Gridwork for youngsters - when is the best time to introduce?

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Wheels

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OK I'm probably a bit premature asking this question as we have only jumped 3 times over teeny weeny single fences - but at what point would you start to introduce gridwork?

What training do you already like to have in place?

Horse is nice and calm, able to do trot and canter poles and small singular fences in a nice rhythm, forward without rushing but very very green in his jumping work and I don't want to scare him as he's a bit of a sensitive flower!
 
I tend to use poles on the ground, which you are already doing, then pop a small fence at the end of a row, not all youngsters can cope with that so they may do a single fence then work up to poles then a fence, then a pole on the landing side, once they can pop through without any problem them I usually have two small fences with two strides between them, again some deal better than others, the pony I am currently working with is very confident with individual fences but gets in a muddle with two in a row so needs to go very slowly, others get it straight away and are soon doing mini grids, bounces etc.
Treat each as you find them, go as slowly as you need to so they gain confidence, have a plan in mind but be very flexible and always be prepared to go back if they are struggling in any way, I love working with youngsters as they are all so different.
 
The general rule of thumb according to the FAY is that as long as the horse is not blind and can see a pole, it's generally ok.

Is it weaned?
 
Obviously there is no hard and fast rule - however to give you an example my four year old has just started doing proper grids. Up until now we have been jumping one or two fences.

So at the moment she is doing five fences in a row, first one being a bounce, all small cross poles apart from the last jump and maybe the one before.

My mare needs to develop her canter before she will be strong enough to canter around a course so a grid will help with this as she obviously needs to canter through it.

You need to assess what you want to improve to decide how you set up your grid. Just build it up slowly, introducing a jump at a time :)
 
From assessing technique both on the lunge and ridden I would like to improve the back end - he snaps his fronts up well but then his back end doesn't get very much height at all, he is onl barely getting his back feet over the poles and on the couple of occasions he has knocked a pole it has been with his back feet.

This worse on the lunge but still apparent under saddle too - does anybody have any exercises to help this?
 
If he is still young and weak and only jumping a "teeny weeny single fence" I would not be overly concerned about the backend at this early stage, he should start to follow through better once he is stronger and jumping a proper fence where he has to make a decent effort, many good jumping horses don't really put in much until the jumps make them try, the use of gridwork, fillers and oxers when ready should help with his technique in general.
 
Great thanks. Although I doubt he will ever be a 'good jumping horse' but it's important to me to give him an all round education

We'll start grids in our next jumping session
 
Out of interest, How many 'jumping sessions' do you do per week?

Henry (4yo) is Green and gangly (17hh), so Im still focusing on hacking and basic schooling with him, although trying to keep it fun for him by doing one loose schooling session per week (more so he can gain confidence without worrying about me onboard). Ive always thought once per week would be enough for him but would be interested to see what others do.
 
I do twice sometimes three times a weeks but that might be only six jumping efforts sometimes just two hops over a cross pole .
I like little and often at first .
 
When i'm thinking of upping the height so I may start at 1ft 6 grids of just 2 cross poles at 1ft 6 at double striding.

You tend to know when you're ready to "advance" if you're only jumping little single poles as horse is still a little "shy" then imo you're not ready.

In my world you'd start with maybe a tiny cross pole, 4 strides and then a slightly bigger crosspole. Still at 2ft max so they are able to sort their feet out while not worrying about having to get themselves over 2ft 6.

How old is horse in question? No bounces should be introduced until horse is mentally and physically strong enough.. Otherwise you can sometimes end up with horse taking it as one or a very confused and upset baby.
 
Just to add. if you want back feet to get over. Make sure you have no boots on and you're using heavy wood poles. Best thing to get them to respect the pole.

Some simply do not respect the poles until the height goes up but if you have loose-jumped over much higher and still no respect put an upright up and then two poles in a "triangle shape" so there is a point in the middle of the jump where the two ends meet and the other ends splay outwards.

Be warned horse is likely to over jump if you're on top.
 
He's 6 so not a baby but he's not a natural jumper and neither am I, its more about giving him an all round education and hoping he finds it fun which he seems to at the moment :)
 
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