Tackle water jumps this season

Exposure to water jumps is a key part of every horse’s cross-country training, and if you’re heading to an arena- or field-based course, you’re likely to come across it in some form. So, whether you’re introducing your horse to water jumps or fixing an existing problem, my guide will have him splashing through, fuss-free, in no time.

Why horses worry

It’s reasonable for your horse to be a little nervous about going through water. When you think about it, he doesn’t know how deep it is or what the surface will be like on the bottom. He can’t tell how steep it is, what the camber’s like or whether the footing will be boggy, stony, or uneven. As a prey animal, this goes against a lot of his natural instincts and therefore he has to put his trust in you and that what you’re asking him won’t land him in a vulnerable situation.

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Be patient when asking your horse to go through water and always allow him to look if he wants to. Even if it’s a puddle or stream he’s been through dozens of times before, different times of day and light conditions might affect how the water appears.

Work from home

As with all other aspects of cross-country training, the more work you can do beforehand to desensitise your horse, the better. The more positive experiences he has with water in advance of your schooling session, the less likely he is to be nervous of it. And the great news? You can get in a lot of practice at home!

There are normally plenty of opportunities to get your horse’s toes wet. Be sure to look out for…

• puddles the most common form of water training, and normally available in some shape or form year-round, make the most of puddles in the arena or on your local bridleways by asking your horse to walk through them rather than around them
• streams and fords if you have one on your hacking routes, it’s an invaluable tool for getting your horse used to water. Make sure you’re aware of the depth at every point before asking your horse to go through it. It’s best to have seen the stream dry, or at its shallowest, first and always check the footing
• beach if you’re lucky enough to live within hacking distance, you’ve probably already made use of its desensitising properties. However, if you haven’t been to the seaside before, it’s worth a visit. You’ll be able to ease your horse in gently and gradually get him used to different depths

This isn’t limited to working under saddle – you can get some training in while going to or from the field after spells of wet weather, or even around the yard. Perhaps someone’s emptied their hay soaker and caused a puddle, or maybe they’ve given their horse a bath. By being creative, you can bank plenty of positive experiences for your horse ahead of your cross-country schooling session.

Find out more ways to introduce your horse to water jumps in Spring Horse&Rider – get your copy today!