Any tips for first time doing cross country.

[Nickyhorse89]

Hi everyone

I'm playing with the idea of doing sj followed by xc this weekend but I am STRESSING OUT. We've jumped fillers and working hunter with little drama. But I've only been to Somerford and couple of times and done a xc confidence clinic.

I really want to go and feel like my horse is ready for it but I can't help panicking that he'll jump the sj like a star then freeze on the xc.They only thing I don't think he's come across is a ditch but we've jumped everything else.
How confident did everyone feel doing their first xc course? What did you do before to prepare you and your horse? Not sure if I'm throwing him in at the deep end.

Help my nerves please xxxx

 

[be positive]

I would say treat it as you would a SJ course, ride forward but sensibly between fences and steady before each one to set him up and allow him to assess the question fully, come back to trot if you want to, most people tend to rush xc because they feel it should be ridden at a faster pace but while horse, and rider, are learning it is better to be slower and take time to avoid them being taken by surprise when facing something new, obviously keep your leg on and encourage forwardness but not by going faster than you need to, I am guessing the fences will be small so should be easily popped from a steady trot if required.
Ditches are something some take objection to and if he has never seen one it may need a careful look, keep him steady so he can see it is easy to walk through if he wants and remain quiet on top if he takes a moment to look, look up yourself, keep an even contact so he stays straight and just ask him to keep moving with a firm leg, he may be happy to pop over without question if you approach steadily, best of luck.

 

[Nickyhorse89]

I would say treat it as you would a SJ course, ride forward but sensibly between fences and steady before each one to set him up and allow him to assess the question fully, come back to trot if you want to, most people tend to rush xc because they feel it should be ridden at a faster pace but while horse, and rider, are learning it is better to be slower and take time to avoid them being taken by surprise when facing something new, obviously keep your leg on and encourage forwardness but not by going faster than you need to, I am guessing the fences will be small so should be easily popped from a steady trot if required.
Ditches are something some take objection to and if he has never seen one it may need a careful look, keep him steady so he can see it is easy to walk through if he wants and remain quiet on top if he takes a moment to look, look up yourself, keep an even contact so he stays straight and just ask him to keep moving with a firm leg, he may be happy to pop over without question if you approach steadily, best of luck.

Thank you, I'll try and be positive and ride forward. Would hate for my nerves to
affect my horse.

 

[vhf]

BP's response is perfect... All you have to remember is "stay straight, stay forward, stay in control". Take each jump as it comes, and enjoy it. Oh, and never look into the ditch, always look over it... Regarding your nerves, ever heard the saying "lying through the seat of your pants"? It was made for riding XC!
You'll be hooked in no time.

 

[Upthecreek]

What is your horse like XC? Has he been fairly bold when you have been schooling XC? Personally I wouldn’t take a horse to a XC competition that had never seen or jumped a ditch in a schooling environment, but it depends what you want to get out of it. If you are doing it purely for experience, then crack on and have fun. As others have said, keep your leg on to give your horse confidence, but don’t go too fast. If he is inexperienced he’ll need time to look at the jumps to work out what he needs to do. Get him into a good rhythm and keep him straight, the rest is up to him. Plenty of vocal encouragement & praise on the way round - to give him confidence and remind you to breathe!!

 

[sportsmansB]

They're just jumps that look a wee bit different, and most are fine with it if they aren't dramatic types anyway. Keep for the middle of the fence, not too fast, leg on and as others have said, loads of vocal praise and big pats as you go. Make sure your approaches are well thought out to give him plenty of opportunity to read the question and stay in balance. Sacrifice penalties and do a circle if needs be if you are too fast / bad line, rather than risking running out or stopping due to rider error planning the approach. He won't know the difference but he won't have learnt an evasion.

If he seems sticky at some then (SHOCK HORROR TO THE COMPETITIVE TYPES) just jump the ones you know he'll be ok with this time and leave the others out and get eliminated. Who cares really as long as you both finish happy and confident. He hadn't walked the course so he doesn't know.
If he is super willing and not spooky he might be OK at a ditch, just grab mane / neckstrap and be prepared for a baby leap as some do (others don't, but you don't know yet!)
To be honest I would prefer to school over a ditch first as if there is a big issue then its hard to overcome later. But you need another horse to follow and / or a very experienced person on the ground to help if an issue arises (i.e. basically either a mate with a schoolmaster or a lesson situation, or ideally both!) and in a perfect world a selection of ditches from teeny tiny upwards!

 

[Orangehorse]

Look beyond the ditch - never down into it. Don't rush the horse, give him time to assess it, but make it plain that he is supposed to go over. Be prepared for a large leap.

 

[Micky]

Breathe! I was a bag of nerves the first xc I did, missed several jumps towards the end but was elated I got round..second time I kept a steady rhythm in canter, recited the alphabet whilst going round, (helps with rhythm and your breathing) and jumped everything..trot if need be, ride like it’s a fun course not a competition..good luck n let us know how you get on..