1. SELF CARRIAGE

Allow the horse to be in self-carriage. Do not try to support through the rein contact. This only restricts the use of the head and neck and encourages the horse to take more weight forward as they try to lean on the contact.

2. TURN-OUT TERRAIN

Turn your horse out on hillsides and in fields with varied terrain as much as possible so he gets used to going up and down hills. This is especially important for a young horse. When buying, avoid horses who have only experienced a flat arena and minimal turnout.

3. RIDING TERRAIN

When hacking, deliberately walk, trot, and canter up and down banks and over undulating ground. If you do not live in an area suitable for hacking, you should consider regularly transporting him to somewhere with good hacking.

4. LOOSE SCHOOLING

With your coach, practise loose schooling your horse – without a rider or tack – over small fences. This teaches the horse to make decisions about how to respond without relying on the rider to guide him. The right facilities are essential so get together with some friends and hire a good facility.

5. MINIMAL INTERFERENCE

During jumping training, make sure you interfere with the horse’s jump as little as possible. It is difficult to sit still and make only the smallest of changes as you ride but it will greatly benefit your horse’s fifth-leg training as he will be allowed to take more responsibility for the effort needed and for making small changes to the take-off point.

6. ‘WATCH’ EXERCISES

Place logs or sleepers in front of every stable door, between fields, and along riding tracks. Your horse will have to continually practise looking after himself, watching where he puts his feet, and developing his coordination. This is particularly important for young horses.

7. BANKS AND WATER

If possible build solid, wide banks around your yard, along the side of the drive and between paddocks, suitable for jumping at a slow speed on a regular basis. Also see if you can create an area of water to walk through regularly, possibly on the route to your riding arena.

8. LEAVE THE ARENA BEHIND

Try doing flatwork on varied ground occasionally. It is useful if part of your schooling area has a small incline so that you can practise maintaining controlled impulsion on the slope. This type of exercise is also beneficial to the physical development of your horse.

9. VARY JUMP DISTANCES

During jumping training, ask your coach to help you practise using distances that are both slightly short and slightly long to teach your horse to cope with different take off spots, but with no increase or decrease of weight in the rein.

10. ‘HUNTING’ OVER FENCES

Make all small, 50-75cm (20-30in) schooling fences as solid as possible so that your horse respects them. With your coach, jump these on straight lines, off turns and at all angles, gradually using varied terrain and varied distances between fences. Ride with the minimum of interference, only choosing the right direction and speed. Don’t worry if he hits a fence, this will develop his ability to react and take responsibility for the jump.

Read what five-time Olympian Karen O’Connor says about event horse training