Building Trust Before Tackling Bigger Fences

In eventing, confidence over a larger fence is rarely created by jumping height alone. It grows from hundreds of smaller agreements between horse and rider: a balanced approach, a steady rhythm, a clear aid, and the knowledge that both partners will respond when the question changes. Trust is the foundation that allows a combination to move from schooling obstacles to the more demanding atmosphere of competition.

For Australian riders, that preparation must also account for practical realities. A horse may be schooling in a cool Melbourne winter, travelling from Sydney to a regional event, or coping with hard ground after a dry Queensland spell. Building confidence means understanding the individual horse, the surface, the weather and the rider’s own decision-making before asking for a bigger effort.

Start With Reliable Daily Communication

Trust is built during ordinary work long before a horse sees a cross-country course. Grooming, leading, tacking up and mounting can all become opportunities to establish calm, consistent communication. A horse that understands familiar boundaries on the ground is more likely to remain attentive when the rider introduces a new exercise under saddle.

The same principle applies to basic schooling. Transitions, changes of direction, halts and yielding exercises teach the horse to listen without creating unnecessary tension. The goal is not to drill until the horse becomes dull; it is to make the rider’s aids predictable. A light leg should mean forward, a steady rein should support balance, and the release should arrive when the horse gives the correct answer.

Dom Schramm’s riding background reflects the value of developing a partnership through progressive training rather than rushing towards spectacle. Riders can use that mindset in every session: reward the honest response, repeat the exercise in a slightly different setting, and finish while the horse still feels capable.

Make Small Questions Feel Successful

A larger fence should be the next logical version of something the horse already understands. Before raising a vertical, a rider might improve the approach to a ground pole, then a small upright, then a related line with a quiet placing pole. This sequence helps the horse learn that height is only one detail in a broader task involving rhythm, straightness and confidence.

Variety also matters. A horse that jumps only brightly coloured show jumps may hesitate when faced with a rustic fence, a ditch, a brush element or a spread. Introduce new shapes at a manageable height and allow time for inspection. Walking past an object, letting the horse look, and approaching again can be more productive than insisting on an immediate jump.

This gradual exposure resembles the patience required when learning any outdoor skill. A useful beginner’s guide can remind us that reading conditions, choosing the right starting point and building experience step by step are often more effective than chasing an advanced result too soon. In eventing, the equivalent is giving the horse enough successful repetitions to understand the question.

Develop Confidence In The Approach

Many refusals occur before the horse reaches the obstacle. A rushed rhythm, a crooked line or a rider who changes position at the last stride can make a simple fence feel uncertain. Good preparation begins several strides away, with the rider maintaining an organised canter and looking towards the intended line rather than staring at the obstacle.

The approach should be adjustable without becoming hurried. Riders can practise shortening and lengthening the stride between poles, riding through marked lanes, and jumping from both reins. These exercises improve balance and help the rider recognise when a horse is losing impulsion or falling onto the forehand. If the approach deteriorates, circling and resetting is often a better choice than continuing towards a poor take-off spot.

Australian conditions can make this especially important. A horse travelling from an agistment property outside Brisbane to a competition may encounter deeper sand, firmer turf or a more open space than it sees at home. Riders in Sydney or Melbourne may also school in compact arenas where straightness is easier to control than it is across a large cross-country field. Practising transitions between spaces helps the horse stay focused when the environment changes.

Treat Footing And Fitness As Part Of Trust

A horse cannot give a confident effort when its footing feels unpredictable. Arena maintenance, drainage and surface depth should be considered alongside jumping exercises. A consistent surface allows the horse to learn without having to protect itself from slipping, digging in or landing heavily. The discussion of home arena footing offers useful context for riders assessing how their schooling environment supports soundness and confidence.

Fitness also influences trust. A tired horse may jump a familiar fence early in a session and then lose accuracy, impulsion or concentration later. Conditioning should include steady aerobic work, hill work where appropriate, pole exercises and carefully planned jumping days. Rest is part of the programme, especially after travelling or competing, and heat management deserves serious attention during Australian summer months.

Local conditions can change quickly. Hard, dry ground may require a different training plan from wet winter going, while bushfire smoke, extreme heat or poor air quality may mean replacing a ridden session with groundwork or recovery work. Riders should monitor hydration, shade and recovery, and seek veterinary or farriery advice when the horse shows soreness, altered movement or unusual reluctance.

Let Progress Be Measured, Not Guessed

A rider’s confidence can rise and fall according to one memorable jump, but training decisions should be based on patterns. Keep notes on the surface, weather, exercise, stride quality and the horse’s response. Recording whether a horse stayed straight, maintained rhythm and recovered quickly provides a clearer picture than simply writing down the maximum height jumped.

Competition preparation should then become specific and calm. Walk the course carefully, identify the most influential questions, and decide where the horse may need a stronger supporting aid. Eventing includes dressage, show jumping and cross-country, so the partnership must conserve attention and energy across the day. A horse that is confident at home still needs a thoughtful plan for warm-up arenas, spectators, commentary and unfamiliar fences.

Australian riders should also check the current requirements of their event organiser and Equestrian Australia rules, while remembering that animal welfare obligations can vary between states and territories. Safe tack, suitable transport, responsible conditioning and appropriate veterinary care are part of responsible participation, not separate from performance. A trustworthy partnership is one in which the rider knows when to proceed, when to simplify and when to stop.

Practical Ways To Strengthen The Partnership

• Finish schooling sessions after a genuine improvement, even if the planned exercise is not completed.
• Alternate familiar fences with one new question so the horse has a secure reference point.
• Practise approaches, transitions and straightness on the flat as carefully as the jump itself.
• Record footing, weather, workload and recovery to identify patterns before increasing difficulty.
• Increase fence height only when the horse remains rhythmic, willing and physically comfortable.

Bigger fences should arrive as a natural extension of dependable work, not as a test of bravery for its own sake. Build the rhythm, protect the horse’s confidence, and make every new question understandable. With thoughtful preparation, riders can carry that trust from the home arena to the start box and give their horses the clearest possible chance to succeed.