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Get Ready For Eventing Season

As lighter nights gradually begin to arrive, equestrians sigh with relief that the deep (and muddy) depths of winter may finally be drawing to a close. It also signals an exciting time as we grow closer to the start of another exhilarating season. Now is the perfect time to take a look at how far you have come with your preparations for the season ahead and decide whether you are ready to take the next step of booking an event.

At Eland Lodge Equestrian, we run annual British Eventing competitions and unaffiliated Cross Country, Dressage and Show Jumping throughout the year, aswell as Arena Eventing during the winter months. We’ve put together our top tips for preparing for the eventing season and how to ensure that you and your horse are fit and ready, for whatever level you’ll be competing at.

Condition your horse early

Start working on your horse’s fitness well in advance of the eventing season. During the winter, you’ll have been continuing to focus on both flatwork, jumping, and conditioning rides to build up stamina, strength and muscle engagement. Hill work and cantering on different terrains simulate the varying conditions of eventing courses, so try to incorporate different levels of incline and be sure to add in some flat sections for recovery.

Hill work is hugely beneficial to the event horse, promoting topline and strength, as well as providing a cardiovascular workout. This type of work also helps your horse to mentally prepare for the challenging scenery and terrain of the cross country and is something that will keep them stimulated over the long winter months.

Focus on Dressage

Dressage is often the foundation for your eventing score, so don’t neglect it! Aim to practice movements from your dressage test regularly, paying attention to your horse’s suppleness and responsiveness. A good stretching session before rides will also help your horse to loosen up.

Introduce Cross-Country Schooling

Cross-country schooling should be part of your training in the lead-up to the season. If possible, practice different types of jumps, on varied terrain to simulate competition conditions. An arena eventing course can be a good first step to introducing cross country style fences and prepare for eventing, in a controlled arena environment. Many arena eventing facilities have a wide range of obstacles including water jumps, skinny or angled fences, combinations, ditches and steps that help to emulate the challenges of a real cross country course as much as possible, helping you to hone your skills before you get out on the main course.

Check Your Tack & Gear

Double-check all your tack, including saddles, bridles, and boots. Make sure everything fits well and is in good condition and meets the current safety standards. Even if you are competing at unaffiliated events, it’s always a good idea to check the British Eventing 2025 Handbook for guidance on tack and clothing, as most venues will follow similar rules (albeit a little more lenient). it also gets you into the right practices should you wish to affiliate in future.

For a more in-depth guide of what to wear for eventing cross country, dressage and showjumping we have linked our handy guides.

Develop a Jumping Routine

Focus on building rhythm and balance and use flatwork exercise to help improve your horse’s responsiveness.

Start by jumping small courses that mimic eventing courses, gradually increasing difficulty as you progress. Familiarise your horse with various types of jumps including oxers, verticals and combinations, ensuring you gradually build their confidence to the different obstacles before increasing the complexity and height.

Nutrition & Hydration

Pay attention to your horse’s diet well in advance of your first eventing competition. Make sure they're getting the proper balance of energy and nutrients for their training sessions and in the build up to the competition season. Keep your horse hydrated, especially during intense training sessions.

Carrying a hydration supplement within your eventing kit to aid water-loss replenishment can be just the boost your horse’s system needs after a hard training session or an event. Something like H2Pro Focus Hydration is easy to take with you on the go and will aid with hydration to maintain muscle function and reduce brain ‘fog’.

Unaffiliated ODE

To get your horse used to competition day, try attending a couple of unaffiliated ODE’s before going affiliated, or attend combined training events before an unaffiliated ODE.

Not only will this help you to ascertain whether your horse is physically ready for an affiliated event, but it will help you to assess their mental preparedness and ability to cope with the competition environment.

Know The Eventing Rules & Schedule

Make sure you’re up to date on any changes to the eventing rules for the upcoming season. Be sure to check the rules of each venue as well!

Check out the Eland Lodge events calendar to find out when all of our unaffiliated and British Eventing competitions will be taking place in 2025. We pride ourselves on being a friendly, supportive and welcoming events centre, open to riders of all ability – whether you are just starting out or are stiving to advance through the levels.