{"piano":{"sandbox":"false","aid":"u28R38WdMo","rid":"R7EKS5F","offerId":"OF3HQTHR122A","offerTemplateId":"OTQ347EHGCHM"}}

Worried about riding on wet, slippery or deep going? Top event riders share tips on how to help your horse cope

How do I teach my horse to jump out of soft ground? What can I do to make his job easier? Olympic event rider Nicola Wilson and five-star cross-country supremo Tom Crisp share their top tips in this exclusive article for H&H subscribers

  • Sooner or later every rider who ventures outside the arena will find themselves riding on wet ground and grappling with mud. The good news, says the 2021 European eventing champion Nicola Wilson, is that horses are surprisingly good all-terrain vehicles — if they are allowed to be – but there are a few caveats about riding your horse on wet ground.

    “Horses often prefer sloshing along in the wet rather than running on hard ground, but they need to be prepared and confident, and this comes through exposure and experience,” Nicola says.

    While withdrawing in particularly bad conditions is always an option, especially if you feel underprepared, Nicola points out that shying away from tackling trickier conditions in competition is a learning opportunity missed.

    “If you get to a big event and your horse has never had to go on wet ground before then you have not set yourself up for success,” she says.

    Tom Crisp points out that the mechanics of a horse’s stride can change in wet ground, and this can take a bit of getting used to.

    “Horses use themselves slightly differently in the wet. They don’t always have the same adjustability as they do on dry ground,” he explains. “Every time the horse takes a step his foot slips a fraction, which can cause some to lose a little confidence in their jump and go a bit green.

    “All this adds an extra layer of difficulty to cross-country riding, but the more you practise in wet conditions the more you will learn about how your horse reacts and how you might need to ride him differently.

    “At Cornbury [in September 2025] we all had a bit of a shock when it rained and we had to jump out of mud for the first time since March. Most horses coped well, but it was a reminder that we need to prepare for these eventualities by laying good foundations and training in the wet when we have the chance.”

    2024 Pau winners Caroline Harris and D-Day go cross-country with wet ground

    Caroline Harris and D-Day have strong form in wet going, with wins at Pau CCI5* and Lignières CCI4* in the mud. Credit: Peter Nixon

    How to prepare for riding your horse on wet ground

    Did you find this article helpful? You may also like to read…

    You may like...