How to ride different terrain

Cross-country riding is all about jumping different types of fence on a variety of terrain. This means the challenge isn’t just about the obstacle your pony has to jump, it’s also about riding across different kinds of ground, over slopes and even through wooded areas. So, how can you prepare your pony to take on these tasks with confidence? Here are my tips.

Back to balance

There are lots of different ways fences can be presented to you and your pony on a cross-country course, and the best way to help your pony jump confidently is to practise these in training. The most important thing to remember is balance – if your pony is in good balance as you approach a fence, they’ll be more likely to land in balance and keep the essential rhythm to help you be successful.

A slippery slope

Being able to maintain rhythm and balance riding up and down slopes is important as you’ll often find them on a cross-country course. Especially if the slope is in trees, or through a narrow gap – such as a hedge – it can be spooky for some ponies.

Begin by walking up and then down the slope, reassuring your pony and focusing on maintaining balance and rhythm. When riding uphill, keep your hands soft so you’re not restricting your pony, and maintain impulsion by wrapping your legs around their side. When riding down the slope, remember to sit a bit taller and keep your hands low to help you and your pony stay in balance.

You can introduce trot and canter – add the faster pace going uphill before you try it going down the slope.

Did you know?

The biggest challenge is maintaining a balanced canter downhill, and this might take a few session to establish, so don’t rush things.

Your canter counts

When riding over any terrain that’s uphill, it’s important to think about your pony’s canter. They’ll need lots of momentum to maintain their rhythm, but it’s important that they don’t zoom off up the hill because then you’re likely to find you get to the top with a tired pony who then struggles to maintain balance, which could affect how well they jump.

The key is to think about keeping a positive canter but not letting it get quicker.

Find out more of Alex Bragg’s  top tips for riding the different terrains   you’ll find cross-country in June PONY! Pick up your copy today!