Most horses are a work in progress, becoming more confident, wise, and educated. Riders should constantly adapt to these changes, but often have a hard time letting go of old "baggage." They tend to ride the horse they used to have, which means the horse will tend to revert back to how he was.
Always keep in mind which fences are "towards home" and which are "away from home" when walking your courses. Especially with the in gate in the show jumping arena. But even on cross country the difference can be felt in some horses, especially when they have
“The more horses you ride, the better your horsemanship.” Michael Jung
In the sport of Eventing, ensuring that our horses are truly fit for our level of competition is one of the best ways to prevent unnecessary injuries.
Talking to your horse while on course helps to keep you breathing!