A water jump is a purpose-built obstacle found on cross-country and show jumping courses, requiring the horse to jump into, through, or over a body of water. It is one of the most distinctive and psychologically complex obstacles in equestrian competition, testing not only the athletic ability of horse and rider but the horse’s boldness and trust — qualities that take time to develop through systematic training.
Water Jumps in Show Jumping
In the show jumping arena, the water jump (or Liverpool) typically takes the form of a shallow, rectangular tray of water — approximately 4–5 metres wide and just a few centimetres deep — often preceded by a low brush fence or rail. The horse must clear the entire width of the water without any foot touching the surface. Unlike pole fences, the water jump is not designed to fall; a foot in the water results in four faults.
The show jumping water jump tests scope (the horse’s ability to produce a genuinely long, flat trajectory) as well as the horse’s willingness to open up and trust the rider’s direction over an unusual-looking obstacle. Horses that “back off” at water and produce a short, high jump will often clip the far edge. Riders with horses that are new to water jumps typically school over smaller versions at home before encountering a competition-width Liverpool.
Water Complexes in Cross-Country
Cross-country water complexes are considerably more varied and demanding than show jumping water obstacles. On an eventing course, a water complex might include:
- A direct jump into a pond from a bank or fence, requiring the horse to trust that it will find a safe landing
- A wade through water between two jumps — fence in, splash across, fence out
- A combination involving a floating platform or an island in the middle of the water
- A drop fence landing directly in deep water, where the horse must absorb a significant impact on landing before galloping forward
At major events like Badminton, Burghley, or Badminton’s famous Lake, water complexes are crowd-gathering set-pieces — the combination of speed, spectacle, and genuine difficulty concentrates the most errors and retirements of any fence type on course. The FEI regulates the depth and design of water obstacles for safety, with maximum depths set at thresholds that allow horses to gallop without risk of tripping.
Why Horses Refuse at Water
Unlike solid ground, water provides no reliable visual feedback to a horse about depth or footing. From a horse’s evolutionary perspective, stepping into opaque water of unknown depth is a genuine risk — a predator could be lurking; the ground could give way; the footing could be treacherous. This is not stubbornness; it is hard-wired caution.
Training horses to tackle water confidently requires progressive exposure. The process typically begins with walking through shallow puddles in hand or under saddle, advancing to trotting through small water trays, then small jumps into and out of water, and finally the full combination complexes encountered in competition. Attempting to rush this process — particularly by forcing a reluctant horse at a significant water jump — damages trust and typically produces a worse outcome rather than a better one.
Practical Example
At a Novice one-day event, the water complex is usually a straightforward fence into a shallow pond and a canter or trot out over a small log on the far bank. A horse competing at this level for the first time may have seen water in training but not in competition; the atmosphere, crowd noise, and unfamiliarity of the setting can sharpen its hesitation. A rider who has prepared by schooling over a similar complex at home, and who approaches with a positive, forward-riding attitude, will produce a very different result from one who sits passively and waits to see what happens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you do if your horse refuses at a water jump in competition?
In affiliated eventing, a refusal at a fence incurs 11 penalty points. Three refusals at the same obstacle result in elimination. If a horse refuses at a water jump, the rider must circle, re-establish impulsion and the horse’s attention, and re-present at the obstacle — this time with a firmer, more committed ride. Approaching more slowly in hope of a careful look rarely helps; most water refusals are caused by insufficient forward energy. The key is rhythm and positive riding.
How deep can cross-country water be?
The FEI sets a maximum depth for cross-country water complexes at competition level. At CCI4* and CCI5* level, water depth at the point of landing must not exceed 35 cm (approximately 14 inches) to allow a horse to gallop safely without falling. At lower levels, water is typically shallower. Course designers must also ensure footing within the water is solid and uniform — uneven or muddy bottoms that could trap a hoof are prohibited.
Do horses naturally dislike water?
Not universally. Some horses are naturally bold around water and will wade in readily; others are cautious or outright fearful. Breed and individual temperament play a role — many Thoroughbreds with good natural boldness take to water with minimal schooling, while some warmbloods bred for careful movement are more suspicious. Previous negative experiences — a slip in water, or being forced over a jump they were not ready for — can create lasting aversion that requires patient re-training to overcome.