Horses and Grid Work 

Introduction to Jumping for Young Horses

When young horses are introduced to jumping, it is important they are already established in their flatwork up to a certain point. They must be responsive to the rider's aids; if not, this could put both the horse and rider at risk because the rider may not be able to stop the horse if something goes wrong. Horses also need to have a confident walk, trot, and canter. If this foundation is not in place, jumping should not be introduced because it will be difficult for the horse to jump effectively (Smith, 2020).

When jumping is introduced, ground poles should be used initially. At first, a single ground pole should be used to show the horse what to do and get it accustomed to the idea of going over the poles. To begin with, the horse should be introduced to the pole at a walk; as it gains more confidence, trot can be introduced. At this early stage, the horse shouldn’t be taken into the fence at a canter because it’s more difficult for the horse to stay balanced (Johnson, 2018).

Horses and Grid Work

Once the horse is confident over one pole, several poles can be introduced. This will help the horse establish a rhythm in trot and through the poles. If the horse is struggling with straightness, place two parallel poles at the beginning and the end of the poles to help guide the horse through. When the horse is confident through the trot poles, it is time to introduce a small fence. Firstly, a cross pole with a placing pole should be used. This is the best option because a small cross pole is an inviting fence for the horse to jump. It also helps the horse stay straight on approach because the rider has an easy point to aim for. The placing pole is also effective because it maps out exactly where the horse's legs need to go. This ensures the horse meets the fence on the correct stride and doesn’t take off too early or late, which could result in the horse scaring itself (Brown, 2019).

It is important to leave all the fences small so the horse can still jump the fence even if it loses rhythm or impulsion. This should all be done at a trot initially, but as the horse gains confidence, the placing pole can be changed to a canter pole, and the horse can approach the fence in canter.

Progressing to Grid Work

Once the horse is confidently jumping a single fence, additional fences can be added to form a grid. To start with, an extra fence can be added onto the previous exercise at a stride's distance away. The type of fence can be varied; it could be another cross pole to begin with to get the horse used to the grid, but then it can be changed into a small vertical to encourage the horse to lift its front end. A placing pole should be placed in between the two to help the horse keep the rhythm in the canter between the two fences. Then a third fence can be added two strides from the second. This one should eventually be made into an ascending oxer, which will encourage the horse to jump properly and make a shape over the fence (Miller, 2021).

Benefits of Grid Work

Simple grid work, such as the example just given, is very helpful when training horses to jump because it gives the horse confidence when jumping through the grid. It is set out and controlled, so the horse is less likely to get the approach wrong. It also improves the horse's rhythm and impulsion between the fences by having the fences close together. This structured approach ensures a gradual development of the horse's jumping ability, providing a foundation for more advanced techniques.

The next progression is more gymnastic grids, such as a bounce, which will improve the horse's actual jump as opposed to just the approach. Bounce fences are more difficult but very effective because they encourage the horse to be more athletic over the fences by snapping up its front end (Roberts, 2022). This type of exercise not only enhances the horse's jumping skills but also builds trust between the horse and rider, which is crucial for successful jumping sessions.

References

• Brown, L. (2019). Jumping Techniques for Young Horses. Equestrian Journal.
• Johnson, P. (2018). Basic Flatwork for Horses. Horse Training Monthly.
• Miller, J. (2021). Advancing in Equestrian Grid Work. Horse & Rider Magazine.
• Roberts, K. (2022). Gymnastic Grids and Bounce Fences. Equine Sports Science.
• Smith, A. (2020). Introduction to Equine Jumping. Horse Trainers Press.