Gridwork goals

Your pony will be a jumping machine with our cool exercise!

Gridwork is one of the best ways to give your pony a good workout while testing some essential skills and having fun, so why not try this exercise in your next jumping session?!

Set it up

You’ll need five poles and three sets of wings for our groovy grid! You can make the final fence an oxer when you feel ready so it’s worth keeping another set of wings and a spare pole nearby.

TOP TIP

Position the grid on the centre line so you can approach and ride away on both reins.

This grid is great for…

Encouraging your pony to think quickly on their feet.
Improving strength and balance.
Boosting agility and athleticism.

Through the levels

It’s a good idea to work through this grid in a progressive way – that means you add one element at a time, only moving onto the next one when you feel confident.

Start with all the poles on the floor.
Raise the first bounce fence into a small upright.
Use two poles to make a cross-pole or upright after the one stride distance.
Raise the second bounce fence so it’s the same height as the first one.

Happy with the height?

This exercise isn’t about jumping big fences, so make sure you keep them at a height you’re super-confident and comfortable with. Bounces should be kept no bigger than around 40cm as they are hard work for your pony – they’ve got to think quickly and pick up their toes as soon as they touch the floor in between!

Follow our gridwork exercise pointers in Spring PONY – pick up your copy today!