How high do you jump your grids? and other jumping exercises!

[letrec_fan]

I know alot of you on this forum are show jumping fanatics so I was wondering if anyone could give me some ideas.

Last night I rode Pete and he went so well. We did a grid of 4 jumps. Started off at cross poles as last time he refused them however I think this may have been due to his back. Anyway, because it was so hot and we didn't want to ruin a good sess. we left it at around 1'9-2ft for now. I wondered how high everyone else jumps grids? I have jumped 3ft with him normally but he can jump way bigger when hes fitter as he used to be a hurdler. Its more me than him!

Also, I was wondering if anyone has any interesting jump exercises that get their brains thinking, like grids. At the moment, I am less interested in gaining height, more accuracy has to come first. Like getting striding right etc. Thats why he prefers XC and is not so good at SJ! Pete is kind of like a collie - you have to keep his mind active!

Any ideas would be much appreciated!

Laura and Pete.

 

[HumBugsey]

Grids are generally a gymnatastic exersize so theres no need to go big, even seen some top Sj'ers keeping them 1-2ft. My only concern with going big is if they don't quite "get" the grid its nice to have something they can step over/jump from no pace and get out without having to go around the jump inviting further refusals etc

 

[jesterfaerie]

How about a grid of 3 fences then imagin you will put a 4th one in, put 2 jumps eaither side of this '4th' fence so that you can jump 3 fences turn on a diagonal to another fence which is a few strides out. This can be done either way you can also jump this fence and return back down the grid or over the other additional fence and down the grid or over the additional and last grid fence on a diagonal....if you follow me

Should keep his mind active but the exercise should look like this obviously the last two won't be on that much of an angle but you get the idea.

/ \
__
__
__

 

[lil_babe]

They dont need to be high, grid work is a gymnastic exercise to supple to horse, not to see how high they can jump!

A good exercise for the striding issue would be to set out 2 fences on a 5 stride distance, comne down it on 5 then try coming down on 4 then 6 and keep alternating between the 3. This gets you both thinking as he doesnt know what youre going to send him on and will help you see your strides and adjust him.

A good one I use to keep them thinking and engaged goes like this fence-bounce-fence-one stride-bounce-2 strides-one stride-oxer-one stride-upright.
Sounds quite confusing but it helps mine sit back in their hocks and think about what they are jumping, it encourages them to come back quickly after the oxer and not flatten after the fence.

 

[KatB]

SJ Babe, I like the sound of that!!

OP, I am doing alot of grids and poles where possible with my mare. At the moment we are starting with 5 canter poles, then 3 cater poles to a X pole and another pole afterwards, then canter pole, X pole, Canter pole, X pole, Canter pole, then build the last fence to a X pole with a back rail and take the last canter pole away.

This keeps her in a rhythm and on a regular stride to a fence, and means she is thinking what she is jumping. We did this last night and ended with the final fence at 85cm

This also works to build up both horse and rider confidence as they both know exactly what the striding it, and it is just upt the horse to make the extra effort to jump instead of just canter over the fence

 

[letrec_fan]

Thanks everyone for all your replies. I knew grids are not for jumping high I just wondered what everyone though! Thanks for all ideas on new exercises. Will keep you updated.