Build readiness, then aim for a clean run
Work toward medium competitions in Horses of Hoofprint Bay by developing your horse’s strength, endurance and confidence through suitable training. To improve your chances of winning, balance pace against stamina, avoid obstacle faults and use easier competition settings or auto-jump if you need assistance.
Start with the competition your horse can handle
Caprilli tests are the starting point in the rebalanced progression. They combine precise gait transitions with low jumping obstacles, giving you a place to practise before ordinary show jumping. The rebalancing lowered starter-horse stats enough that even a fully trained starter horse falls short of the opening show-jumping competition’s ability range.
Treat medium competition as a horse-development goal rather than something to rush through with riding inputs alone. Build the horse’s capabilities while practising your own control. If an attempt feels consistently beyond reach, return to preparation before trying to force a faster run.
Prepare your horse before entering
- Complete suitable training exercises to develop strength and endurance. These are part of your horse’s competition readiness, so make physical preparation a priority before attempting a more demanding event.
- Practise Desensitization to develop confidence. Approach the scary object while watching your horse’s reactions, praise curiosity and allow space and time when the horse becomes worried.
- Groom your horse before competing to avoid losing Prestige for entering on a dirty horse. Make cleanliness part of your competition preparation instead of leaving it until after the ride.
- Wear appropriate competition clothing before entering. Competing without appropriate clothing can reduce Prestige, so include your rider’s outfit in the same preparation routine.
Balance pace, stamina and obstacle faults
Choose a pace that balances speed with stamina and control. Avoiding obstacle faults matters alongside maintaining a competitive pace. Aim for a controlled, repeatable attempt before pushing harder for speed.
Watch for the warning icon before an unprompted gait change. It gives you an opportunity to correct your horse before it slows down or speeds up. Keep paying attention even with full confidence, because personality traits can still cause some horses to change gait on their own.
After a disappointing attempt, identify the problem you most need to practise: pace, obstacle execution or keeping the requested gait. Focus your next attempt on that problem rather than changing your whole approach at once. Once the run feels controlled, look for places where you can ride more efficiently.
Use competition assistance when it helps
The difficulty settings include easier competitions, and auto-jump is available as an accessibility option for players who struggle with jumping. Try auto-jump if obstacles are the part that keeps disrupting your attempts. Consider easier competition difficulty if the overall challenge is getting in the way of enjoying your progress.
Adjust advice to the version you are playing
| Version | What it means for competition progress |
|---|---|
| February demo | Its saves do not transfer to the full game. Fast starter-horse progression advice comes from the older balance; treat exact demo penalty calculations as version-specific guidance. |
| October demo | It retains a 25-day limit but uses lower starter-horse stats and more closely represents the opening of the full game. Its saves can transfer to the full release. |
| Full release — November 4, 2026 | The full game has no day limit. Take the time to develop a suitable horse instead of treating the demo’s limited playtime as a deadline for reaching medium competitions. |
Turn competition wins into yard progress
Competition wins earn prize money and contribute to Prestige. Prize money supports stable growth, while Prestige affects the quality of horses offered by the breeder, the variety of tack in the shop and which trail rides are available to unlock. A medium victory contributes to that wider progression.
Use your earnings with your next training goal in mind. Advanced building stages unlock additional training courses and staff applications, so facilities can support your longer-term development. Choose improvements that help the horses and activities you want to focus on next.