Course walking with your horse: a practical eventing guide

Eventing asks a horse and rider to solve a series of problems in dressage, showjumping and cross-country. The cross-country phase can change quickly with weather, terrain and fatigue, so decisions made before the start are often more valuable than last-second adjustments.

Course walking is the deliberate study of a cross-country route before riding it. It reveals the shape of each fence, the space between obstacles and the ground connecting them, giving the rider a chance to decide where to gather, balance and use the horse.

A useful walk is not a race against the clock. It combines observation, prioritisation and honest questions about what the horse can handle, allowing the rider and horse to enter the course with a shared plan.

Australian riders approach this process at everything from suburban club arenas to major events near Wagga Wagga, Camden and Toowoomba. The basic principles remain consistent, while local footing, heat, flies and the informal support of coaches, volunteers and fellow competitors shape the experience.

See the course as a riding problem

A course map provides structure, but ground-level details create a usable plan. Stand where the horse will approach an obstacle and look beyond it to the landing, the exit and the next fence. This wider view often reveals whether a question is really about distance, balance or the terrain that follows.

During the walk, identify the start, finish, combinations, water complexes, banks, drops and narrow passages. Note the direction of the flags: red marks the right side of the course and white marks the left. Decide which fences are priorities and which alternative lines might offer a safer, more efficient route.

Prepare before you reach the course

Before travelling, study the official course map and event information. Mark the fence positions, estimate important distances in metres and identify likely galloping sections. Looking for changes in elevation beforehand can also help you anticipate where the pace may need to alter.

Allow enough time for a proper inspection. A straightforward course might take 30 minutes to walk, while a large cross-country track can require considerably longer. Follow the course-opening times and marshal directions, and remember that loading the lorry or float, unloading and settling the horse also need to be part of the schedule.

Keep a simple notebook, pen or phone notes ready. Record key distances, turns, questions and possible plan changes rather than trying to memorise everything. For further eventing reading, use Chumacraju eventing information to explore the sport alongside practical course analysis.

Read distance, terrain and footing

Distance is not a fixed number of strides. It changes with the canter the horse can maintain, the slope, the landing area and how tired the horse becomes later in the round. An uphill fence may need a more energetic approach, while a downhill landing can make even a well-judged stride feel too long.

Australian conditions deserve particular attention. Ground can become exceptionally hard after a dry summer or deep and sodden following rain. Hard ground may jar the horse’s joints, while deep going increases fatigue and can make a simple combination suddenly tiring. Notice how the surface changes around gateways, water and heavily used gallops.

Worn tracks can provide useful evidence of the most comfortable line, although they are not automatically the safest choice. Consider whether the footing suits the horse, whether the landing is clear and whether the next obstacle requires an immediate recovery. A confident walk begins with questioning every assumption.

Plan turns and related distances

Turns are often treated as obstacles in their own right, yet they are really tests of balance and preparation. Consider the approach angle, required speed and the space available afterwards. A horse may need a straighter line, a little more forward movement or a moment to settle before being asked for the next effort.

Related distances depend on the fence that follows. If the second fence requires a shorter stride, the canter before the first fence may need to adjust. In a combination, think about where the horse can regain rhythm after landing and how that rhythm affects the approach to the final element.

Flags indicate the required direction rather than the exact line. Walk only through permitted areas, keep clear of closed fences and look for the most direct balanced route. Deciding what the line will be prevents the rider from chasing a perfect turn halfway through the stride.

Walk with your horse’s attention

Most courses should be studied on foot, with the horse used for selected familiarisation sections when suitable. Riding every part simply to see it can waste energy and create unnecessary pressure. A calm walk also gives the rider an opportunity to assess how the horse responds to unfamiliar objects without asking it to jump them.

Watch the horse’s ears, eye, tension, steps and breathing. A change in attention may point towards noise, shadow, a particular fence shape or confusion about the ground. Avoid labelling the horse simply as nervous. Identifying the trigger allows the route and preparation to change before competition begins.

Warm Australian weather adds distractions through flies and insects, while crowds, machinery and volunteers create movement around the course. Manage these factors with suitable repellents, rugs and tick prevention, and keep the horse settled before the walk. If the horse is uncomfortable, lame or unusually tired, welfare should take priority over completing the inspection.

Turn observations into a clear plan

Notes should convert visual information into riding instructions. Give each important fence one key word, such as “wide”, “wait”, “shorten” or “ride up”. Number the fences, mark turns with arrows and highlight the moments where the horse will need to recover. This creates a short, memorable plan rather than a crowded page of instructions.

A coach or experienced rider can provide a valuable second perspective. Australian club culture often makes this support readily available, with volunteers and fellow competitors familiar with the terrain and questions particular to the venue. Listen to advice that matches the horse you are riding, and use it to test rather than replace your own observations.

Visualisation brings the plan to life. Picture the approach, the horse’s stride, the moment after landing and the route towards the next fence. A useful plan has three parts: how to approach, how to execute and how to recover. Prepare a simpler alternative for when the ground, horse or rhythm changes unexpectedly.

Carry the plan into competition

Arrive with enough time to let the horse settle, warm up and canter before entering the course. Revisit the key questions from your walk, then adjust them for the actual footing and the horse’s condition that day. A thorough preparation should produce a clear starting plan, not a rigid set of instructions that must be followed regardless of circumstances.

Ride one fence at a time by trusting the line, pace and cues established during the inspection. Confidence grows from knowing that each decision was considered beforehand. If the plan no longer suits the horse or the conditions, simplify the route and prioritise control, time and safety.

Put those principles into practice at your next eventing fixture. To discuss eventing preparation with Dom and Jimmie Schramm, get in touch through Schramm Equestrian.