Maximise your jumping space with Georgie Campbell

Georgie Campbell (née Strang) is a British team rider and CCI5* competitor. She competes and trains from her family farm outside Tunbridge Wells, Kent, which she shares with husband Jesse, who’s on the New Zealand squad. In 2022, she had a decisive win in the CCI4*-L at Lignières, riding Global Quest.

Amy Miller picked up the 15.2hh, 12-year-old No Way Back as a cheap-andcheerful prospect, taking a gamble on her. Luckily, the mare has no shortage of talent and Amy’s now keen to direct the mare’s focus, encouraging her to slow down and think as she tackles courses.

Worried that a small school is standing in your way of jumping success? Don’t be –you can pack a serious punch in a compact arena, as eventer Georgie Campbell explains

Not everyone is fortunate enough to have access to a full-sized jumping arena, but with some creative thinking and a smart use of the available space, you can maximise what you have and produce a horse who’s easy and adjustable in any size space.

Your warm-up routine isn’t just about getting your horse’s muscles prepared for harder work – it’s also about laying the foundations for what you want to achieve in your session in a simple, low-pressure way.

Figure-of-eights and serpentines in walk and trot are perfect for encouraging lateral suppleness and relaxation because they’re repetitive, easy and allow you to split your time between each rein – having jumps set up in the arena is all the better. Some horses hot up from the moment they spot a fence, so having jumps around while you’re riding on the flat is very helpful – you can work around them and your horse will soon learn to forget about them.

If your horse tends to tighten when you pick up canter or approach poles or fences, keep your leg on and check your contact. It should be stable and secure, so you can ride him into it and give him confidence. You can also try using take-and-release to help encourage softness, especially if he’s keen.