Moving from jumping 80cm tracks to confidently competing at 1.20m is one of the most rewarding journeys in showjumping. It is also one of the stages where patience, consistency, and correct training matter far more than simply jumping bigger fences.
Many riders make the mistake of focusing entirely on height. In reality, progressing successfully through the levels is about building a horse that is adjustable, balanced, confident, rideable, and mentally relaxed in the ring. Height is simply the result of good foundations.
Building the Right Foundation
At 80cm level, riders can often get away with small inaccuracies. A horse may still jump safely from a poor stride or recover from a weak turn. As the fences increase towards 1.00m and beyond, those small mistakes become much more noticeable.
Before thinking about moving up, make sure your horse is comfortable with:
- maintaining rhythm around a full course,
- balanced transitions,
- straightness to fences,
- simple combinations,
- and travelling consistently in front of the leg.
Flatwork becomes increasingly important as the heights rise. Horses jumping at 1.20m need to be adjustable without losing impulsion. If you struggle to shorten or lengthen your stride on the flat, this will become even harder in the ring.
Exercises such as shoulder-in, counter canter, and transitions within the pace help create the balance and rideability needed for bigger tracks.
Producing Confidence, Not Just Scope
One of the biggest training mistakes is over-jumping at home. Riders often feel pressured to school larger fences before they are truly ready. However, confidence is far more valuable than jumping maximum height every session.
A confident horse that comfortably jumps 1.00m tracks will progress faster than a worried horse repeatedly overfaced at home.
Gridwork and gymnastic exercises are incredibly useful during this stage of training. They help improve:
- technique,
- coordination,
- straightness,
- and carefulness.
Simple exercises with poles and small fences can produce significant improvements without excessive strain on the horse.
For many horses, the transition from 90cm to 1.10m is actually more mentally demanding than physical. Fillers become more technical, distances ride less forgivingly, and combinations require greater adjustability.
Allow your horse time to learn.
Developing Ringcraft
Jumping bigger fences is not only about what happens at home. Competition experience plays a huge role in progression.
Riders aiming for 1.20m classes need to become increasingly strategic:
- learning how to walk courses properly,
- understanding lines and related distances,
- planning turns,
- and managing pace throughout a round.
Walking courses carefully becomes essential as tracks become more technical.
For example, riding a related distance successfully depends on maintaining balance and stride consistency. Understanding this concept helps riders make better decisions between fences and avoid chasing long spots or adding unnecessary strides.
Many riders progressing through the levels benefit from spending time competing slightly below their maximum height. A horse confidently jumping clear rounds at 1.00m often develops better confidence than one struggling around 1.10m every weekend.
Confidence creates consistency, and consistency creates progression.
Fitness and Strength Matter
A horse competing comfortably at 1.20m requires significantly more strength and fitness than one competing at 80cm.
Canter quality becomes increasingly important. Horses need enough power to sit behind and push off the ground while remaining adjustable between fences.
A balanced fitness programme should include:
- hill work,
- pole exercises,
- flat schooling,
- hacking,
- and carefully managed jumping sessions.
Avoid drilling courses repeatedly. Bigger jumping efforts place more stress on joints and soft tissue, so quality matters far more than quantity.
Recovery and management also become more important as the level increases. Nutrition, physiotherapy, saddle fit, shoeing, and rest days all contribute to long-term performance.
Rider Position and Effectiveness
As fences get bigger, rider position becomes increasingly influential. At 80cm, horses can often compensate for minor rider instability. At 1.20m, balance issues are exposed quickly.
Riders should focus on:
- maintaining a stable lower leg,
- riding from the leg into a soft hand,
- staying centred over fences,
- and improving core strength.
Video analysis can be extremely useful during this stage. Watching rounds objectively often reveals patterns riders do not feel in the moment.
Many successful combinations spend years progressing gradually through the heights. There is no advantage in rushing if the basics are not secure.
Trust the Process
The journey from 80cm to 1.20m is rarely linear. There will be setbacks, confidence knocks, and frustrating rounds along the way. That is completely normal.
The strongest partnerships are usually built through patient, systematic training rather than chasing quick results.
Focus on producing a happy, confident, rideable horse at every stage. If the foundations are correct, the bigger tracks will come naturally with time.
Because in showjumping, the riders who progress furthest are rarely the ones who move up fastest — they are the ones who build the strongest partnership first.
