If you’re thinking of competing in rated shows like Hunter Jumper A and B, you’ll want to do everything you can to be fully prepared. Not only do you need to be prepared, but your horse does too, and that means exposing him to as many jumps as possible. There is nothing worse than entering the show ring and having your horse refuse at the first jump. Even if you don’t have a very spooky horse, it’s a good idea to expose him to a wide range of jumping so you both know what to expect. Here are some things to add to your boot camp.

Liverpool

It is incredibly important to have a Liverpool at home if you plan to compete in high level show jumping or horse riding. Even the sturdiest horses tend to look closely at waterfalls. A good alternative to water is to have a blue tarp that you can spread out under the jump.

brick wall

The brick walls are actually wooden boxes painted to look like bricks. Bright colors and solid features can sometimes scare horses away.

rollable

Roll tops are made of wood and can be found painted in a range of colours. However, horse shows usually have roll-up canopies covered with green artificial grass.

flower boxes and brushes

You should have many flower boxes and brushes with a variety of artificial flowers of different colors for each box.

Planks and Doors

Planks and gates are great for completing jumps and creating a different look for each obstacle. Make sure they are varied in both color and design.

Once you have all these extra jumps, remember to change them regularly. You want your horse to see new jumps all the time, so by changing boxes, rearranging the course, and adding new florets, you’re giving yourself the best chance of doing well once you get to the show arena. On a final note, remember to practice jumping over very plain white fences too, sometimes those are the scariest!