Part 1: plan your session

Want to dip your toe into cross-country but not sure where to start? The solution: start by schooling on a surface. Eventer Felicity Collins shows you how

As told to Rebecca Philpot.

Photos: Jon Stroud

In this feature. . . ➤ Practise cross-country-style jumps at home

➤ Find the right venue ➤ Set realistic aims for your session

Riding cross-country is sure to be a resolution for so many riders. Yet, with the idea of perfecting three separate disciplines – one of which requires tackling some rather robust-looking obstacles at speed and on varying going – it can be tricky to know where to start. While dressage can be worked on year-round at home, with the same being said about showjumping, the cross-country phase is arguably the one that causes the most worries – not least because there’s such a small window of the year when conditions suit putting in practice on grass.

This is where schooling on a surface comes into its own. It’s great for preparing you not just for arena eventing – which is a kind of hybrid between crosscountry and showjumping that allows keen eventers somewhere to shape up their skills over winter – but for actual cross-country ready to get out come spring, too. Let’s take a look at my golden rules of getting started.

Our expert

Felicity Collins is an international eventer based in Sussex who regularly coaches riders of all ages and abilities. She’s represented Britain successfully on a number of occasions and made her five-star debut in 2021, finishing in the top 10.