Horse's legs in the dirty water 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.”
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
{"content":"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"}
Did you find this article helpful? You may also like to read…
Spooking on cross-country courses makes for an uncomfortable round for horse and rider – even if it’s nothing to do with the fences.
Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
The ultimate skinny fence: a narrow brush at the bottom of a steep slope at the 2022 World Championships caused plenty of run-outs.
Credit: Peter Nixon
Credit: Peter Nixon
Harry’s system of routine fitness work for his horses from a young age builds resilient core strength without putting too much pressure on them physically.
Credit: William Carey
Credit: Future
