Course Walk: The What and the Why
One course. Ten jumps. Hundreds of things galloping through your mind.
“How will I remember where to go?”
“What if my horse refuses?”
“What if I lose my stirrup?”
“Does the jump-off come right after the first round?”
“That oxer off the short turn looks huge!”
“What if I cross the start line before the buzzer?”
And on and on…
Navigating an entire course of jumps, especially in a new setting, can be overwhelming. Some riders thrive on the charged competition atmosphere, adrenaline honing their focus. For others, competition cranks up anxiety and challenges concentration.
Regardless of where you are on that spectrum, knowing what to expect at a show and what practical steps you can take upon arrival to best prepare for the start buzzer empowers you to make the most of each round.
You have invested a lot into competing, from endless hours developing your canter to cramped fingers scrubbing your tack.
This article will help you not only optimize your course walk, but get you started with mental preparation strategies that can help give you an edge going into the arena.
More knowledge creates more confidence—and a better competitor.
So what’s the point of a course walk?
We’ll explain what a course walk includes and which riding disciplines allow them at competitions. We will cover how the walk helps riders plan their rounds, including key things a savvy competitor can learn during a course walk to help develop the best plan for their ride.
What is a Course Walk?
A course walk is an opportunity to navigate a course of jumps on foot (without your horse) prior to your ride time.
Doing so provides all kinds of information gleaned from an educated view of the jumps, the arena, and the route, from the ground, as opposed to simply looking at a course map, or sussing out your course from a position outside the arena.
Walking your course with your trainer or a more experienced rider is an excellent way to learn how you might improve your ride.
In the Hunter/Jumper world, most shows build in time for riders to walk their course between every course change or height change throughout a show day. In some cases, the course walk will be offered every few classes to alleviate time constraints. Most shows also allow Equitation riders to walk the course.
Typically, Hunter competitions do not allow a course walk. The distances in the lines are posted on the course diagram, so, theoretically, there is no need to walk between the jumps.
Why Do a Course Walk?
The course walk is a key opportunity to not only get familiar with the order of the fences, but also to create a comprehensive plan that increases your likelihood of success.
The course walk can help you determine:
- The best path, or route, between jumps
- The ideal pace for each part of the course
- Your specific horse’s ideal striding between jumps
- The most advantageous spots to turn to approach fences
- What the course designer is asking in different sections of the course
- The start and finish line location
- The location of the judge
- Potentially spooky jumps
- Potentially spooky parts of the arena (or just outside the arena)
Why So Much Preparation?
Gathering information during the course walk—and knowing how to put that information to use—will give you a distinct advantage over competitors.
Preparation leads to confidence and confidence leads to success. Understanding what the course designer is asking and how those questions will influence your horse makes it more likely you will answer successfully!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you walk the course before a show jumping round?
Yes, a course walk is an important part to jumping a successful round. The course walk will allow the rider to figure out the best (and fastest) way to navigate their particular horse around the jumps, maximizing the team’s strengths for the greatest chance at a clean round within the allotted time.
Do you walk the course before a cross country trip?
Yes, walking the cross country course is a very important part of preparing for your ride! Some riders will walk the course multiple times.
How many feet is a horse’s stride?
A horse stride (for jumping purposes!) is twelve feet. You also must account for takeoff and landing distances.
Parting Thoughts
If we do not know what the question is, it is very difficult to answer it correctly. Use this article to help understand your courses, prepare well and conquer your goals.
In subsequent articles, we will dig into course design basics and find out what types of challenges the course designer includes in different types of courses. We will also explore how courses vary for different jumping disciplines.
P.S. Enjoy this article? Trot on over to:
- Walking a
Show Jumping Course: A Helpful Beginner’s Guide - Jump Jargon: A Simple Guide to Horse Jumping Terms
- 10 Best Stirrups for Jumping Clear (And Staying Safe)
- 100+ Things to Pack for a Jumping Horse Show (Checklist)
- When can (and should) you start jumping a horse?
- How Often to Replace Horseback Riding Helmets
