Maximizing the Course Walk with Michele Mueller

It’s more than knowing the route you’ll have to take – it’s about determining how to answer the questions various obstacles will ask, figuring out where to increase or slow your pace, and deciding what lines to ride to jumps.

Here are tips from 2012 Olympian Michele Mueller of Port Perry, ON, on how to make the most of your course walk:

“I recommend that you walk the course at least twice. The first time, walk it with your coach and listen to his or her advice, discuss how the fences are set up, what the course designer is trying to do, what lines you should take, and what questions a fence may pose. Walk it again, reviewing what your coach told you on the first walk. Make sure you take your course map with you, so you can use it to navigate your way around, rather than just following markers.

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Less experienced riders tend to get apprehensive and may draw a blank after the walk when they’re going through the course in their head. Take along your cell phone and take pictures of the jumps in sequence so you can review the course before you ride.

As you walk by the start box, think about how you are going to come out of it and ride to your first few fences. With students at the lower levels who may be new to eventing, I suggest they trot the first few steps out of the box, then gradually build up the pace. The main thing is to get around safely, not to worry about time faults when you are new to the sport.

Between the first couple of fences, remember that you’ll want to kick on and get on pace. Riding the correct pace is something you should have practised at home. With my students, I set broom handles with markers on them in a field at 350 and 400 metres and time my riders as they gallop to see if they have to go faster or slower for their levels.

Consider the line of approach you’ll take to each fence and walk that line to see if it’s going to put your horse where you want him to be.

Observe where you are going to be riding uphill or downhill. Make a mental note that when you’re cantering downhill, you’ll need to keep your horse in balance and in front of your leg. You want him to have his hocks and rear end underneath him so he doesn’t get on his forehand or run away with you at the bottom of the hill. You’ll need to use a half-halt to keep him balanced, but keep your leg on.

Make note of uphill stretches, too. Most riders find it more comfortable to push their horses up a hill, but he still has to be in balance, keeping his momentum and not charging. You don’t want to be flat-out galloping when you hit the peak, as there may be a jump just a few strides out that you’ll have to balance him for.

If you have to deal with a bank, remind yourself to come back to a trot or even a walk if you are new to this. Nervous riders tend to pull and hold, causing their horses to stop or launch themselves. You will want to let your horse have enough freedom to use his neck, but you’ll need to keep your leg on.

Look for places where you can gallop and pick up your pace, as well as where you’ll have to set your horse back and slow down a bit.

When you are walking toward the last fence, remind yourself that you will want to keep to your pace and rhythm and not go hell-bent for leather. Make a mental note to ride the last fence with the same concentration you rode all the others – it would be a shame to mess up a good cross-country round with a mistake at the final obstacle!