Jumping indoors whether youre training or competing can be a whole different ballgame, so its important that both you and your horse are prepared.It makes sense that the smaller the arena, the harder it becomes, particularly when youre jumping. Competing indoors tends to be a seasonal thing when the weather is calm and the going is good, most training and competitions (although not all) are done outside on grass. So for many riders and horses, when autumn hits and the weather turns, they find themselves jumping indoors for the first time in a long time.Jumping indoors for the first time in the year always affects horses even the most experienced of them, says British showjumping star Joe Stockdale, son of the late Olympian Tim Stockdale.Going from big, light and spacious outdoor arenas into tighter indoor ones makes the fences look more closely packed. Horses seem more aware of the tight space, and I can tell that they feel restricted. Its tough for the rider too fences seem to come up much more quickly.Whether competing indoors or outdoors, Joe keeps the warm-up routine he uses for his horses the same.My warm up for both indoor and outdoor competitions doesnt change too dramatically as I like to keep the routine the same for me and the horses, he explains.This allows for consistency in the way you prepare, and hopefully this will be reflected in your performance in the ring too. Each horse is different, of course, which should be reflected in the way you approach the warm up.Warming up indoorsRemind yourself of the etiquette required for the warm up arena. There are two golden rules:Always pass left to left to prevent collisions and avoid circling in the immediate vicinity of the warm up fences so that you dont block the take off or landing areas.Dont chase the horse in front of you to the warm up fence, leave plenty of room between your horse and theirs so that if they knock it down you dont have to take evasive action to avoid the fence, which isnt great preparation for your horses jumping round.I keep an eye on whats going on around me and start the jumping phase of my warm up when there are about eight horses to go until its me, says Joe. It doesnt help to over-jump a horse. Remember the warm up is just that a warm up.I start by jumping a small vertical and build it up to about the height Im going to jump in the ring. Theres really no need to jump anything bigger than what youre about to face. After Ive jumped the vertical, I tackle the oxer, raising it two or three holes at a time until I get to the height Ill be jumping in the ring.In the ringWhen jumping indoors in an arena that feels small and busy, your horse will need to be super attentive to your aids, but also be prepared to think for themselves when needed. They also need to be super balanced to deal with all the tight turns involved. Here are eight tips to prepare you both for a confident round:Create confidenceAs Joe says above, the first thing to nail is your warm up. Create a simple that you can use at home before a jumping session and then replicate it at competitions. It should involve lots of circles, changes of bend and transitions. Make sure your horse stretches at the beginning and end of the warm up too.The familiarity of your warm-up routine will give you and your horse confidence.Shorten your distancesWhen competing indoors over fences youll be faced with shorter related distances three- or four-stride combinations rather than seven or eight. Build these distances at home to help your horse deal with them.Practise in tight spacesSpace will be tighter when competing indoors and youll be jumping into the wall. You can practise this in your field or outdoor school at home just position the jumps near the edge of the arena or fence line and closer together than usual. This will help you both hone your skills at jumping on and off tight turns, as well as short lines to the approach of a fence and its exit. Advanced event rider Barry Meningen shares three simple but effective exercises to try when training here.Hire an indoor arenaMost people dont have their own indoor school (we wish), but its a good idea to practise in one if you can by hiring a school for an hour so that you (and your horse) can get a feel for it. Many indoor jumping venues leave the course up the day after a competition so that people can hire it for training sessions. Make the most of these opportunities when they come up.Make the most of every cornerUse all the corners when youre competing indoors, because there will be less room to take a turn and so you must utilise the space thats available well. Cutting corners wastes precious space that could mean the difference between a good stride and a poor one, and a clear round or jumping penalties.Walk the course wellWalk the course carefully and watch a number of other competitors rounds before youre called in to jump. This way you can work out whats causing riders most problems and where there are any particularly tight turns and lines perhaps some that you didnt notice on your course walk.Beware shadows when competing indoorsShadows occur outside on sunny days too, of course, but when youre jumping indoors the way the lights shine on some fillers may be spooky and dark corners could cause a spook too. Indoor arenas can be noisy too, with the sound of voices, footsteps, coffee cups, chairs etcetera echoing around the ring. Those sounds will feel close to you too, and it can take some getting used to.Relax and have funRemember, youre competing indoors to enjoy yourself and make memories with your horse and a rosette would be the icing on the cake! Take a few deep breathes and think positively. If youre feeling nervous, there are things you can do to help you feel more confident.Main image Shutterstock for illustration purposes only. Joe Stockdale is not pictured.The post Joe Stockdales tips for success when jumping a horse indoors appeared first on Your Horse.