Grid Work Tips?!

[EllaRidesHorses]

I am planning on doing some grid work with my mare, does anyone have any tips? She is extremely speedy over and towards jumps! I would like to know how to slow her as sometimes she goes too fast and (she's so strong too) messes up striding then the jump being awkward and uncomfortable for both of us!

 

[Shay]

Can I ask.. what makes you think grid work is the right answer for your issues with your mare? Or is it just something you think you might want to do?

If she goes wrong getting into the grid it is going to be messy and potentially dangerous as the poles tangle with her legs. It has the risk of scaring both of you and possibly hurting you both too. They are good - and good fun! - used well. But you do have to be cautious. Might a few lessons from a qualified instructor help to identify exactly what the issues are first?

 

[ThoroughbredStar]

Grid work is good for horses with this sort of tendency. You could start off with a whole load of trotting poles leading up to a small jump at the end. This gets the horse thinking about what they are doing with their feet, rather than aimlessly charging at the fence.

I have a similar horse although not necessarily strong- pole work and continually keeping the brain occupied really helps.

When doing trotting poles/canter poles, leading up to a fence allow the horse a bit more freedom so they aren't fighting with you (easier said than done on a strong whizz bomb). They should then focus more on what they are doing with them-selves.

It will or can be messy to start with but you should see positive results from it (as long as there are no physical reasons behind the rushing).

Good luck- let us know how you get on

 

[EllaRidesHorses]

I am doing lessons with her, and she's done a lot of grid work before so hopefully she'll be ok! I don't think grid work will help her, but we are working towards doing more jumping!

 

[JFTDWS]

I'd be doing trot poles into a little x, then add in an upright one stride down, and work out of that. Gridwork is brilliant for teaching them to see a stride

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Trotting poles on an arc, just off the track on a corner of the school can work well, you can put them on 2 corners at 1 end and work on a 20m circle to keep rhythm.
A jump at d and g on the centre line, with a place pole can be added, thus doing short turns from top or bottom of school and turning back to track after, even using just the one end on a figure of 8, using a little leg yield after the fence.

Keeping a steady rhythm, keep in trot and ask for lots of stretch and bend.

Remember, Rome wasn't built in a night tho

 

[romulus]

For inspiration look at 'Tristan the wonder horse' on YouTube