Show Jumping, Dressage & Course Design with Gill Pollard (Episode 28)Watch or listen to Episode 28 of the Just Horse Riders Podcast with host Aaron Englander and special guest Gill PollardLevel 5 British Showjumping course designer, judge, and decorated dressage competitor. If youre curious about what truly makes a fair course, how to prepare for competition without losing your sense of fun, and why tiny tweaks in the ring make massive differences, youre in the right place.Prefer to jump straight in? Watch now on YouTube or listen now on Spotify.About Our Guest: Who Is Gill Pollard?Gill Pollard is a UK equestrian professional best known for her work as a Level 5 (Advanced) British Showjumping course designerthe highest tier of accreditation. Shes also a Level 2 judge and an accomplished dressage rider with wins and high placings at Advanced Medium and Prix St. Georges. In short: she knows the sport from every angle, and shes generous with her knowledge.In Episode 28, Gill and Aaron dig into what goes into building courses that are challenging but fair, why speed classes put smiles on faces, and how riders can better prepare to keep the poles up and the time faults downwithout losing the fun.You Want Them All to Succeed: The Heart of Fair Course DesignGills approach is simple and sincere: You want them all to succeed you want them to succeed in the fairest possible way. That philosophy runs through her entire process, from understanding arena size and footing to considering the actual riders expected in each class.Theres a lot more going on than poles and wings. Gill explains how she balances the rulebook, route options, distances, and time allowed. As she puts it, riders should feel testedbut not tricked. A fair track gives everyone a chance, whether theyre there for education, a rosette, or the jump-off of their dreams.Course Specs, Time Allowed & Why the Easy Class Isnt Always EasyBritish Showjumping classes come with clear specifications for height, spread, and speed. That means an 80 cm class isnt just one 80 cm fence on its owntheres a course of them, sometimes followed by a jump-off thats 10 cm higher. That can be a rude awakening if your only 90 cm practice has been a single fence at home.Time allowed is skill, not guesswork. Many riders focus on fences and forget pace. Gill points out that maintaining rhythm (say, 300375 m/min depending on class) is part of the sport. Ride every corner like its a tour of the whole county and youll collect time faults like fridge magnets.Walk the Course Like a Pro (and Stop Panicking at Fence 3)Walking the course isnt just sightseeing. Gill recommends riders consider where theyll change legs, how theyll save time with a shorter line (without riding faster), and which corners might tempt a dramatic trot. Make your plan, then commit.If a jump looks spooky, dont feed the drama. Riders can calmly walk past the banner or the filler before the bell, look at take-off and landing points, and let their horses clock the scenery. A steady brain produces a steady round.Speed Classes, Jump-Offs & Bringing the Fun BackGill has a soft spot for speed classes and crafty jump-offs. These formats let riders make bold decisionstake the scenic route for a safe clear or swing inside for the win. A good jump-off offers options: two long gallops for the brave, a cheeky inside turn for the brave-and-accurate.That variety builds skill and smiles. As Gill jokes, the sport can feel too serious in the middle tiers where people chase double clears. Options keep learning alive: the novice rides the measured line; the seasoned rider dares a tighter one. Everybody gets better.Training at Home: Make Show Stuff NormalGills biggest plea to riders is brilliantly practical: train with fillers, water trays, banners, rustling bagsearly and often. If your horse only sees plain poles at home, the first fancy filler in public becomes a plot twist.You dont need expensive kit. A bit of tarpaulin under a pole, plastic tubs, safe planters, or a DIY water look build confidence. The goal is not big fencesits variety and calm repetition. The earlier you normalise visuals and noise, the steadier your horse will be on show day.From Pony Club to Prix St. Georges: A Career Built on CuriosityGills own path is a love letter to trying things. She rode for dealer yards, zipped around speed classes, andafter initially writing dressage off as boringearned standout scores all the way to PSG. That range now informs how she designs courses that teach, not just test.Her message is to keep exploring. The more you experiencedisciplines, shows, horsesthe more tools you bring back to your main ring. Its cross-training for your brain (and your bravery).When Lower Isnt Kinder: The False Sense of ProgressGill is refreshingly honest about height. Building consistently under spec to please a crowd can do riders a disservice. It creates a false sense of readiness that falls apart at qualifiers. Better to face the real thing with supportive lines and fair questions.A fair 90 cm looks like 90 cm. If youve only been schooling a single 90 cm fence at home, a whole course at that height (and then higher in a jump-off) will feel different. Prepare for the course, not just the number.Handling Pressure: Complaints, Courage & Keeping PerspectiveCourse designers get it from all sides. Gill talks about the reality: riders have goals, time is tight, and not everyone can qualify every weekend. Thats why designers need backbone and empathy. As she says, the aim is never to make people failits to set appropriate, transparent questions for the class.For riders, the takeaway is balance. Own your preparation, read the specs, and be kindto yourself, your horse, and the people building your day. A good round is a team effort youll repeat next weekend.Micro-Wins That Reduce Time Faults (Without Riding Faster)Shorter line, same canterthats the magic. Gill suggests choosing smart routes where permitted, trimming unnecessary arena, and keeping rhythm through corners. Youll often save seconds simply by riding the line you walked (and not sightseeing the banners).Practice counting in real life. Mark out lines at home. Count a steady rhythm, then ride the same line slightly shorter with the same step. Teach your eye that saving distance is not adding speed.What Riders Can Do This Week1) Build a Better Schooling EnvironmentMake your arena more show-like with safe, colourful fillers, tarpaulin water, tubs, and banners. Introduce them in walk and trot until theyre non-events. Consistent, calm repetition wins.php-template Copy Edit2) Walk with PurposeNext time you walk a course, set three decisions: where youll change legs, where youll ride the simple line, and where youll save distance (not speed). Then stick to it.3) Gear That Helps, Not HindersComfort and grip are your quiet superpowers. If your hands, legs, and boots are steady, your brain can do the thinking. Explore: Jodhpurs & Riding Tights, Riding Boots, Gloves, and Riding Socks.4) Feed for FocusLittle daily habits add up in the ring. Support recovery, hooves, digestion, and calm with Everyday Supplements that fit your horses routine.5) Prep for the WeatherCold horse, cold start. Keep muscles comfortable and ready with Stable Rugs and Turnout Rugs. When the flies arrive, dont donate blooduse Fly Protection.Quotes We Loved from Episode 28On the Goal of Course DesignYou want them all to succeed. Its the line that sums up Gills approach: fair questions, logical lines, and options that help riders learn without feeling ambushed.css Copy EditOn Time Allowed & Riding LinesIts not about going fastits about maintaining a speed. If youre on the correct rhythm and take the right line, the clock takes care of itself far more often than you think.On Training with FillersPractice with what youll meet at shows. The aim is normalising novelty. Tarpaulin today means water trays tomorrow feel boring (which is exactly what you want).On Keeping the FunI always like to give options. Two long gallops, a clever inside turn, or the sensible simple routevariety brings riders on and keeps the sport joyful.Why This Episode Matters (Even If Youre Not a Jumper)Dressage riders, eventers, and happy hackers will still find gold here. The mindset is universal: prepare realistically, ride the line you planned, build confidence in small steps, and choose gear that helps rather than distracts.And if youre a parent or new competitor, this chat demystifies rulebooks, jump-off formats, and the logic behind course questionsmaking pony-club weekends a little calmer for everyone involved.Watch or Listen to Episode 28Set aside a cuppa and 100% attentionyoull want to take notes. Watch now on YouTube or listen now on Spotify. Then come back and tell us your favourite moment (we have a soft spot for the speed-class memories).Helpful Kit for Confident RoundsGrip & Feel: Hands, Seat, Lower LegGloves that fit, boots that support, and breeches that movethese are small things with big outcomes. Explore Gloves, Boots, and Jodhpurs & Riding Tights.php-template Copy EditPost-Round RewardsNothing says good horse like a pocket treat. Keep morale high with Horse Treats & Gifts that turn effort into enthusiasm.Daily WellnessConsistency beats occasional heroics. Build a routine that supports calm energy and recovery using Everyday Horse Supplements.Follow Just Horse RidersJoin the community and never miss an episode. Follow us, say hi, and share what youre working on:WebsiteFacebookInstagramTikTokYouTubeSpotifyKey Takeaways from Episode 28Fair EasyFair courses ask clear questions at the right level. They dont trick ridersbut they also dont pretend the class is smaller than it is.css Copy EditTime Allowed Is a Riding SkillSaving distance isnt the same as riding faster. Learn to hold a rhythm and choose efficient lines. The clock will thank you.Normalise Spooky at HomeMake different visuals part of your weekly plan. The first banner your horse ever sees shouldnt be at a championship qualifier.Options Keep Learning FunSpeed classes and smart jump-offs build riders. Let the brave try the inside turn; let the green horse take the long route and grow.Before You GoSet Up Your Next Confident RoundPick one tiny upgrade today: a filler in your schooling, a smarter course-walk habit, or kit that gives you a better feel. Then re-watch a favourite section of the episode and set a plan for your next outing.Ready for a deeper dive? Watch Episode 28 now or listen on Spotify, and let us know which tip youre trying this week.Just Horse Ridersyour trusted home for Jodhpurs, Riding Boots, Gloves, Socks, Treats & Gifts, Supplements, Stable Rugs, Turnout Rugs, and Fly Protection.