▁combinations ▁of ▁drop ▁f ences ▁into ▁water , ▁obst acles ▁or ▁" is lands " ▁within ▁the ▁water , ▁and ▁bank ▁or ▁obst acles ▁out ▁of ▁the ▁water ▁at ▁upper ▁levels . ▁The ▁water ▁may ▁be ▁no ▁more ▁than ▁ 1 4 ▁inches ▁deep . ▁ ▁Water , ▁due ▁to ▁the ▁drag ▁it ▁places ▁on ▁the ▁horse , ▁makes ▁water ▁obst acle ▁r ides ▁different ▁from ▁those ▁without ▁the ▁water . ▁Drop ▁f ences ▁in ▁can ▁cause ▁the ▁r ider ▁to ▁come ▁flying ▁off ▁on ▁landing ▁if ▁he ▁or ▁she ▁is ▁not ▁in ▁a ▁def ensive ▁position . ▁The ▁st ride ▁of ▁the ▁horse ▁is ▁short ened , ▁which ▁must ▁be ▁taken ▁into ▁account ▁when ▁design ing ▁and ▁r iding ▁obst acles ▁within ▁the ▁water . ▁F ences ▁within ▁the ▁water ▁need ▁to ▁be ▁r idden ▁with ▁a ▁good ▁deal ▁of ▁imp ulsion . ▁ ▁Additionally , ▁some ▁horses ▁are ▁c aut ious ▁of ▁water , ▁and ▁require ▁a ▁strong ▁ride . ▁Exper ience ▁and ▁confidence - building ▁training ▁can ▁help ▁to ▁less en ▁any ▁tim id ity ▁from ▁the ▁horse . ▁ ▁The ▁foot ing ▁of ▁the ▁water ▁complex ▁should ▁be ▁firm ▁and ▁it ▁is ▁important ▁for ▁the ▁compet itor ▁to ▁walk ▁into ▁the ▁water ▁during ▁the ▁course ▁walk ▁to ▁test ▁the ▁foot ing , ▁depth ▁of ▁the ▁water , ▁and ▁any ▁drop - off ▁areas ▁in ▁the ▁complex . ▁ ▁Water ▁cross ings ▁often ▁include ▁a ▁bank ▁or , ▁at ▁higher ▁levels , ▁a ▁drop ▁f ence ▁into ▁the ▁water ▁.