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Guest blog QHP: How to turn your horse into a cross country machine

Do you enjoy show jumping with your horse and are you ready to tackle the next level? What about cross country for a change? In our blog from last year, we explained everything you need for your first cross country lessons and competitions. Not sure if your horse is ready for it yet? In this blog, we will give you tips on how to prepare your horse for these lessons.

How to turn your horse into a cross country machine

For cross country, you need a brave horse

Some horses are born brave, others need some extra encouragement. If you do cross-country, you may bump into a lot of things. It is important that your horse can rely on you and that you build up this trust. The more often your horse experiences a positive feeling about an exciting situation, the more confidence your horse gets in you. This also works the other way around, so make sure that you do not ask too much of your horse! 

Find situations that your horse might find exciting, and let him get used to them. If you see something a strange object on the road, ride to it and see what your horse thinks of it. Do you see a narrow passage? See if your horse wants to go through it. Or go around some between trees or poles. Do you come across a low tree trunk? ride towards it and see if your horse wants to jump it. If you want to practice at home, explore the grounds for anything your horse might find exciting so you can train your horse at home.

At every cross country ride, there is a water element. If your horse doesn't want to go through the water yet, let him get used to it very calmly in a safe and shallow pond. Be grateful for each step and extend it slowly. You don't want your horse to have a negative experience with it.

Turn your ordinary obstacle into a crazy one with obstacles around it. For example, put some flower pots next to it, put a groundsheet on top of it or put a hay bale in between. Walk past it first, and if your horse isn't scared (anymore), you can jump over the obstacle.
With cross country, you can also encounter smaller obstacles, which require extra steering skills! You can practice this by placing two other bars at each side of an obstacle, so you'll get a more narrow area so your horse doesn't get the change to swerve it. If your horse understands this, you can also try a hay bale, without extra poles! With cross country leg protection you make sure your horse is well protected from fixed obstacles. 

Fitness and control

The cross country test takes a lot longer than a show jumping test. That's why it is important to do canter training to improve the fitness level of your horse. During trail rides, go canter parts and expand them in length, frequency and speed. In the cross country, you have an ideal time, but you have to canter at a higher basic pace than at a normal show jumping course.

Besides this, you have a different approach to obstacles compared to show jumping. With cross country, you have a long run toward an obstacle. In the beginners level, you'll also have a jury, which gives you a score your riding skills. So your horse has to be able to canter a lot, but your horse also has to be able to get back in tempo when you ask for it.

It's also important to work on your fitness and balance! You have to be able to ride a large part in jumping position and in the meantime, you have to be able to keep control your horse.
Through hard work both of you will probably sweat a lot, so make sure you have a comfortable and absorbent saddle pad for your horse and a comfortable training shirt for yourself.

Taking the next step

Is your horse ready for the real deal now? Then you can look for cross country training in your region. Make sure you are well prepared, for example with a body protector and a good breastplate for your horse. Do you like it? Then look into the possibility to practise on different terrains, so that your horse encounters new obstacles every time and you keep challenging your horse. A real cross country horse sees possibilities everywhere, so your rides become more and more challenging as you gain more experience!

Check here for the entire QHP cross country assortment for you and your horse!



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