Latest from Horse & Hound in Cross-country-schooling

If your horse thinks ditches are full of monsters, this expert advice will help build their confidence

Ellie Hughes — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 09:15:47 +0000

Of all the obstacles on a cross-country course, ditches – in their various forms – often cause the most angst. Some horses tackle them with aplomb from the get-go, but most need plenty of quiet repetition to develop their confidence. Olympians and top coaches Nicola Wilson, Chris Bartle and Andrew Heffernan share their tips in this article exclusive to H&H subscribers

Quiet, slow repetition is the key to how to solve your horse’s fear of ditches. To build – or rebuild – confidence in jumping ditches, it’s vital to start this part of his eventing training from scratch, says British team performance coach Chris Bartle. He explains that it is a mistake to ask a horse to tackle a ditch without giving him the opportunity to look at it first.

“With a young horse, or a horse that is nervous, I will always take them to the ditch with no intention of jumping it,” he says. “I will let them stand beside it and walk around it until they are comfortable in the environment.

“Only when I know they are happy about being there – they will stretch their head down and have a sniff – will I ask them to step over the ditch.

“The important thing to remember is that the horse must never be pressurised from behind, either by the rider or someone on the ground, because all that’s doing is encouraging him to think backwards rather than forwards.”

Initially, at least, ditches should be small enough so that human legs can easily step over them.

“I measure a ditch by whether I need to stretch over it on foot,” says Chris. “It doesn’t matter whether the horse is four, seven or 14, my approach will be the same. If a horse is hesitant I will spend all my cross-country schooling time walking quietly over tiny ditches.”

Chris argues that it’s not necessary to school over big ditches.

“If you’ve built solid foundations, these can be saved for competition when your adrenaline’s up,” he says.

How to solve your horse’s fear of ditches: “trust is everything”

When working on how to solve your horse’s fear of ditches, “confidence and trust is everything” says former European champion-turned-top coach, Nicola Wilson.

This starts with laying the right foundations and revisiting the basics on a regular basis.

“When you introduce a ditch for the first time make sure you’ve got a confident horse to give you a lead and choose an inviting ditch to start with,” she says.

Nicola also emphasises the importance of rider position.

“It’s important that you look in the right place – up, not down into the ditch,” she says. “A young or inexperienced horse will often look down into the ditch and dither on the edge. This is fine so long as you stay up in your body and have a nice, supportive leg on them and a long rein so they can stretch down, use their head and neck and safely pop over.

“It’s a really good idea to use a neck strap so you can hold the strap together with your reins in one hand,” she continues. “If your horse jumps bigger than you’re expecting you won’t lose balance and inadvertently catch him in the mouth, which can turn it into a negative experience.”

Nicola agrees that repetition is key.

“If your horse lacks confidence jumping ditches it’s important to keep revisiting them on a regular basis so that walking up to them and popping over becomes second nature,” says Nicola. “There are plenty of five-star horses who will do just this on the lead-up to a big competition, so it’s not something you should be worried about. The key is to be as prepared as possible.”

Nicola also extols the value of praise and patience.

“Tell your horse when he has done well because this helps build trust and solid foundations,” she says. “And always give ditch training time. Never start something that you don’t feel you can see through the end.”

Once your homework is done, testing your training in a competition environment is the next step.

“When you’re out on the course, make sure you stay in a good rhythm and balance, and in the correct tempo for the ditch fence you’re tackling,” says Nicola.

Icelandic ponies queueing up to jump a ditch in the wild – it comes quite naturally to most. (Image credit: Alamy)

When ditches are your friend

Once you have ironed out how to solve your horse’s fear of ditches and they are confidently moving up the eventing levels, most ditches will become a help rather than a hindrance.

“Where a ditch has a fence over it or behind it, the ditch itself acts as a useful ground rail, defining the take-off point,” explains Chris. “Big ditch-brushes, trakheners, and anything like that where the ditch ledge is on the take-off side, makes for a horse-friendly profile.”

Even though this four-star fence is daunting, the ditch provides a helpful groundline. (Image credit: Martin Dokoupil/ZUMA Wire/Alamy)

Chris explains that when riding this type of fence, you should resist the temptation to spend too much time much setting up.

“When I was a jockey, before I started eventing, a trainer once told me that you should always increase your speed into a ditch,” he says. “You will never get the wrong stride because there is a groundline. I always remind riders of this when I walk courses with them as it saves a lot of time.”

Ditches through a course-designer’s eyes

Course-designers use ditches in different ways. Olympic event rider, trainer and Bramham course-designer Andrew Heffernan explains that as well as the size of the ditch size, where it is sited will determine the level of the test.

“Part of my job as course-designer is to ensure there is a logical progression in difficulty as you go up the grades,” he explains. “For example, on a B80 course I might include a small open ditch followed three strides later by a rails fence, at BE90 this might change to a rail followed three strides later by a ditch. By the time you get to BE100 I might be asking horses to jump a simple rail-ditch-rail on flat terrain, and then at novice level you can start expecting to see a ditch with a bit of terrain either side.”

At the lower levels, ditches tend to be inviting, to encourage the horse to progress. (Image credit: Alamy)

This logical progression has obvious connotations for a horse who is a bit “ditchy”.

“Even if a horse is solid with every other type of cross-country question, he needs to be completely confident jumping ditches at one level before moving on to the next,” says Andrew. “The questions asked of him — and therefore the trust he needs in his rider — will be tested to a greater degree every time you step up.”

“We dug a ditch at home and that was the turning point”

Event rider Ivy Fisher’s talented three-star mare, Balief De Reve (Bali), only has one chink in her armour – ditches.

“When I bought her as a young horse she had only ever showjumped and although she quickly took to jumping solid fences, she’s always been suspicious of holes in the ground,” explained Ivy, who grew up in Norfolk but has been based with Dassett Eventing in Warwickshire.

“A few years ago, when I was on the brink of giving up with her, my dad dug me a ditch at home and that was the turning point. It was a case of repetition, repetition, repetition. The penny dropped in the middle of the 2024 season and she started to take them in her stride.”

The pair won the under-21 open intermediate at Kelsall Hill in September that year.

At her current base, Ivy has access to three different ditches and incorporates them into almost every training session.

“Last season I was even including them in our fitness work, popping over a ditch mid-canter,” she says. “We still have the odd wobble, but she’s getting better all the time. Bali’s taught me so much about perseverance, getting the basics right and about not running before you can walk.”

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Top event riders share their tips for training horses to tackle drops with confidence

Ellie Hughes — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 09:10:05 +0000

From Burghley’s precipitous Leaf Pit to Pau’s rollercoaster mounds (and everything in between) the principles of negotiating drops and fences where horses can’t immediately see the landing are the same – namely giving the horse time rather than speed. In this exclusive article for H&H subscribers, Badminton winner and British eventing performance coach Chris Bartle and five-star rider Tom Crisp share their top tips, and one useful exercise to practise

Horses are well-equipped to hop up and down steps and negotiate mounds, so long as we let them use the tools that nature has given them. Jumping cross-country drop fences or when the horse cannot see the landing requires certain techniques to help a horse develop trust in the rider to allow them to use their body effectively.

British eventing performance coach Chris Bartle encourages us to think about a horse’s biomechanics when training for eventing.

“The horse’s eyes are on the end of his neck and if we restrict the neck through our riding then the horse won’t be able to look forward and use his eyes to read the question,” he explains. “Horses can lose confidence when they are denied the freedom to use their necks.”

A fundamental skill to master for the safe and successful negotiation of drop fences is the ability to ride with longer reins to allow the horse to use his neck while maintaining a connection, similar to when riding down cross-country steps.

This training begins on the flat.

“When you allow the horse a longer rein you train him to reach forward to the contact and use his neck. It’s no different across country,” points out Chris. “This stretching down movement is even included in five-star dressage tests and is testing precisely this ability to maintain a connection on a longer rein.”

A typical question from novice level upwards is a drop followed a few strides later by an accuracy fence, such as a skinny or a corner. At the higher eventing levels this is likely to be on a bending line and possibly even off a blind turn. This means you have only a few seconds after the drop to re-establish your cross-country position and focus your horse on where he’s going.

A big drop to a skinny at Pau CC5*, but drops to accuracy questions start at novice level. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“Sometimes, people get concerned that with longer reins they’re going to lose ‘control’,” says Chris. “It’s a delicate balance between achieving the line and the pace you want coming into fence yet at the same time giving the horse the possibility to use his neck and see what he’s doing.

“Ros Canter is a supreme example of somebody who has her horses really going to the contact, yet she rides with a long rein and is not restricting the horse or fighting for control. She uses her eyes to direct the horse rather than her reins. As she turns her neck and eyes to see where she’s going, her horses follow her. It’s something we have worked on together over the years, and even now when she comes to me for training she will say: ‘I need you to check on my eyes’.”

How to ride a drop fence

Five-star event rider Jesse Campbell explains how to approach a drop in a way that will give your horse confidence and prevent hesitation.

1. When introducing your horse to a drop for the first time, find an inviting, low step. Start by approaching at a walk on a long rein. Your horse should be straight and in front of your leg. He should stay relaxed and in a rhythm. Once this is established you can progress to larger steps, and approach in faster gaits but, until then, keep practising smaller steps to build your horse’s confidence and gain his trust.

2. Allow your horse to use his neck by slipping your reins so you don’t catch him in the mouth. This will give him the freedom to use himself. If this is something you’re not used to, practise letting the reins run through your fingers and collecting them back up.

3. As you progress to riding drops at canter, make sure your horse is listening, but still in front of your leg. You need to allow him time to take in the drop fence, and going too fast can hinder this. Establishing a strong, rhythmical canter is key.

4. A good rider position will instil confidence in your horse to come off the drop and encourage him to tackle this type of obstacle again. Remember to sit up, keep your shoulders back and your lower leg secure. Always keep your eyes up and don’t look down. This is also vital when you have another fence to jump after the drop — your eyes need to be focused on this. While jumping down, keep your hands wide and soft as this will help you to get the contact back more quickly.

If you ever have an issue with a drop, always go back to walking down an easy drop fence on a long rein – by re-establishing the basics, you can rebuild your horse’s confidence.

Foundation exercise for jumping cross-country drop fences

Chris Bartle uses an exercise he calls “the rollercoaster” to help riders rely less on the rein and to keep their balance and line through their body position.

Build five fences on a curve and alternate between small cavaletti and a taller upright fence (around 90-100cm). The jumps should be a bounce distance apart (roughly three yards apart on the inside line and four yards on the outside line).

A novice version of Chris Bartle’s exercise, with five small jumps set up as bounces on a curve, so the rider can practise keeping their balance and line without relying on the rein. (Image credit: Jasmine Punter Photography)

Set your canter, look at a point in the distance beyond where you are going. Always look down the road rather than at the road itself. Use your peripheral vision to see the poles in front of you. Let the horse’s nose out to encourage him to really use his eyes and his neck.

Your job as a rider is simply to stay in balance and not look down, while the horse is responsible for the jump. By separating out these responsibilities the task becomes clearer – you are in charge of direction, while your horse’s job is to jump the fences.

Chris adds that sometimes it can be more challenging for a horse to lower himself down over a steep drop with a tiny fence on top than it is for him to jump something more substantial on the way to dropping down.

“This is because over a small fence a horse has to drop his neck and look where he’s going,” he explains. “A classic example of this is the top water at Badminton, which often has a small log straight in with a big drop. It usually catches out one or two horses who don’t have the confidence to drop their neck and look where they’re going.”

Felix Vogg shows how to jump the drop fence into the second water at Badminton, allowing the horse to drop her neck and look where she’s going. (Image credit: Alamy)

With any fence on a gradient it is important to make sure the horse has the confidence to understand that there will be a safe place to put his feet on the landing side.

“You need to support his decision-making by applying the right amount of aid and the right amount of encouragement,” says five-star rider Tom Crisp. “Our job is to teach the horse to believe that he can do it for itself, rather than making him. If he is already nervous and you are too dominant you will likely just fuel his anxiety.

“You absolutely don’t need to train over big fences,” he continues. “Quiet repetition is the key. When you go cross-country schooling you should be spending most of your time popping slowly off small steps and banks, concentrating on giving the horse a comfortable experience.”

Tom also emphasises the need to select the right gear for the type of obstacle.

“You will need a lower gear with plenty of power for fences such as banks and mounds, where the horse can’t see where he’s landing,” he says. “By creating a canter where every stride covers a shorter distance, you’re maximising the length of time that the horse has to assess the fence and the ground afterwards. Come in too quickly and he may not have time to read the question.

“From your forward, galloping position you should be able to bring your upper body back and have the horse follow you.”

Chris adds that on the approach it is important that the preparation happens in the right order.

“I always say that the rider’s position is the preparation, their body language is the action, supported by their seat and leg, and finally the rein,” he says.

Tips for jumping cross-country fences where the horse cannot see the landing

Ride in a short, powerful canter so that you’re maximising the length of time the horse has to assess the fence and the ground afterwards.
Be very decisive and clear in your preparation and in the quality of the canter and the gear you’ve selected.
Look up and beyond the fence, never at the base.
Support with your leg.
Feed the rein out a little on the approach before take-off so the horse can stretch out his neck and use his eyes to read the landing.
Stay secure in your position and go with the horse’s movement without unbalancing or restricting him.
Avoid letting your horse launch himself off the top of a drop through lack of confidence – this can give him a fright and make jumping a related element much harder.
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How to make the most of cross-country schooling with advice from top trainers

Pippa Roome — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:44:33 +0000

In this exclusive article for H&H subscribers, top trainers share their tips and advice for cross-country schooling

We all know we need to get out and practise cross-country before the eventing season starts, but are you really making the most of your schooling sessions? We asked some top experts for their cross-country schooling tips to help you up your performance.

Whether you’re aiming for your first unaffiliated event or lining up for your 20th season, there’s bound to be something here you can take away and put into practice when you next head out cross-country schooling.

Cross-country schooling tips

1. Choose your venue

Work out what you want to achieve and choose a cross-country schooling venue accordingly. “If you need to rebuild confidence over ditches, go somewhere with plenty of tiny ditches. If you want to practise skinnies, choose a venue with lots of flagged narrow fences that have wings and guide rails to help you,” says British eventing performance manager Dickie Waygood.

Don’t steer clear of mud. “Cross-country schooling is as much about training horses’ reactions and footwork as it is jumping tricky fences,” says Italian Olympic event rider Vittoria Panizzon. “There’s no point in getting to your first event and moaning about the mud if you haven’t trained on wet ground.”

Avoid only schooling on a surface. “[If cross-country schooling] on a surface, you will naturally jump off a shorter stride because you are riding at a more condensed pace. This can be counter-productive,” says top Irish coach Eric Smiley.

2. Know what you want to achieve

According to Eric Smiley, there are usually three reasons to go cross-country schooling:

to remind the rider or horse of the necessary skills
to introduce something new
to fix a problem

“Before you set off, you need to have plan,” says Eric. “Ask yourself, ‘What do I want to achieve from the session?’ It is too much to try and mix all three in the short time frame you have, plus the horse only has so many jumps in him.”

3. How to warm-up for cross-country schooling

In terms of cross-country schooling advice for the warm-up, Dickie Waygood advises starting with a recce of the venue.

“See how the fences are set up so you can make a plan,” he says.

Don’t start jumping until the horse is settled and focused on you .

“Too many people start jumping before the horse is listening. If he’s too hot, he will not be trainable,” says Dickie. The horse needs to be on the aids – if the rider gives the horse a nudge with the legs, the horse has to react. The rider has to have control of speed, line and balance before jumping.

Begin over a small log or similar – horses will generally jump solid fences more easily.

Start as you mean to go on. “Often when a horse hits a fence, the rider will start protecting him, even if it was the horse’s fault. The rider needs to hand responsibility for the jumping to the horse, who then has to work out how to get to the other side safely. You need to keep this in mind all the time,” says Eric.

If you want to focus on a particular type of fence, do it early in the session while you are both feeling fresh. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

4. Structure your session

Once horses and riders are warmed up, start stringing fences together.

“Aim to establish a good rhythm and spend two or three minutes, depending on your horse’s fitness, putting together 10 or 15 fences,” says Dickie.

Work on technical fences sooner rather than later. If you want to focus on a particular type of fence, do it early on while you and your horse are physically and mentally fresh. Tackling water fences requires a lot of energy and co-ordination, particularly going up and down steps in and out, so avoid doing this on a horse who is already tired.

5. Train, don’t test

One of the most important cross-country schooling tips is that you don’t have to jump fast over big fences – horses can learn the most when they go steadily and are given time to think.

Schooling is the perfect time to build your horse’s cross-country confidence. “Cross-country schooling is about training, not testing the horse,” says Dickie.

Riders who are newer to their eventing level may need to practise riding at the required speed – towards the end of a session, measure out a short course of 10 to 15 fences and time yourself over it to get a feel of the pace you should be riding to make the time.

If you want to practise skinnies, ensure you can hold a line over a straightforward fence first. (Image credit: Jess Photography)

6. Problem solving

If you want to tackle a specific issue during your session, make sure you have the necessary tools for the job, says Eric Smiley. It’s all about setting yourself up for success.

“You need to stage manage what you’re trying to achieve,” he says. “Have everything you might need readily available, such as a lead horse and an experienced pair of eyes on the ground, so that you have the best chance of leaving with a positive outcome.”

Before you start tackling a problem, make sure your horse is 100% focused, with as many ticks in boxes as possible. Eric adds: “If you are practising skinnies, check that you can hold a line over a straightforward fence and never jump skinnies without a right and left flag pole. If the horse is landing and bucking, or veering left or right, then he’s not ready to move on.”

7. Know when to stop

Tailor your session. “How much you do will depend on the fitness of the horse and his stage of training,” says Dickie.
Avoid the “one more fence” trap. “Often you will end up trying too hard to get it right and that’s when it goes wrong,” warns Eric.
Always finish when your horse still gives the feeling of having a quarter of a tank of fuel left – and remember problems are rarely fixed in one session.

Contributions from Ellie Hughes.

For more training advice, whatever your level and discipline, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

85 cross-country courses and schooling venues for hire across the country

georgia.guerin@futurenet.com (Georgia Guerin) — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 17:04:12 +0000

We’ve put together a list of cross-country course hire venues across England, Scotland and Wales, so that you can find the perfect place to take your horse cross-country schooling, whether it’s just for fun or to prepare for the season.

Most cross-country schooling venues, if not open all year, tend to open between February and April as riders start training for the eventing season ahead. Depending on the ground conditions and the time of year, you might prefer to school on grass or on an all-weather surface and we have plenty of examples of both options listed below.

Some courses are available for hire all year round, with the exception of during events and the preparation period, and in extreme weather. We’ve included seasonal opening times where these are available.

One important cross-country schooling tip is to choose a venue to suit your needs – for example, if your horse needs practice in water, opt for a venue with a water complex and splash area – so where the information is available, we’ve listed the fence heights and features of each course to help you find the best option.

If you run a cross-country course or schooling venue for hire that is not listed, please email georgia.guerin@futurenet.com to be added.

East of England

Includes cross-country course hire in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Berwick Farm XC

Stanford Rivers, Ongar, Essex CM5 9PY

berwickfarmxc.com

01708 688232

Open Apr–Oct
3.5 miles of tracks
Two water features
Three sunken roads
Two woodland areas
More than 100 fences

Blackwater Farm Equestrian Centre

Great Witchingham, Norfolk NR9 5PH

blackwaterfarm.co.uk

01362 688227

Open all year
Fences 60cm–1.15m
Natural copses
Clear natural water complexes
Wide variety of fence types
New fences every season

Ely Eventing Centre

Little Downham, Ely, Cambs CB6 2TY

elyeventing.co.uk

01353 698839

Open all year
Fences 60cm–1.15m
Two water complexes
Ditches and coffin combinations
Sunken road complex and step/bank area

Keysoe International

Keysoe, Beds MK44 2JP

keysoe.com

01234 708400

Arena XC only
Jumps from 70cm
Water, ditches, inclines
Built by Eric Winter

Kimpton Cross-Country Course

Kimpton, Nr Hitchin, Herts SG4 8HB

kimptonxcountry.co.uk

Open all year
More than 45 fences
Fences 50cm–1m+
Annual membership available

Poplar Park

Hollesley, Suffolk IP12 3NA

poplarpark.co.uk

01394 411023

Open all year
Fences 60cm–1.20m
Six full courses
BE standard
No time limit
Updated yearly

Radley Green Equestrian

Radley Green, Chelmsford, Essex CM4 0LU

rgequestrian.uk

Two arena courses
Fences 70cm–1.10m and 40–70cm
Steps, ditches, water and trakehners
Additional all-weather canter track

Stratford Hills Equestrian Centre

Stratford St Mary, Colchester, Essex CO7 6PA

stratfordhillsequestriancentre.co.uk

01206 322494

Opens February
Fences 35cm–1.10m
50 permanent and temporary jumps
Water jump and splash
Ditches and steps
Jumps in woodland

East Midlands

Includes cross-country course hire in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, South Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland.

Arkenfield Stables

Gunthorpe, Notts NG14 7ER

arkenfieldstables.co.uk

Fences 50–80cm

Aston-le-Walls

Washbrook Farm, Aston-le-Walls, Daventry, Northants NN11 6RT

astonlewalls.net

Grass schooling Feb–Nov
All-weather available

Aylesford Equine

Shoby, Melton Mowbray, Leics LE14 3PF

aylesfordequine.com

01664 812834

More than 100 fences
Fences 30cm–1.15m
Mini course (25–60cm)
Additional all-weather arena
No time limit on grass
Water complexes, coffins, sunken roads, drops, banks and skinnies

Barrowcliffe XC

Queniborough, Leicester LE7 3RX

barrowcliffexc.co.uk

Opens early spring
220 fences
40cm–1.20m

Eland Lodge

Ashbourne, Derbys DE6 5HD

elandlodge.com

Open Apr–Sept
Fences 50cm–1.10m
BE standard
All-weather take-off and landings
No time limit

Field Farm

Mumby, Lincs LN13 9SL

field-farm.net

Open all year
Fences 50cm, 70cm and 90cm
Variety of fences

Field Farm Cross Country

Wymeswold, Leics LE12 6ST

fieldfarmcrosscountry.co.uk

Open all year
Fences 70cm–1.10m
BE-standard fences
600m all-weather track with fences
Water, ditches, skinnies, banks and hedges

Grange Farm Cross-Country

Ingham, Lincs LN1 2YD

facebook.com

07711 238266

Opens early spring
More than 200 fences
Fences 40cm–1.15m

Golden Valley Equestrian Centre

Alfreton, Derbys DE55 4ES

goldenvalleyequestriancentre.co.uk

07377 853677

Seasonal opening (weather dependent)
Part woodland, part silica fibre surface
Range of fences

Vale View Equestrian Centre

Old Dalby, Melton Mowbray, Leics LE14 3LX

valeviewequestrian.co.uk

All-weather arena open all year
Fences 60cm–1.10m
BE-standard fences
Natural undulations, water complex with steps of varying heights, several ditches and steps

Well Vale Country Ride & Schooling Field

Well, Alford, Lincs LN13 0EU

wellvalecountryride.co.uk

01507 466644

110 fences
Fences 30cm–1m+
Water complex, steps, mounds and ditches
Additional 8 mile off-road ride with 30 optional fences (40–80cm)

Winters Equestrian Cross-Country

Thornton Manor, Market Rasen, Lincs LN7 6JD

wexc.co.uk

Opens in spring
70 fences
Fences 30cm–1.10m
Water, steps, banks and coffins

North East

Includes cross-country course hire in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham and North Yorkshire.

Breckenbrough Helen Bell Equestrian

Thirsk, N Yorks YO7 4EL

helenbellequestrian.co.uk

07708708967

Closed in winter, but access to winter training area
Fences 45cm–1.20m
Three water complexes
Two bank complexes and ditch combinations

Foxberry Chasers

Caldwell, Richmond, N Yorks DL11 7QL

foxberry.co.uk

More than 100 fences
Fences 45cm–1.05m
Full range of fences, plus track with all-weather take-offs
Water complex, steps, corner, arrowhead and coffin
Course regularly updated

Gloucester Lodge Farm

Blyth, Northumbs NE24 3PH

gloucesterlodgefarm.co.uk

01670 353633

Three courses – 60cm, 75cm, 90cm

Little Whittington

Corbridge, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE19 2LA

littlewhittingtonxc.co.uk

Open Apr–Sept
Fences 50cm–1.20m
Large water complex with ramp in
Steps, corners, skinnies, walls, ditches, logs, brush fences, combinations and tiger traps

Thornton Lodge

Easingwold, N Yorks YO61 3QA

thorntonlodgefarm.co.uk

Open March–Oct
More than 70 fences
Fences 45cm–1.05m
Water complex, two stream crossings and miles of grass

Todburn Equestrian Centre

Longhorsley, Morpeth, Northumb NE65 8QZ

todburnequestriancentre.co.uk

Opens April
Fences 40cm–1.15m

North West

Includes cross-country course hire in Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Merseyside.

Charity Farm

Wrightington, Lancs WN6 9PP

charityfarm.co.uk

19 fences

Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre

Organsdale Farm, Kelsall, Cheshire CW6 0SR

kelsallhill.co.uk

Opens early spring
Fences 50cm–1.10m
Water complex complete with quarry, ski jump, trakehner, ditches, coffins and steps

Nord Vue

Armathwaite, Carlisle, Cumbria CA4 9TN

nordvue.com

Open Apr–Sept
Fences 40–90cm

Somerford Park

Holmes Chapel Road, Congleton CW12 4SW

somerfordpark.co.uk

Grass course open all year
All-weather Dec–March
More than 100 fences
Fences 75cm–1.20m
Designed by Andrew Heffernan
Combinations, drops, arrowheads, ditches, banks, chase fences and large water complex

Scotland

Greenfields of Avondale

Strathaven, South Lanarkshire ML10 6QF

greenfieldsofavondale.co.uk

07775 782296

Open all year
Fences 60cm–1m

Ian Stark Equestrian Centre

Greenhill Farm, Selkirk TD7 4NP

ianstarkequestriancentre.co.uk

01750 20202

Fences 70cm–1m
Built by Ian Stark

Lindores Equestrian

Newburgh, Cupar, Fife KY14 6HU

lindoresxc.co.uk

07736 044058

Open March–Oct
More than 180 fences
Fences 30cm–1.10m
Ditches, spreads, corners, skinnies, uprights, log piles, whisky barrels, ski jumps, combinations, pheasant feeders, trakheners, beehives, brush, cottages, keyhole and 20x20m water complex with run ins, run outs, steps, an upturned boat and a jump into water

Loch Lomond Pony Trekking

Tullichewan Farm, Balloch, West Dunbartonshire G83 8QY

lomond-ponytreks.co.uk

07745 277320

Open all year
Fences 15cm–1m
Steps, logs, ski jumps, corners, skinnies, tyres, barrels and ditches

Totley Wells

Winchburgh, West Lothian EH52 6QJ

totleywells.com

Open all year
31 fences
Fences 40cm–1m
Skinnies, banks, ditches, water splash, barrels, pigeon feeders, sharks teeth and tiger traps

Wilder Ways

Glen Kerran Farm, Southend, Argyll PA28 6PJ

wilderways.scot

Open Apr–Sept
25 fences
Fences 40cm–1m

South East

Includes cross-country course hire in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, and West Sussex.

Bonfleur Cross-Country Course

Maidstone, Kent ME17 4BD

bonfleurcrosscountrycourse.co.uk

07976138120

Opens March
Fences 45cm–1.05m
More than 120 fences
Water complex, ditches, banks, coffins, trakheners and combinations

Boomerang Stables

Chilton Foliat, Hungerford, Berks RG17 0TW

boomerangstables.co.uk

07711 499596

Open all year
Fences 30cm to BE Intermediate-plus
Water, ditches, steps, skinnies and spooky questions
Fences moved regularly

Bucklands Farm

Balcombe, W Sussex RH17 6JT

bucklandsfarm.co.uk

07754 076108

100 fences
Fences 30cm–1m
Ditches, trekehner, shallow steps, water, woodland areas and sunken road
No time limit

Chilham Park

Chilham Castle Estate, Canterbury, Kent CT4 8DB

chilhampark.co.uk

01227 730811

Chiltern Cross-Country

Woodcote, Oxfordshire RG8 0PH

chilternxc.co.uk

07767 370148

Open Feb–Nov
Fences 60cm–1m
Extensive water complex
Banks, steps and ditches

Coombelands Equestrian

Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 1BQ

coombelandsequestrian.com

07990 054863

Opens March
Fences 70cm–1.10m
Area with smaller arena-type fences for warm-up, lead-rein and small ponies
More than 100 fences

East Bysshe Equestrian

Newchapel, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6LF

eastbyssheequestrian.com

Opens spring
More than 50 fences
No time limit

Fair Oak

Rogate, Petersfield GU31 5HR

fair-oak.co.uk

Open March–Oct
Wide range of fences

Felcourt Cross-Country Course

East Grinstead, W Sussex RH19 2LQ

facebook.com/felcourtcrosscountrycourse

07817 422923

Opens in spring on Thursdays, Fridays, weekends and Bank Holidays
60 fences
Fences 20–70cm

Gasston Stables

Headley, Epsom, Surrey KT18 6DY

gasstonstables.co.uk

07746 815796

Opens in spring
40cm–1.50m
More than 150 fences
Water complex, ditches, skinnies and steps
Woodland area

Hickstead Showground

The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead BN6 9HS

hicksteadschooling.co.uk

All-weather arenas open Oct–Apr
Fences 60cm–1.10m and advanced
Water complex with steps
Step complex ranging from novice to advanced
Permanent ditches and banks

Homelands Equestrian

Partridge Green, W Sussex RH13 8EQ

homelands-equestrian.co.uk

01403 711076

Opens March
100 fences
Fences 90cm–1.15m
Drops, gullies, mounds, ditches, sunken road, hollow, steps and water complex
Season pass and coaching available

Hurstwood Farm

High Hurstwood, East Sussex TN22 4AN

equestriantrainingcentre.co.uk

Fences 40cm–1.15m
Water complex
Separate mini course

Littleton Manor Equestrian

Littleton Manor Farm, Reigate Heath RH2 8QZ

lmeq.com

07771 600033

Open all year
150 fences beginner to intermediate
Water complex, coffin, steps, sunken road, bank, skinnies and corners

Lockskinners Equestrian

Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7ND

lockskinners.com

Open May–Oct
Technical course of 150 fences (70cm–1.35m)
Introductory course of 161 fences (40cm–1m)
Mini course (up to 40cm)

Lodge Farm

Matfield, Tonbridge TN12 7ET

lodgefarmcrosscountry.co.uk

Opens March
More than 90 fences
Fences 60cm–1.10m
Ditches, corners, arrowheads, skinnies and steps
Lots of combinations and two water complexes

Lyneham Heath Equestrian

Lyneham Heath, Nr Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 6QQ

lynehamheathequestrian.co.uk

All-weather loop open all year
Grass opens approx end of April
Fences 70cm–intermediate
Mini fences (up to 60cm) in separate field
More than 200 fences

MK Equestrian Centre

Hanslope, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK19 7HQ

mpbeesleyandson.com

07810 120498

More than 200 fences
Fences 60cm–1.10m
BE-standard course
Two water complexes, range of steps, banks and ditches
Two additional mini courses (15–60cm)

Munstead

Godalming, Surrey GU7 1UN

munsteadhorsetrials.com

Open all year
70cm–1m

Nurstead Court

Meopham, Kent DA13 9AD

nursteadcourt.co.uk

07957 495146

BE-standard course

Parwood Equestrian Centre

Normandy, Guildford, Surrey GU3 2JE

parwood.co.uk

Open Apr–Oct (Tues–Sun)
Fences 50cm–1.15m

Prime Ponies

Bridgehill Farm, Horsham, W Sussex RH12 4RN

prime-ponies.co.uk

07853 081669

Opens May
35 fences
Fences 20–80cm

Snowball Farm

Burnham, Bucks SL1 8EH

snowballfarm.co.uk

01628 666222

Open for a limited time in spring
Fences 70cm–1m
Variety of fences, including water complex

Swalcliffe Park Equestrian

Swalcliffe, Banbury, Oxon OX15 5EX

swalcliffeparkequestrian.co.uk

01295 780206

Open all year
Fences up to 1.10m
Mini fences (30–60cm) in separate field
More than 150 fences
Ditches, sunken roads and water complexes

Tweseldown Racecourse

Church Crookham, Fleet, Hants GU52 8DY

tweseldown.co.uk

Open all year
40cm to BE Intermediate (Jan–May)
40cm–1m (May–Dec)

Wakes End

Milton Keynes, Bucks MK17 9FB

wakesendfarm.co.uk

Fences 60cm–1m

Wheatlands Farm

Finchampstead, Berks RG40 4LZ

wheatlandsfarm.com

0118 9731918

Open early spring to late Sept
More than 140 fences
Fences 30cm–1m
Two waters, two banks, ditches and steps

South West

Includes cross-country course hire in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire.

Ace Cross-Country

Twyning, Tewkesbury, Glos GL20 6DA

acecrosscountry.co.uk

Main course and separate mini course
Water complex

Bicton Arena

East Burdleigh, Budleigh Salterton, Devon EX9 7BL

bicton-arena.co.uk

01395 441162

Course hire selected days only
Arena XC hire (70cm–1m)

Castle Farm

Wickwar, Glos GL12 8NS

castlefarmliverycrosscountry.com

Open Apr–Oct
Fences 40–90cm

Cricket St Thomas (Amanda Taylor Eventing)

Puthill Farm, Cricket St Thomas, Chard, Som TA20 4EJ

amandataylor.co.uk

07980 625546

Opens in spring
60 fences
Fences 75cm–1.10m
Two water complexes, two step complexes, two banks, ditches and combinations
Designed by BE-accredited Simon Bere

Deer Park Cross Country

Brockhampton, Glos GL54 5SR

deerparkcrosscountry.co.uk

07964 660702

Open all year
Fences 45cm–1.05m
More than 100 fences
No time limit

Everleigh Equestrian

Quickset Stables, Everleigh, Marlborough, Wilts SN8 3EU

everleigh-equestrian.co.uk

07990 571463

More than 35 fences
Suited to novice riders and young horses

Larkhill Eventing

Knighton Down, Larkhill, Wilts SP48QT

larkhilleventing.com

Opens specific dates
Fences 60cm–1.10m
BE standards

Oxstalls Cross-Country

Stroud, Glos GL6 8HZ

oxstallsxc.co.uk

50cm–1.20m
BE standard fences
Waters, steps, banks and drops
Range of ditches
Decorated fences
Regularly updated
Separate mini course

Pontispool

Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton, Somerset TA4 1BH

pontispool.co.uk

01823 461196

Grass schooling area open from Feb
All-weather open Nov–Mar
More than 200 fences
Fences 70cm–1.15m (from 40cm at certain times of year)
All-weather take offs and landings at permanent fences
Three water complexes and two quarry complexes

Rectory Farm

Duntisbourne Abbots, Cirencester, Glos GL7 7JW

rectoryfarm.com

07824759655

Open selected dates
Fences 70–90cm
Steps, ditch, water, corners and skinnies

Rein & Shine Equestrian Centre

Buryhill Farm, Braydon, Wilts SN5 0AD

reinandshine.co.uk

01666 860068

Opens in spring
Fences 30cm–1m
Variety of fences

Rosamund Green Farm

Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 4JG

teamdumas.co.uk

07511078285

Opens in spring
Fences BE100–5*
More than 350 fences
Two water complexes
All-weather take offs and landings

Stockland Lovell

Stockland Lovell Manor, Bridgwater, Somerset TA5 1JJ

stocklandlovell.com

01278 652224

Open 10 months of the year
Fences 50cm–1m
More than 100 fences
Two water complexes
All-weather take offs and landings
No time limit
New fences each year

Stour

Spetisbury, Blandford, Dorset DT11 9EE

stourxc.co.uk

Open March–Oct
38 fences, including mini course
Fences 30cm–1m
Logs, banks, ditches, water complexes and brushes

Wales

Coxlake Cross-Country

Robeston Wathen, Narberth, Pembs SA67 8EJ

facebook.com/coxlakecrosscountry

app.acuityscheduling.com

07837 989767

Open all year
Fences 40cm–1m
Ditches, banks, water and steps
Built by the Willis Brothers

Marian Bach Equestrian Centre

Babell, Holywell, Flintshire CH8 8PZ

marianbach.co.uk

No time limit

Mostyn Farm Ride and Cross Country

Wern Home Farm, Whitford, Holywell, Flintshire CH8 9AR

mostynfarmride.co.uk

07765 402738

Open all year
9km farm ride with more than 100 fences
Built by BE course builder
Ditches, trakehners, water, banks, drops, steps, skinnies and road crossing

West Midlands

Includes cross-country course hire in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and the metropolitan county of West Midlands.

Berriewood Farm

Condover, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY5 7NN

Open June–Sept
30 fences
Fences 70cm–1m
Water, ditch and step

berriewood.co.uk

Lincomb Equestrian

Lincomb, Nr Stourport-on-Severn, Worcs DY13 9RB

crosscountrycourse.co.uk

07986200777

More than 100 jumps on grass
Arena XC available
Fences 45cm–1.05m
Built by BE Gold level course builder

Radfords Equestrian

Lower House Farm, Llanymynech SY22 6LG

radfords-equestrian.co.uk

01691 831523

Open Apr–Oct
Fences 30cm–1m
Water features, ditches, steps and banks
Additional arena XC hire available

Yorkshire and the Humber

Includes cross-country course hire in East Riding of Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

Epworth Equestrian

Epworth, Doncaster, Lincs DN9 1LQ

epworthequestrian.co.uk

01427 872293

Fences 70cm–1m
2 mile course with 21 fences (70/80/90cm/1m)
Additional single fences

Hopton Horse Centre

Mount Pleasant Farm, Mirfield, W Yorks WF14 8EH

hoptonhorsecentre.co.uk

Open all year
All weather
Mini course

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Help your horse master cantering through water confidently with advice from Olympic riders turned top coaches

Ellie Hughes — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 08:32:47 +0000

Many horses are wary of water, to the extent that they lose all momentum, dropping back to trot or even walk rather than cantering through. For an eventer, this makes negotiating any obstacles positioned before, after or in the water extremely tricky. Watch top riders and their established horses negotiate a water crossing and they will barely break their stride. But how do you teach horse who is wary of getting his feet wet to keep up the forward momentum and stay in canter?

The first stage to unpicking the issue is understanding why it happens in the first place. British eventing performance coach Chris Bartle and Olympian Nicola Wilson explain where to start when it comes cantering through water with confidence.

How to train your horse to canter through water

“Think about a row of children lined up on the edge of a swimming pool,” says former Badminton winner and European team gold medallist Chris Bartle. “Some will jump straight in without a moment’s hesitation, while others will linger on the edge and carefully lower themselves in. It’s the same with horses. Some will be more cautious than others. That doesn’t mean the cautious ones won’t be happy to leap in eventually, but it will take time.”

Training a horse to canter through water, travelling forward, is a process built on confidence and trust. It is not simply a case of kicking harder.

“Water jumps can be busy areas and most young horses need time to process what is going on around them, which is why they want to drop back to trot and even walk,” continues Chris. “Make your schooling sessions frequent and fun and they will quickly get the hang of it.”

Former European eventing champion Nicola Wilson agrees.

“You need to build up slowly and make sure all the building blocks are in place before you ask your horse to move up a gear,” she says. “If he is not yet happy to canter through water, don’t put him in a position where he might be over-faced, for example don’t ask him to jump anything that he won’t have enough impetus to do safely.”

Cantering through water: troubleshooting

Sometimes horses dislike water splashing on their faces – and the faster they go the more likely they are to get splashed.

“I had a horse called One Two Many who was seventh at Badminton, on the silver medal-winning team at the Blair Europeans [in 2015] and a beautiful jumper, but he hated getting his face wet,” reveals Nicola. “Every time he jumped into water he would pull his nose forward so that it was almost parallel with his ears to try to avoid that initial splash.

“He was a bold horse, but this wasn’t something he ever grew out of, so I had to adapt my training and riding techniques to support him. I had to prepare early and make sure my reins were long enough jumping into water so that I didn’t catch him in the mouth because by the time he was halfway through his jump he would have pulled his head forward.

“For the same reason I stopped using a martingale on him as it would have come into play at the wrong time and potentially brought him down, which was the last thing I would have wanted.”

Nicola Wilson’s ride One Two Many demonstrates his unique style to avoid the water splashing in his face. (Image credit: Alamy)

This is just one example of a horse reacting to water in a way the rider might not expect.

“It is your job to ask yourself why he is reacting the way he is and work out how to facilitate rather than hinder him,” adds Nicola.

Chris has discovered that wetting a horse’s legs with a bucket or jug of water before he goes cross-country can be helpful.

“It may sound crazy, but if you can get the horse used to the feel of water on his legs right before you set out to negotiate water then then it won’t come as such a shock,” he says.

By the same logic Chris also points out that young horses, in particular, can be spooky or shy at water when they’ve not been exposed to it for a while.

“This can happen in the summer or at the end of a particularly dry spell,” he explains. “If they’ve not seen a puddle for months and you suddenly ask them to canter through a large expanse of water, it’s not surprising that some are hesitant.”

Training at home

Nicola advocates making the most of opportunities that the weather provides to get creative at home.

“After a lot of rain you might end up with large puddles in your field or arena, which you can incorporate into your training,” she says. “So long as the surface underneath is safe you can make your session really fun and even incorporate some fences, too.”

Chris points out that sometimes it is easier for a horse to learn to stay in canter through water having jumped a small fence in rather than running down a slope.

“With a fence you’ve already got forward momentum, so if you sit up and keep your leg on when you land the horse is more likely to keep the canter,” he says. “Train your eyes to look high and ahead of you rather than down or to the water’s edge.”

Being in the right place at the right time with your body position will help the horse and instil confidence.

“Always support the horse with your leg by keeping it on his sides,” says Nicola. “Sometimes a little tap down the shoulder can keep him focused and energised.”

A horse that develops confidence and trust with good experiences training in water, will be comfortable to canter through. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Water training checklist

Is the training venue/situation suitable?

“Choose your cross-country training venues carefully — pick waters that are open and spacious, and where there aren’t too many extra distractions to take the horse’s focus away from you,” advises Nicola. “Some people take their horses to the beach, which can be good for some but it doesn’t suit every horse.

“With the spooky types who find it hard to settle and concentrate then you are better off practising at a quiet schooling venue where there is not too much else going on.”

Is the surface/footing secure?

Wherever you are training, ensure the water has a sound underlying surface.

“It’s really important that the horse trusts the surface because as far as the horse is concerned you could be asking him to jump off the White Cliffs of Dover,” Chris points out.

Do you have the right tools and equipment?

Whether you’re utilising a newly-formed puddle at home or using a water complex at a training venue, having the right support and tools at your disposal is really important.

“This might be in terms of help on the ground, another horse to follow or ensuring you’re wearing the right tack and equipment,” says Nicola. “If you enter into a challenge ill-equipped to see it through then you are setting yourself up for failure. Remember, whenever you are training your horse you are always training his blueprint.”

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Does cantering or jumping downhill fill you with dread? Improve your cross-country riding skills with tips from an Olympian

Emily Bevan — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 07:32:04 +0000

Efficient cross-country riding is all about being able to tackle any terrain. While many of us typically train in arenas or flat fields, it’s crucial that both horse and rider develop the balance and strength to negotiate hills, being able to canter and jump fences both up and down slopes. In this exclusive article for H&H subscribers, Olympian Nicola Wilson and top coach Cameron Beer explain how you can boost these skills

Riding up and down hills across country is an integral part of tackling terrain for all eventers, but it’s a skill that many of us neglect to practise. How do you build rider feel and horse strength for downhill balance and uphill impulsion? Should we be practising jumping and galloping downhill? We ask former European eventing champion, Nicola Wilson, and BE UKCC level 3 accredited coach Cameron Beer for the answers.

For a horse and rider to successfully tackle terrain, they need to ensure they have a strong core and good balance for a good cross-country position.

“Riders can improve their core through squats, Pilates, or by generally getting fitter and stronger,” says Olympian Nicola who is also a BHSI and Level 3 coach. “Stand on the ground in a squat position – that’s the balance and posture you need when riding uphill or downhill. You need to be able to engage your core consistently.”

Squats are good practice for cross-country riding, developing the rider’s balance and posture for when you are in the saddle. (Image credit: Alamy)

“The same applies to the horse. If they don’t do any hillwork they won’t develop their own core strength or balance.

“Riding uphill requires a light seat – out of the saddle, slightly leaning forward – while maintaining a strong position and engaged core. If we took you off the horse, you should be able to stand and balance in that same position.

“That means carrying yourself with an independent seat and not relying on the reins or the horse’s mouth for balance. Your core stays engaged, your body stays over your feet and over the horse’s centre of balance.”

When riding downhill you want your horse to go down as quickly as possible while also maintaining balance.

“Bring your shoulders up so you’re in a gentle squat,” advises Nicola. “Some people say you should be able to hold an egg between you and the saddle; I prefer the image of polishing the saddle with your breeches. You’re neither sitting nor standing – you’re carrying yourself.

“Engage your stomach muscles and your seat. Your shoulders should come back more towards the horse’s hips. Tucking your seat underneath you helps engage your core. You’re encouraging the horse to take more weight on the hindlegs, which lightens the front end and the rein contact.”

Whether you’re leaning slightly forward uphill or bringing your shoulders back downhill, your position must always be in balance with the horse, you should not be balanced on their mouth. Always use your leg to support the horse.

“It’s crucial the rider maintains their own balance when cantering downhill so the reins can remain light. You don’t want to use the reins for support, as that causes the horse to lean, putting more weight on the front legs, which increases the risk of injury or stumbling and makes the ride less efficient,” adds Nicola.

How to improve your cross-country riding up and down hills

Before attempting gradients, Cameron suggests riding in an arena or a flat field to ensure both horse and rider have adequate self-carriage.

“It’s important that we can go from a big canter to a small canter and in that small canter, we can give and retake the reins for, say, four strides, while we’re sitting down and on our seat, so that the horse is in self-carriage and we’re in self-carriage,” says Cameron.

“If you can’t do that, then you’re always going to struggle cantering down a hill because downhill is asking: ‘are you both leaning on each other, or can you both balance yourselves separately?’”

To practise this, Cameron recommends cantering around the arena for six or seven minutes putting in some gear changes while imagining you’re riding up and downhill.

“I would be thinking, ‘I’m coming down a hill so I’m going to release my rein slightly, sit back, put my leg down.’ Then I would pretend I’m going uphill and lean forwards, put my hands up a little bit more towards the neck so I’m practising those different body positions and the feeling of self-carriage within the arena and within gear changes,” says Cameron.

Take your skills on to the hills

Once you are competent at riding in self-carriage in an arena, you can take those skills onto the hills. Nicola recommends riding either a 100m circle or a straight line on a hill in a working or showjumping canter. This exercise improves strength and balance for both horse and rider.

“When you’re going uphill encourage the horse to stretch down and work over their back and the base of their neck to develop the topline and core,” Nicola says.

“Tilt slightly forward in a lighter seat, your leg keeps the horse’s back and the saddle up under you, and you’re encouraging them to work from their tail to their poll. Riding uphill will require a little more pace or impulsion.

Harry Meade demonstrates cantering uphill – which horses must practise at home to develop core strength and balance. (Image credit: William Carey)

“At the top of the hill, bring your shoulders up, engage more lower leg, and encourage the horse to compress the canter by bringing their hocks underneath them, lifting their withers and shoulders, and moving into more of a dressage self-carriage frame. Maintain self-carriage and a light contact.

“At the bottom of the hill, stretch the horse down again and repeat maybe four times on each rein.”

These days most cross-country schooling venues have man-made mounds that are perfect for practising riding on terrain.

“When I take a young horse out, that first cross-country schooling session is less about jumping and more about tackling terrain so we might spend most of our session going up and down hills and working on rebalance,” reveals Cameron.

“Feel that you’re setting them up in balance, releasing the reins, setting them up, and releasing again. At first, maybe you can only release for one stride before balancing again, but gradually you will feel you could go down that hill in a collected canter, releasing the rein for, say, four strides at a time.

“Of course, in a cross-country course you’re not going to go down with loose reins, but at least you and the horse feel you have elements of self-carriage going down that hill, which should give you confidence,” adds Cameron.

Troubleshooting downhill fences

When you’re preparing to tackle jumps downhill it’s important to remember that horses may take a stride out or could go on a deeper distance than expected.

“Your body has to stay back, ready for anything and because you’re going to land more downhill than you started,” Cameron advises. “I tell everyone to lengthen the reins – not drop them – two or three strides before the fence so the horse has freedom of the head and neck over the fence.

“That way, mid-flight, you’re already tall rather than planning to release on take-off. If the horse takes a stride out and you haven’t prepared, you end up pulled forward with the reins and land on top of the horse and then it gallops off out of balance. Stay tall, be ready for landing, and then gather your reins gradually on landing.”

Lengthen the reins when jumping downhill fences to give the horse freedom to use his head and neck. (Image credit: Alamy)

Cameron also advises that whenever you’re jumping a single fence downhill, you should train with the mindset that one day there will be another jump after it.

“As quick as you can after landing in training, gather up and imagine there’s a B or C element four strides away. In competition, if you want to make time, you can roll on after the fence but in training, always prepare for a combination,” concludes Cameron.

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Horse and rider training

Horse & Hound — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 21:11:59 +0000

Horse and rider training

Welcome to Horse & Hound’s training hub. Whether you are looking for techniques to improve your riding skills, insight from top trainers and riders on how to prepare your horse for a specific sport, or tips to help solve specific problems, you will find useful advice from experts to help.

Horse & Hound’s training exercise of the week

If your horse thinks ditches are full of monsters, this expert advice will help build their confidence

Andrew Nicholson and Avebury jumping the large open ditch the Cottesmore Leap at Burghley: How to solve your horse’s fear of ditches

Choose a topic:

Dressage
Eventing
Showjumping
Showing
Cross-country
Hacking
Polework
Gridwork
Lateral work
Groundwork
How horses learn
Young horses
Riding techniques
Rider fitness
Rider mindset
Problem solving
Learning to ride

Daily training inspiration

Execute smarter square halts with just four poles

Improve horse’s straightness
Help with accurate placement of the halt
Create a square halt

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

Try today’s exercise or find more daily inspiration.

Watch Ros Canter’s 2023 Blenheim winner learning to jump skinny fences as a rising five-year-old

Gemma Redrup — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 15:04:55 +0000

Caroline Moore, a former five-star eventer, who now focuses on coaching event riders, explains how to introduce a young horse to skinny fences for the first time – featuring 2023 Blenheim CCI4*-L winner Izilot DHI as a rising five-year-old in 2018 under Ros Canter.

How to introduce a young horse to skinny cross-country fences

When introducing skinny fences, it is important to do it in a correct fashion, because this sets up the building blocks for the horse for the future.

The aims of this exercise are:

• To develop confidence with a narrow fence

• To develop rider steering aids

• Help to train the horse’s jumping technique

• To improve the horse and rider partnership

• To learn to hold a line

Start in trot to make sure you have control and to give the horse confidence. Use a relatively narrow but very small obstacle and set out guide rails on the floor either side of the fence. Build two of these on a relative distance and trot down over both. Move to canter once your horse is confident.

The next stage in how to introduce a young horse to skinny cross-country fences is to slightly narrow the fences further. It’s really important to still use the guide rails to help the horse remain confident. The rider must look ahead and also give the horse confidence with the line, keeping the leg to rein aid really secure.

Once you are happy, you can remove the guide rails, but this makes it much easier for him to pop out the side of the fences. Therefore as a rider, you need to really apply the pressure between leg and rein to help keep the horse in its ‘tunnel’ and on its ‘railway lines’ to keep him straight. If you do that, the horse will get more and more confident holding that line.

The next step is introducing flags and I do this in a way so that the horse is comfortable about walking in between them. Generally horses are rather claustrophobic when they walk between them to start with so it’s important to get them confident and relaxed. To do this, you need to walk the horse through them a fair few times.

The next step is to walk and trot over a pole through the flags as this is their first jump through a narrow obstacle.

Once they are confident doing this, you can put a jump in between the flags. It is important that this is an obstacle they have already jumped. As a rider, your driving and straightening aids are the most important here.

Over a period of time you can then progress to another type of jump — I have used a soft brush for this horse, so that it doesn’t bother him if he slightly touches it.

You can finish the exercise by putting the two fences with flags together. Always focus on the next fence so that you keep looking and driving forward in a straight line, encouraging the horse to take on the next fence.

More expert training advice from Caroline:

(Image credit: Future)

Turn, baby, turn — how to teach your horse to turn over a fence onto a new line

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how to teach a

(Image credit: Future)

Holding a straight line across country — the difference between success and failure

Caroline Moore, former five-star eventer and British Eventing national under-18 coach and junior team coach, explains how to teach a

(Image credit: Future)

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How often does Tom McEwen go cross-country schooling? Do his horses wear studs for it? Find out here…

Pippa Roome — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 14:24:27 +0000

Cross-country prowess is the core of every top event rider’s skillset and cross-country schooling is an important part of honing those skills. British Olympic double medallist Tom McEwen is no exception, with an excellent record in this all-important phase.

We caught up with Tom to learn some cross-country schooling tips and to find out how he goes about this aspect of training his horses…

1. How often does Tom go cross-country schooling?

All Tom’s horses will go cross-country schooling at a venue for hire away from his yard at least twice before the eventing season starts – Tom often goes to Oxstalls or Wayfarer Eventing at Chedworth. The focus is on building horses’ confidence, making it fun and keeping them relaxed. The sessions also serve as fitness work.

In addition to going schooling away from Tom’s base, his horses frequently jump logs and go through the water in the woods surrounding his yard on the Gatcombe estate – there are both natural obstacles and fences left from the days when the “little Gatcombe” fixtures ran here.

“It’s nice having something quite natural to work over and I think the horses do more cross-country schooling than I realise,” he says.

2. Does he jump big fences?

No. Tom doesn’t believe in jumping a lot of larger fences while cross-country schooling.

“I’m not bothered about fence size – most of the time jumping big fences is for humans not horses,” he says.

3. Does he go fast when cross-country schooling?

No. Tom doesn’t ride at speed cross-country schooling and jumps out of a steady canter.

4. Do his horses wear studs?

Another no. The horses don’t need wear studs to do this work on good ground, which is well prepared.

5. How many fences does Tom McEwen jump when cross-country schooling?

Tom prefers to emphasise little and often over packing a lot into one day. If the horses are having a cross-country session at a venue, they will go through a good warm-up, including trotting and cantering in and out of the water several times, jump perhaps 25 fences in three bursts and then finish up with a strong trot around the field.

Tom McEwen trots through the water at Oxstalls as part of his warm-up on Alison Swinburn and John and Chloe Perry’s Brookfield Benjamin Bounce. (Image credit: Jess Photography)