Arville Equestrian

Arville Equestrian The official Facebook-page of Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Kai-Steffen Meier.

28/08/2026

Three essentials for successful cross-country riding 👇🏼

1️⃣ Training
The more different questions you practise at home, the more confidently you can approach them in competition. That means training on grass, riding across varied terrain and jumping both uphill and downhill.

2️⃣ Jumping ability
Two of the three eventing disciplines involve jumping, so an event horse needs to be a capable and reliable jumper. One of my first coaches put it very clearly: “A bad trot doesn’t kill you. A bad jump could.”

3️⃣ Fitness
Both horse and rider need to be properly prepared. As riders, we must be fit enough to maintain a light seat and support our horses instead of becoming a burden. Regular gallop work is just as important for the horse. Asking an unprepared horse to perform is far harder than building its fitness consistently.

Good cross-country rounds are built long before you leave the start box. 💪🏼🐎

22/08/2026

After working on angled fences in Part 1, we now move on to another important question in modern cross country: skinny fences.

Just like before, I introduce the exercise step by step. I start with wings on both sides to give the horse a clear direction and help them understand that the goal is to jump straight between the flags.

Before approaching the skinny, I include a small, straightforward fence to establish a good rhythm and focus. The first time, this mare needed a short moment to lock onto the fence, but she answered the question very well. On the second approach, she already understood the task much better, stayed directly on the line and jumped confidently and straight.

The principle remains the same: give the horse clear guidance, allow them to understand the question and only increase the difficulty when they are ready. 🐴🌿

If you missed Part 1 about introducing angled fences, you can find it in the previous Reel.

08/08/2026

Jumping fences on an angle is becoming increasingly important in modern cross country. The key is to introduce this challenge step by step. 💪🏻

For this exercise, I start with two hedge fillers, a gentle angle and side rails to give the horse a clear line.
Once the horse understands the question, we gradually increase the angle and finally remove the side rails. 🏇

Before approaching the exercise, I always include a straightforward fence to help the horse find its rhythm, canter and focus again.

My approach is simple: start easy, build confidence and only increase the difficulty when the horse is ready.
A few extra jumps are always worthwhile if they help the horse understand the task and finish with confidence. 🐴

04/08/2026

Cross country training with a young horse is not about doing as much as possible. It is about creating a positive and confident experience. 🌿🐴

When we arrive in a new environment, I always give the horse and rider enough time to settle in and understand its surroundings. Only then do we start working.

My advice is simple: keep the session clear, set one or two realistic goals and focus on achieving them calmly.

A successful training session is not measured by the number of fences jumped, but by the confidence the horse takes home. 💪🏼

12/07/2026

What makes Eventing Arville so special? ❤️🇧🇪

We asked a few riders, owners and members of our team to describe Eventing Arville in just one sentence or three words. The answers may be different, but they all share one thing: everyone loves coming back here. 🐎✨

For us, Arville is more than just another competition. It’s our home event, a place with an incredible atmosphere, fantastic facilities and people who put so much passion into making this event what it is.

Today is the final day of Eventing Arville and we’d love to see as many of you as possible. If you’re nearby, come and enjoy a day of top sport, a beautiful venue and an unforgettable atmosphere. Everyone is welcome! 🙌🇧🇪

See you in Arville! ❤️

20/06/2026

Yesterday afternoon, I had the pleasure of giving a Masterclass at the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials. 😎

Three riders won the training session with me, and although they all came from different backgrounds and experience levels, the goal was the same: improving the precision and accuracy needed when riding cross-country fences. 🏇

We worked on the details that make a real difference on course. Finding the right line, maintaining balance, creating a clear plan, and riding every fence with purpose.
No matter the level, these fundamentals are essential for building confidence and achieving better performances in the cross-country phase. 📈

It was great to see all three riders make progress throughout the session and to share ideas that they can take home and continue working on. 😉
A big thank you to the Longines Luhmühlen Horse Trials for the opportunity and to the riders for their motivation.🙏🏻

09/06/2026

As a coach, I see a few common mistakes riders make before heading to an event. The good news is that they’re all things you can work on and improve.

1️⃣ Not preparing enough
The more often you can put yourself and your horse in situations that feel similar to competition, the more confident you’ll be on event day. Good preparation doesn’t just improve performance, it also helps manage nerves.

2️⃣ Moving up too quickly
I often get asked when it’s time to move up a level. My advice is usually to spend a little longer where you are. When you finish a cross-country round feeling completely comfortable and in control, that’s often the right moment to think about the next step.

3️⃣ Overlooking rider fitness
We spend a lot of time talking about horse fitness, but rider fitness is just as important. Staying balanced, riding positively, and supporting your horse throughout the course all require strength and endurance.

If you can avoid these common mistakes, you’ll give both yourself and your horse the best chance of having a successful event.

Which of these points resonates most with you? ⬇️

25/05/2026

❔What makes a 4/5* horse for you?
There’s something truly special about a real five-star horse. 🐴🌟

Not always the flashiest mover. Not always the obvious superstar in every phase. But the ones that come alive when the questions get bigger, the tracks get longer, and the fences get tougher.

The real cross-country specialists have a different mindset. They want to gallop, they want to fight, they want to do the job. You can feel their excitement building throughout the week because they know what’s coming. 🏇🏼🚀

For me, Badminton, Burghley and the big five-stars are still the absolute crown of our sport.
Watching horses and riders grow into these challenges, and seeing them finish these events together, is something incredibly special.

And every now and then, with a young horse, you get that feeling early on…
Maybe this one could become something truly unique. 💫

13/05/2026

For me, being a good trainer is about motivating people and helping them bring out the best in themselves. 🚀

I don’t think it depends on the level. Whether someone is just starting out or competing at the top of the sport, what matters is helping them improve and supporting them in reaching their goals.
Seeing people grow in what they love doing is something I really enjoy. 📈

I’ve been very influenced by Chris Bartle and the way he approached training. His attention to detail and his passion for horsemanship shaped a lot of the way I work today. 🐴

At the same time, I also find inspiration outside of equestrian sport.
Coaches like Jürgen Klopp, with the energy and heart he brought to his teams, or Phil Jackson in basketball.
The best trainers, no matter the sport, have this special ability to get the very best out of people.
That’s something that really fascinates me. 💭

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