Moving indoors — how to succeed when jumping inside
With showjumping competitions now starting to move their shows indoors, it’s time to prepare yourselves for the change in scenery, from the spacious outdoors to the tighter confines of an indoor arena.
Here, top showjumper Louise Pavitt, who competes up to five-star level and also has pony and junior European medals to her name, shares her advice on how to give you and your horse the best possible chance of succeeding on the indoor jumping circuit.
1. When jumping indoors you will have a higher frequency of short related distances i.e. more three or four stride combinations compared to outdoors being seven or eight. The tip is to build these distances at home to help familiarise yourself and your horse with them.
2. When indoors, space will be tighter and you will be jumping into the wall and the corners. You can still practise this in your outdoor school though — position the jumps near the edge of the arena and close together so your horse learns to focus on the jump and not what’s behind it.
3. Most people don’t have the luxury of their own indoor school, but it is important to practise in one. I would suggest hiring one before an important event to get the feel of it.
4. At indoor shows there is often a more intense atmosphere with music, banners and crowds. We at DLS Showjumping [Louise’s business with fellow showjumper David Simpson] try to replicate this at home. For example we play the radio loudly and put banners and signs all around to prepare the horse for this situation.
5. Make sure you use all corners — there will be less room to take a wide turn, so you need to utilise the space you have been given. When walking the course, make sure you see all the areas where you can use the space if you need to.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Now you’ve got that advice in mind, take a look at these showjumping competitions available to enter where you can show off what you’ve learnt…
Unaffiliated showjumping
Date: 22 September
Venue: Forest Edge Arena, Swaffham
Details: “This unaffiliated show features classes ranging between 30cm and 1m.”
Unaffiliated showjumping
Date: 22 September
Venue: Kingston Maurward College,
Details: “This unaffiliated competition has classes from 55cm up to 95cm with junior and senior sections and trailblazers qualifiers.”
Oktoberfest
Date: 3-6 October
Venue: Onley Grounds Equestrian Complex, Rugby
Details: “This affiliated competition features classes ranging between 75cm and 1.30m.”
Winter unaffiliated showjumping
Date: 5 October
Venue: Inchcoonans Competition & Livery Yard
Details: “This unaffiliated competition has classes for juniors and seniors ranging from a 35cm clear round up to 1.05m and a 1.10m clear round.”
Unaffiliated showjumping
Date: 13 October
Venue: Crockstead Equestrian Centre, Halland
Details: “This unaffiliated competition for horses and ponies has a huge range of classes between clear round and 40cm cross poles and 80cm.”
Unaffiliated showjumping
Date: 20 October
Venue: Moulton Equestrian Centre, Moulton
Details: “This competition includes classes from 50cm up to 90cm.”
Visit equo.co.uk for full competition and training listings
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Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.