RIDING horses well is a bit like playing the guitar - you've got to learn all the basics, before you can attempt anything more challenging. It's also all about confidence, and building it up in stages, which just goes to show, like all sports, or indeed, most things in life, there is really no mystery to doing things well, you've just got to get the building blocks firmly in place, and have bags of confidence.

So says international show jumper and trainer, Joe Whitaker, whose uncles are Robert and Michael Whitaker, and sister is Ellen, making Joe true horse royalty.

Joe, whose yard is not a million miles away in Barnsley, dropped in to Craven College, Skipton, recently to give the equestrian students lessons in showjumping.

On a bitterly cold day, Joe took a succession of students on a variety of horses - ranging from an eventer and an ex-racehorse to a rotund cob - through their paces in the auction mart centre's indoor arena. All emerged more confident than when they had gone in, and there were plenty of students on the sidelines watching and taking it all in.

After observing each of the horses and judging their abilities, Joe took each pairing and quickly moved them from pole work to a steady canter and then on to the jumps - moving quickly to a decent height. It was something I too had been taught - there is literally no point at all in approaching a jump when you're not sure you're going to get over it - not only are you lacking in confidence, but it'll spread to your horse, and neither of you are likely to get over the obstacle.

Joe was keen to see the riders establish a regular and forward going canter - and not just up to the jump, but to continue immediately after the obstacle, something that not all the horses were comfortable with. At one point, he had the cob galloping full pelt down one side of the arena. It was all about establishing a rhythm, and the horses and riders reacted well. It was interesting to see the cob, who may very well have been worked harder than he had for some time, try to slow down immediately after getting over a jump. Joe encouraged his rider to try again, and keep urging him on, and the results were plain to see.

"Confidence is the biggest factor of all, there's no point at all in going at something half-hearted, and it's important to let people know when they've done something right, that way their confidence builds," he said. It was good to see how Joe had encouraging things to say about all the horses - something that not all trainers would do.

Molly Phillips, on her own seven-year-old eventer, Danny, took all the jumps in her stride and was really pleased with the results. She is currently studying for her BHS stage three examinations, which include tackling jumps. "It has been really good and helpful," she said.

Michaela Sutcliffe, on the college's ex racehorse, Red, had no trouble keeping her mount at an enthusiastic canter.

Joanna Baxter, the college's head of animal and equine studies, said Joe's visit had been extremely valuable and there were plans for him to return later in the year with a dressage rider colleague to carry out a masterclass, with him on his own horses.

The masterclass will be thrown open to the general public - which is sure to attract a lot of interest.

At his yard, Pye Greave, near Barnsley, Joe carries out coaching clinics for riders and horses. Riders come - with or without their horses - for days, or weeks, to receive all round training.

He also pairs up with dressage rider Paul Hughes, of Holly Tree Equestrian Centre, Cheshire, to carry out masterclasses in the two disciplines.

"Joe's visit was extremely valuable to the student's learning and progression," said Joanna. "Many of the students are undertaking BHS qualifications and the level three module of riding horses over fences."

There are 50 further education students, and 15 higher education students, all destined for careers in a variety of equestrian careers, from teaching to stable management.

"Joe's international show jumping portfolio and his career training horses allowed the students to gain extra tips and confidence to improve their skills," she said.

"Joe said he likes to work with all students to develop their confidence and promote positive aspects of equestrian training. He feels a very important factor of show jumping is the quality of the canter, which is why he used a lot of pole work and canter poles at the beginning of the sessions."

The college's horses come to the centre for a bit of a holiday. They are all on loan from their owners and stay just during term time, returning to their owners when the students are on holiday. While they are at the college, they are looked after expertly and ridden regularly, some come just for a term, while others come back year after year. The college puts out appeals from time to time, but seems to have little trouble in finding horses - it is a perfect solution for the horse owner who no longer has the time, but doesn't want to sell, and also for the students, who get the chance of riding a succession of different horses.