I used to think only the first round and the jumpoff mattered in a showjumping competition. The first round was like the qualification, and the jumpoff was the final result of the entire show. And that was basically the entire competition. What else could possibly change the results?

I was wrong.

Everyone, including me, forgot about a small yet important part of the show: those 45 seconds given to you between the first round and the jump. And those seconds are more crucial than you’d think. If you use them cleverly, it might cause you to win the show. And if you don’t, well, the results may be lesser.

How are these 45 seconds important? First of all, it gives you and your horse some good moments to catch your breath and recover from all that cantering and jumping you just did. Yes, it seems a bit meaningless; you and your horse will rest plenty after the jump-off. 

But it’s important to catch your breath before starting the jump-off, because a short pause can impact your jump-off. After your first round, make sure to completely slow down your horse to a walk, loosen your reins, and pat your horse. Catch your breath and relax your hands. 

This will make your horse less anxious, scared, and a bit recovered before your jump-off.

It is also important for you to catch your breath before starting the jump-off, just like your horse.

 Because even though it’s less than a minute of rest, it helps both you and your horse recover before the next round.

There is also another important factor as to why you should stop and walk before the jump-off is to go over the course. A few seconds to go over your jump-off course again is a huge advantage and will lower your chances of you going off-course. 

This is because when you go over your course a few seconds prior to the jump-off, the course will stay fresh in your mind. Sometimes, if you go straight from the first round to the jump-off, you might mix the two courses up.

After your first round, slow down your horse to a walk. Loosen your reins and catch your breath. Relax any tension in you and take a moment to just breathe. Don’t panic and go when the buzzer goes off. 

You still have 45 seconds to re-organize and briefly go over your course. After patting your horse, go over your jump-off plan. When you’re ready, calmly start the jump-off.

Yes, this might seem hard to do when you have so much adrenaline, but this is the method to have a great transition between the first round and the jump-off. This can heighten your chances of being successful in the jump-off. Still, don’t go extremely slow and check how much time you have left during the transition. 

I have done this in my shows, and I feel like it helps me to do better during my jump-offs. Skipping the rest and going straight from the first round to the jump-off will not work.

 I know it might seem of very low importance, but those overlooked 45 seconds can change everything.