What to look for when walking a show jumping course

When walking a show jumping course, I want to leave knowing what each fence asks of my horse and which questions still need answering during the warm-up. A careful course inspection is not about predicting the round perfectly. It is about spotting useful information early, so nerves do not swallow every detail on the start line.

On Australian circuits, that inspection can happen on grass at Sydney Olympic Park, where a coastal breeze or a shower may redraw the options, or at Bonegilla in Victoria, where the large outdoor arenas offer generous galloping space but little room for carelessness. Course is the word most riders use, jump-off is the word for the extra phase, and distances are spoken in metres.

I walk once for the shape, once for the horse and once for the plan. That sounds excessive until a tight line, a practice fence or a change in footing makes the first impression misleading. The aim is simple: arrive at each fence with a clear idea while leaving enough room for the horse to tell you something different.

Read the map before the jumps

The published course map is the starting point. Check the start and finish flags, the direction of travel, the number beside every fence and the direction of any combination. Look for fences that must be taken at a particular speed or from a particular canter lead, because those details influence what you can practise and how much time you must allow between them.

Pay close attention to the time allowed. A flowing course may give you time to regain balance after a difficult corner, while a demanding sequence can leave no room to recover from a fence that did not go to plan. During a jump-off, the time becomes even more important, so note which part of the course offers a place to gain a stride and which requires immediate acceleration.

The arena’s shape is just as useful as the map. Notice where the entrance and exit sit, which fences require a sharp turn and whether the available galloping space matches the distances shown. Long sides can disguise a tight line, while a narrow section may make a related distance feel shorter than the number suggests.

See the arena and its edges

Walk around the competition arena and study the surface before you study the fences. Grass at an Australian venue can vary from soft and holding to quick and slippery, particularly after irrigation or a passing storm. Check the landing areas, especially behind drops and into related fences, because a safe-looking takeoff can lead to a tiring or uneven landing.

Look at the fence itself. Notice the height, the width of the jump and whether the rails invite a forward, cautious or slightly elevated effort. A wide oxer or open spread requires more confidence and impulsion than a square fence. Filler rails, plants and standards can affect how the horse sees the jumping point, while the red and white flags show exactly where a square judgement is expected.

Spend time in the warm-up arena as well. Compare the practice fences with those waiting in the ring, and see whether the practice distance gives you the same canter rhythm. Many Australian shows allow boots and brushing in the warm-up, but the competition rules still apply once you enter. The ground, available space and time allowed can change how the same distance feels.

Judge the related distances

Related fences deserve particular attention. Use the walk to count the canter strides between them and decide whether the first effort leaves your horse balanced for the second. Do not treat a stride count as an inflexible instruction. A horse may need an extra stride because the ground is slow, the first fence was slightly wide or she was pressed into a less comfortable canter rhythm.

Look for places where you must shorten, lengthen or reshape the canter. A tight corner followed by a downhill fence calls for control without losing forward energy. A square fence after a long related distance asks for a balanced restart. If there is no room to organize the canter before the next effort, the course may require a more committed answer than you would prefer.

Consider the jumping technique each obstacle encourages. A steep fence rewards a more forward approach, while a deep or solid-looking obstacle may make your horse wait. Check the takeoff and landing points for each combination, and imagine where your horse might place her feet. Useful course walking connects the numbers with the actual questions posed by the fences.

Walk the line through the horse’s eye

A course can look straightforward on paper and feel quite different through the horse’s eyes. Notice whether she is looking into the fence, drifting towards a filler or hesitating at the visual contrast between rails and the background. Shadows, banners, flowers beside the standards and movement outside the arena can all affect how clearly she reads the jumping point.

From the horse’s perspective, a good line is one she can maintain without constant interference. From the rider’s perspective, there may be several ways to achieve it: shortening the canter, using a more deliberate approach, changing your balance or accepting a small deviation to preserve momentum. Decide which options suit your partnership rather than assuming there is only one perfect answer.

This is where preparation and nerves meet. Too much analysis can make you rigid and hesitant, while arriving without a plan leaves you reacting fence by fence. Talk through what your horse is telling you, then choose one or two priorities for the round. A clear intention gives you something useful to ride without turning the course into a checklist of worries.

Account for ground, weather and changes

Australian weather can alter a course between the official walk and competition time. Heat may have riders starting early, afternoon storms can leave selected landing areas greasy, and a gust from the coast can push flags or disturb a horse’s focus. Check whether rain has affected the surface behind fences and look for patches where the grass has been heavily used.

Be ready for course changes. A rail may come down, a flag may be moved, or the direction of a fence may need to be altered when the ground is unsafe. Listen for announcements from the officials and check the revised instructions before jumping. A changed jump should be treated as new information, not as proof that the original plan no longer works.

The wider eventing picture matters as well because show jumping sits between dressage and cross-country, and one arena result can reshape the strategy for the rest of the competition. I often unpack those decisions in my Mania in the Middle eventing recaps, particularly when a technically neat round changes the pressure waiting on the cross-country phase.

Use the people around you

Your trainer, coach, groom, owner and fellow competitors can all provide useful perspectives. Ask someone who knows your horse to watch how she approaches the more awkward fences. A fresh pair of eyes may notice that she looks towards the rail, steps onto the same leading foot or becomes uncomfortable when the galloping space narrows.

The informal language of the Australian equestrian community is often wonderfully direct. Someone might say, “Have a proper look at that distance,” suggest you have “a bit of room” after a turn, or advise you to “sugar the jump” if the horse is already looking concerned. These comments become valuable when they describe the horse accurately rather than adding more noise to an already crowded mind.

Before leaving the course, reduce the session to a few practical points. Check the opening canter, one related distance, the place where you expect to recover and the final fence. Then decide who will hold the reins, which boots and studs you will use and what you want to achieve in the warm-up. Preparation is strongest when responsibility is shared and expectations remain clear.

Turn the walk into a clear plan

Write down your priorities while the course is still fresh. Three well-chosen points are usually more useful than a long list of instructions: the rhythm you want for the opening canter, the related distance that worries you most and the moment in the round where you intend to regain time. Give each point an alternative if the first attempt does not work.

Competition weekends are also about community, shared horses and the people who make the sport possible. If you want the season to support a wider cause, the Chum charity work is worth exploring before the competition calendar fills. Giving back can become part of the same routine that keeps you and your horse competing.

On your next course walk, take ten minutes with the map, your phone and your trainer. Mark the plan, speak the priorities aloud and choose one canter rhythm to carry into the warm-up. Then trust the preparation, listen to the horse and ride the course you have actually seen.