Course Strategy: Planning Your Ride

Success in show jumping and cross-country competition isn't just about having a talented horse and good riding skills - it's about strategic planning. Course walking is an art form that separates the good riders from the great ones. A well-planned ride can make the difference between a clear round and costly faults.

The Art of Course Walking

Course walking is your opportunity to plan every stride of your round before you ever sit in the saddle. Professional riders often walk courses multiple times, each walk serving a different purpose.

First Walk: The Overview

Your first walk should give you a general feel for the course:

• Course Flow: Understand the general track and direction changes
• Jump Types: Note what types of fences you'll face
• Terrain: Observe slopes, footing conditions, and sun position
• Related Distances: Identify combinations and related fences
• Time Allowed: Get a sense of the overall time challenge

Second Walk: Stride Counting

The second walk is for detailed stride planning. Walk between related fences counting your own strides:

1. Standard Conversion: Most riders use 3 human strides = 1 horse stride
2. Adjust for Your Horse: Know if your horse has a short, normal, or long stride
3. Land and Approach: Count from where your horse will land to where they should take off
4. Factor in Turns: Consider how angles affect the available distance

Third Walk: Visualisation

The final walk is about mental preparation. Walk the course visualising yourself riding:

• Feel each turn and approach in your body
• See the jumps from your horse's perspective
• Plan your eye line and focus points
• Identify potential problem areas and your solutions

Analysing Individual Jumps

Reading the Fence

Each fence presents different challenges. Consider:

• Height and Width: How much scope is required?
• Filler: Does it have elements that might spook your horse?
• Groundline: Does it have a good groundline or is it set back?
• Colour and Pattern: Are there visual distractions?
• Position in Arena: Is it near the gate or away from it?

Approach Angles

Your approach angle significantly impacts the difficulty of a fence:

1. Straight Approach: The easiest option when available
2. Angled Approach: May save time but requires precision
3. Inside Turn: Shortens the track but demands collection
4. Outside Track: Longer but gives more time to balance

Combinations and Related Distances

Understanding Distance Types

Distances in show jumping are typically categorised as:

• True Distance: Rides naturally with no adjustment needed
• Short Distance: Requires steadier pace or shorter strides
• Long Distance: Requires more forward pace or longer strides
• Related Distance: More than 2 strides apart but clearly linked

Planning Your Ride Through Combinations

For each combination, determine:

1. The Number of Strides: How many does your horse naturally take?
2. Adjustments Needed: Do you need to add or leave out a stride?
3. Pace Strategy: What pace works best for your horse?
4. Recovery Time: Do you need to re-balance after the combination?

Time Management Strategies

Show Jumping

In show jumping, time becomes crucial in jump-offs:

• Know the Clock: Understand where you can save time safely
• Turn Strategy: Plan tight turns where your horse excels
• Galloping Stretches: Identify where you can let your horse run
• Risk Assessment: Balance speed against the risk of faults

Cross-Country

Cross-country requires careful pace management:

1. Optimum Time: Plan to finish close to optimum, not under
2. Minute Markers: Use them to check your pace throughout
3. Terrain Adjustments: Factor in hills and difficult footing
4. Horse Management: Know where to push and where to breathe

"Walk the course ten times if you need to. The time you spend planning is never wasted." - William Fox-Pitt

Developing Your Mental Map

Memorisation Techniques

Strong course memorisation prevents costly mistakes:

• Chunk the Course: Break it into sections or groups of fences
• Create a Story: Link fences with memorable associations
• Use Landmarks: Note arena features that help orientation
• Draw the Course: Sketch it from memory to reinforce learning

Visualisation Practice

After walking, spend time visualising your ride:

1. Find a quiet spot away from the arena
2. Close your eyes and ride the course in your mind
3. Feel each movement and transition
4. Include sounds and sensations, not just visuals
5. Practice riding the perfect round multiple times

Adapting Your Plan

Horse-Specific Adjustments

Your plan must account for your horse's characteristics:

• Stride Length: A short-strided horse needs different planning than a scopey mover
• Temperament: Hot horses need steadying time; lazy horses need driving areas
• Spook Factor: Know what might worry your horse and plan accordingly
• Strength: Plan rest points for horses that tire late in courses

On-Course Adjustments

Even the best plan needs flexibility. Be prepared to:

• Adjust stride count if the approach doesn't go as planned
• Take an alternative line if something goes wrong early
• Change pace if your horse feels different than expected
• Skip a planned tight turn if your horse isn't balanced

Conclusion

Course strategy is a skill that improves with practice and experience. The more courses you walk, the better you'll become at quickly identifying challenges and solutions. Always walk with purpose, count accurately, and take the time to truly visualise your ride.

Remember that the best plan is one you can execute. A conservative clear round is always better than an ambitious attempt that results in faults. Build your course-walking skills systematically, and you'll find that your competition results improve alongside your strategic thinking.