a horse use the distance 1,2 m between the poles. Trot over the poles a few times turning both left and right. Add fences as sketch above, one at a time (cross pole, upright, oxer and oxer. If you want to practise height of fence build the first oxer as a parallell /box oxer and the second one as an ascending oxer. This way you can put the back pole up a bit to get the feel of a bigger fence.
Ride it like you own it!
Ride the grid a few times each time you add a fence. Think of:
Look at the first pole through the turn, to arrive at the grid smack bang in the middle.
Once at the grid lift your eyes to look straight ahead.
Keep your posture straight, do not fall for the temptation to lean forwards. This is an important one! If you start to lean forwards the horse will pick up speed and the grid will feel short towards the end.
Keep straight, coloured poles help. Also go straight after the last fence.
Concentrate of your balance and the ability to give the horse enough rein over each part of the grid.
Enjoy!! I find grids very satisfying, once you are in them they just flow. This is really a very good opportunity to practice your balance.
Outcome
This exercise should help you find your balance. It should also force you to look up and concentrate on keeping your horse straight. If you are a bit cautious about bigger fences, and did try to put the last one up. Do get off your horse and compare to yourself the height you jumped. This will give you no end of confidence next time you walk a course.
The horse equally benefits from grids. It has to think and speed up the legwork . This will make your horse quicker, more scopey and last but definitely not least a lot stronger. This is a muscle building exercise. Your horse should also feel more supple after the exercise. Lazy and unresponsive horses often wake up when jumping a grid, as the exercise helps them get stronger and fitter chances are you can end up with a more responsive horse. Forward horses also benefit as they have to slow down to get the footing right.
Don’t forget to cool down after exercising your horse, walking the horse is underestimated and a big part in keeping your horse fit and healthy.
Picture 1.Jumping a course and getting the strides right.
Course exercise number 1
The importance of walking the course.
Full speed ahead! Time to try out how far the exercises have got you. We are now going to put the exercises together and jump a whole course of fences. This time it is not about jump offs and tight turns, the goal is rather to get the flow and to keep a set canter rhythm, getting that beautiful clear round.
Building
Please see schedule above (Picture 1). Keep it simple. At this stage it is all about finding the correct lines. Uprights all round is fine. We will in following exercises go through different types of fences and how you can use them. The number of strides between the fences much depend on how big your arena is. I would like to suggest 4 strides between 1 and 2, 3 -4 strides between 2 and 3 and 5 strides between 4 and 5..
Riding the course.
Set the canter before you start, you should keep a showjumping tempo for your level. This is usually something that eventers are a lot better at than show jumpers. Please check below how to practise speed and feeling of different speeds.
Try to get a flow and avoid a stop start scenario. Sit up between the fences, this will help your horse to keep its hind leg underneath the body and thereby maintaining a powerful canter (not necessarily fast but with energy and power in each step). This is important especially if you are aiming at larger fences. Your horse will need all the power in its hind legs to jump clear.
When a fence comes quickly after a corner, as number 3 does. You will need to remember to ride the whole corner. Keep a good contact with your outside rein (here the right rein), don’t let the horse slump inwards. Try to stick to the green dotted line (see picture 2), letting your horse slump inwards (as the red dotted line may land you in trouble).
Picture 2. Ride the whole corner and plan your route.
These are the type of corners you often see horses completely bend outwards. Whilst this in some cases might be totally okay, especially if the horse is excited and very keen to jump, it is not what you should be aiming for. Perfect is to keep your horse straight for about 1 stride after the fence then flex slightly to the left and become straight again before the fence.
The red dotted line is definitely an option but only as a means to get that fabulous time in a jump off. The aim of this exercise is for you to get a clear round and actually get to the jump off!
Next part of the course
Diagonals
A diagonal is another one of those course details that are almost always present, in one way or another. The important thing to remember is to know the way. This is why it is so important to walk the course! Where do you get an even number of canter strides?
If you follow the green line (Picture 3) you will not go far wrong. This will also set you up better to jump the last fence. Again the red dotted line will almost certainly gain you a canter stride and thereby save you some time. This is for the more experienced horse and rider. More exercises on this to follow.
To make sure you get it right, find easily seen markers. When doing this exercise you may well use cones to make sure you stick to the green dotted lines. In a competitive situation, find markers to keep you on course. And yes not the lady with the green umbrella! She might decide to go for coffee..
Picture 3. The diagonal! Red dotted line most likely saves you a canter stride whilst the green dotted line will increase your chances of going clear.
Canter speed
Get to recognise your canter speed
A simple exercise to get to know your tempo is to put 2 cones on a field 500m apart (or if you have access to a racecourse with metre markers). Canter between them, using a simple stopwatch to time yourself. You then divide 500 (metres) with the amount of seconds it takes you to ride the the distance. you then multiply your result with 60 to get the metre per minute (which is how speed is spoken about in showjumping).
The speed you are supposed to ride at when competing varies with the level at which you are jumping. Showjumping speed varies between 300 mps to 400 mps (mps = metres per second), it is worth remembering to check speed and time allowed when viewing the course schedule. The speed may be different in the jump off so check this too.
Outcome
After completing this exercise you should feel more confident in tackling a whole course of fences. You should also be more clear in what it means to ride for a clear round and what it means to chase the time. Did you do the canter speed exercise? If you did, you should now be a lot better equipped in knowing what is needed to avoid those pesky time faults.
Take to your notebook
Write down things that did go well and things that need more finishing. Look at this exercise as a test to see where you and your horse are at. Go back to the drawing board and practise what needs to get better. Knowing your weaknesses is your strongest asset.
Exercise to prevent drifting, to slow the horse down and to improve the technique over a fence.
Stand off the fence and don’t drift.
This exercise has a whole bunch of benefits. It is created first and foremost for horses that are rushing their fences. The V pole will make them stand off the fence.
This is not the only benefit though. This exercise will also help horses that drift and horses that need to improve the technique over a fence. It will also make the horse “think” more and assess the situation.
Setup
Put a vertical fence in the middle of the arena as shown above. Construct a V-shape with 2 poles, with the V resting on the top rail of the fence. Put a ground pole about 40 cm in front of the fence. If drifting is your problem you can reinforce the exercise with 4 cones (as shown in picture above).
Exercise
A. Leave a wide opening in the V to make the fence more attractive to the more novice horse.
B. Once the horse gets used to the fence you can start to narrow the gap between the V poles.
C. V poles touching. For the more experienced horse and rider.
Start off with a lower fence and a wider V (picture A). If you ride a novice horse you can approach this in trot, but continue into canter as soon as possible. Try out both left and right canter, note the difference, has your horse got more of an issue on one side? Write down your experience in a notebook, it can help you with future training sessions.
Once your horse has understood the task, start to narrow the gap between the two poles in the V until they touch (picture B and C).
If your horse is more experienced you can start with the poles touching (picture C).
Note!! This exercise do not suit horses that stand off the fences. It should also be used with caution when dealing with nervous horses.
Result
Done correctly this exercise should make the horse back off the fence a little, which in turn should make it possible for the rider to ride with a softer hand. The horse should also use a better technique over the fence, especially the front leg action. Focus on the fence should also improve along with straightness over the fence.
Stay straight and shave off valuable seconds in the jump off! Jump at an angle.
Beat the competition!
Jump at an angle
To be able to shave off valuable seconds in a jump off you will have to be able to keep your horse straight and jump at an angle. This simple exercise will up your skills and help your horse feel comfortable with what is expected.
A parallel oxer, a bounce and a triple bounce. All jumpable from both directions.
This bounce exercise aims to get your horse supple. It will also help you feel the stride, to feel the length of the stride and your eye. To be able to assess how many strides remain until the horse jump and where it will jump. Done correctly this exercise will also get an over excited horse to back off.
Barnaboy Eamon is a 6year old (*2013), gelding about 16″1, 163 cm. By the wonderful Irish ☘️ Sporthorse stallion Cottage Fire, who is also the father of 3star eventer and stallion Barnaboy Freeman.
Eamon was born at the Barnaboy stud in Co. Galway, Ireland. He has spend a lot of his life outdoors and has throughout been able to move which has made him both strong, healthy and surefooted.
Does your horse listen to you? Are you in sync over which way to go?
Is your horse awaiting your signals? Or do you feel like your horse is in charge? Are you in sync which way to go? With showjumping courses getting quite technical it is important to work on the conversation between horse and rider. A question we often need to ask ourselves is: Is my signals received by my horse? Are they understood? Do I listen to my horse? Are we on the same wavelength?
This exercise offers a few different difficulties. It combines riding through corners with the ability to keeping your horse straight through doubles. The warm up will keep you focused and perfect your skills at showing your horse which way to go!! Precision!
The place where new and modern meets traditional and classy.
There is something special with exhibitions, it’s the ultimate in glamour and glitz, BETA is no different. Everyone involved has great expectations on the trade and on viewing new products for the first time. I used to be one of the exhibitors, now the roles have changed. I am the one standing eagerly waiting for the doors to open. I’m more than excited to be here, I am keen to know whats new and what has stood the test of time.
Getting your horse and yourself bendy and flexible is one of the key components of winning at any level in the world of showjumping. Quick thinking and tight turns will win you all those valuable seconds. Practise makes perfect and this exercise is perfect as it can be done at any height, poles on the ground is perfectly ok.
Do you get the feeling that your horse does not listen? This is a common problem with some of the hot headed horses of today. This is one exercise that focuses on getting the horse alert and for the rider to practise how to show the horse whats next.
