Everything you need to know about going cross-country

Posted 10th September 2025

Our guide to boosting your cross-country confidence!

Have you ever wanted to give cross-country a go but you’re not quite sure what to expect? We share our tips and tricks so you can be prepared!

What to expect

Warm up arena – Depending on the venue, it’s likely there will be a space for you to warm up around a selection of fences before heading out further into the cross-country field.
Jump etiquette – The fences will be marked with a white flag and a red flag. This tell you which way the fences should be jumped – with the white on your left and red on your right.
Be mindful of others – When hiring a cross-country venue, there will probably be other riders on the course at the same time, so keep your eyes and ears out and try to stay out of each other’s way where you can! There’s plenty of space for everyone to enjoy their time safely and you might even make new friends, too!

Preparation makes all the difference to you and your pony’s confidence. Here’s how to get cross-country ready…

Whether it’s hacking or schooling in the field, spend time getting comfortable riding outside the arena. Cross-country courses are open spaces, so if you and your pony are confident working out in the open you’ll find your first cross-country experience a breeze!
Practise jumping in different places, not just at home. It doesn’t matter how small the fences are – the most important thing is you have good steering, control and a partnership with your fave pony. This will help you ride accurate lines, approach fences confidently and have a great time, too!
Building fitness is super important in the lead-up to your first time cross-country as the different ground conditions and gradients can be tiring for your pony. You can help by working him on a variety of surfaces as well as doing some hillwork to boost his strength and balance.

Find out more things you need to know before going cross-country in October PONY – on sale now!