During the first few weeks of a new eventing season, many young horses get their first taste of splashing through water jumps in a competition environment. Some may even be getting their first ever experience of getting their feet wet if it hasn’t been possible to school them through water in advance so it can be an interesting experience
If you are not sure how your horse will react here are a few little tips;
- A water complex at a competition for lower levels has been professionally built to give your horse safe and easy options to enter the water – ensure you know the options and best routes for your horse if you are not sure of how he will deal with the water
- Speed is not the answer – firm reassurance and a positive attitude from the rider is more valuable. Approach so that your horse can see what is asked and ride positively, keeping your horse as straight as possible and listening to your aids
- Horses are usually happy to follow another horse into the water. If your horse has refused, move aside for the next rider and follow them in at a safe distance
- Once in the water, make it a pleasant experience for your horse. Allow him to stay in there for as long as possible at a walk without disrupting the competition, don’t immediately exit at high speed
- Try to make it a positive experience – you know you have incurred 20 penalties for a refusal but your horse doesn’t care. The most important thing is that he learns to be confident in water and trust you
- Watch the experienced riders - you can learn a lot
Even a 4* rider is happy to take a lead! Will Enzinger's rein broke just before the water jump on the young horse Dulwich Feuerstein at Geelong - having stopped to repair the rein, Will opted to follow the next horse through for a positive outcome
In the video below, Katja Weimann uses the water jump as a training exercise for a young horse she has just started to ride and it works beautifully
