Tip of the Week: Week 5
By Carol Mailer
How to...
17 February 2010 11:45
Experienced show jumper and trainer Carol Mailer helps riders to improve their performance.
Gridwork is fantastic for helping you develop a partnership with your horse – whatever your level of riding. These two gridwork exercises should help any rider.
1 - A great exercise to get you and your horse thinking together is to set up a line of cross-poles in a rollercoaster style – one higher, then lower, then higher again etc.
The sharpness of a larger cross-pole followed by a smaller one will encourage your horse to bring his legs up further, and keep you both focused!
Remember that your horse should be working at full capacity and with full impulsion throughout the grid, not just over the bigger fences.
2 - Another gridwork exercise to try is to set four ‘jumps’ out over a figure of eight shape in the school. This is great for balance and for practising flying changes as you pass X!
If you are a jumper remember to include gridwork regularly in your schooling and training regimes. Regular gridwork over a variety of fences will improve your rhythm and balance without over-facing you or your horse.
