United States Eventing Association

Tips for A Confident First Cross-Country School with Your Young Event Horse

The Young and Future Event Horse article series is being provided through a partnership between Mythic Landing Enterprises, LLC., and the USEA.

Laura VanderVliet of L&N Equestrian is a top eventing professional that has experience starting young horses and competing through the upper levels. A former assistant trainer and barn manager at True Prospect Farm, home of Phillip Dutton, she has developed skills across a number of different disciplines and continues to train with the best competitors in the equestrian world.

VanderVliet became involved with the Young Event Horse (YEH) program because she felt that it is a great way to introduce young horses to eventing without the cost of a full horse trials or the added pressure. “I really enjoy this program because you get to see what judges think of your horse without them being overly harsh, especially in the dressage phase. The qualifiers really act more like a schooling experience for the horses.”

A big milestone in a young horse’s education is their first cross-country school. Before VanderVliet plans to do any schooling, she will make sure that they are walking, trotting and cantering properly and have been off the property a few times for a hack or a trail ride. VanderVliet explains, “I tend to start jumping my horses over logs rather than rails in the ring because that’s more natural for them. Once I’ve jumped them a few times and they’re confident with everything at home, then I’ll take them off the property for a proper schooling.”

Start small. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

Taking a more experienced horse with you is always a good idea as they keep the young horse settled and can give them a lead over a jump. “I always want to set myself up for success so I will always start with the smallest, most uncomplicated jump I can find to start with. I want to be sure that my horse is going to jump the first jump I present them for the day. I may even take them through the water right away if I’ve taken the horse on lots of hacks because water crossings are something I know they’re comfortable with.”

VanderVliet continues that it’s important to pick a venue where you’re going to be comfortable and that there are enough small jumps to start with. “Start with the easiest jump, keep them straight and keep jumping that jump until it’s easy. Keep that same mentality as you progress in your school. It seems like such a simple concept but I’ve watched too many riders begin to progress to harder and bigger jumps before the horse is ready, which gets them into trouble,” VanderVliet describes.

Make sure your horse is confident over the small logs before moving onto anything larger. USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo.

Anything you jump, try to ensure that you can be successful at it the first time. VanderVliet always urges her students with young horses to try their hardest to make sure it works the first time so the horse begins to learn that they must jump on the first attempt.

With horses, rarely does anything go to plan so if you run into an issue, VanderVliet offers some respectable advice that you can use to work through it. “For most horses, the real reason that they refuse is because they’re concerned more about the landing rather than the actual jump. If my horse stops at a jump, I’ll have them halt in front of it and look to the other side. When I re-approach all I’m concerned about is their straightness and keeping them in front of my leg,” VanderVliet explains.

VanderVliet also mentions to not be afraid to go back and build back up to whatever it was that made your horse nervous. With young horses just starting out, it’s important to have a goal in mind with what you want to finish on and then don’t go beyond that. It’s much better to end your day on an easy jump with a confident horse rather than asking your horse to jump something challenging that may push them out of their comfort zone.

To learn more about Laura and her program, please visit her website: www.lauravandervlieteventing.com