Hunter Jumper Riding Straight

Riding a straight line can be more difficult than it looks. When your horse starts to drift it is important to correct it quickly. If not, the drift could cause the horse to be unbalanced, and possibly refuse or run-out at a fence.
This first horse comes straight at the jump and has a little bit of a drift to the left. Contrast this to the second horse that approaches on a straight line and then tries to evade by drifting to the left again to get past the flowers.

It is important to stay in the middle of your fence, because it is the best line of approach to your jumps. If you let them drift the next step may be a refusal or runout.

 Riding Straight at Thistle Ridge Stables

The first rider, on the grey horse could have improved her approach by keeping the horse marching up into the bridle and continued to use her left leg and rein to prevent the horse from drifting.

The second horse, chestnut with blaze, could have also made a better approach and by using her left leg and rein actively on the horse to prevent the horse from evading and drifting to the left.
This first horse comes straight at the jump and has a little bit of a drift to the left. Contrast this to the second horse that approaches on a straight line and then tries to evade by drifting to the left again to

 get past the flowers.
It is important to stay in the middle of your fence, because it is the best line of approach to your jumps. If you let them drift the next step may be a refusal or runout.
The first rider, on the grey horse could have improved her approach by keeping the horse marching up into the bridle and continued to use her left leg and rein to prevent the horse from drifting.
The second horse, chestnut with blaze, could have also made a better approach and by using her left leg and rein actively on the horse to prevent the horse from evading and drifting to the left.