Jumping on grass

Lots of competitions take place on grass over the summer, with venues making the most of the extra space available. It’s a good idea to practise jumping on grass before you compete on it for the first time so you know what to expect. 

Safety when jumping

Before you start riding, consider the area where you’re planning to jump. Make sure there are no rabbit holes in the field and that the fencing is safe and secure. Use an area that’s as flat as possible, too. 

Even if you’re jumping in a specific schooling field, check the ground is suitable. It shouldn’t be too hard and rutted or wet and deep, as either extreme can put extra strain on your pony’s legs. If you’re unsure whether the ground is suitable, check with your yard owner or instructor first, and make sure you have permission to ride in the field, too. 

Warming up when jumping on grass

It’s normal for ponies to be more excitable than usual when jumping on grass, especially if it’s not something they do regularly. Take advantage of the extra space for your warm-up to help them settle before you start jumping. These are some things you can include in your warm-up…

• large shapes, including circles, figures-of-eight and changes of rein. Because you’re not relying on markers or the edge of an arena, your pony won’t be able to guess what you’re doing and should be more responsive to your aids
• transitions are a great tool to keep excitable and speedy ponies listening. Use transitions between paces, such as trot to walk, and within the paces, such as a smaller trot to a bigger trot
• riding between fences While you may not have arena markers to guide you, using the fences as objects to school between or around is a great alternative. Try riding a 10m circle around each fence, or weaving between parts of a combination

Top tip – Be aware that your pony’s more likely to fall out when you’re riding in a field, as there aren’t any fences to guide him. Wrap your legs firmly around his sides to keep him straight.

Up your accuracy

It’s important to ride accurately on grass as your pony may be more interested in the new sights and sounds around him. He’s also likely to be more forward-going than in an arena, so fences may come up quicker than you think. 

Keep your legs wrapped around your pony’s sides and maintain an even rein contact to ride a straight approach to each fence every time. Look up and ahead to the next fence if you’re riding a course, and remember to praise him when he’s done well. 

Top tip – If you ride a lazy pony, jumping on grass is a great way to get him to open up and jump more boldly.

Top tip – If you’re schooling over a course on grass and your pony is super-excitable, use the space between fences to re-balance him before you approach the next fence. Use circles and transitions to keep him focused, and you’ll find it much easier to ride accurately to the next fence.  

On the up

Even if you’re riding in a fairly level field, it’s likely some fences will be slightly up- or downhill, especially in a cross-country field. If you’re jumping on a slope, make sure to…

• maintain impulsion This is especially important when you’re going uphill because your pony needs plenty of energy to jump the fence
• keep a steady rhythm This helps your pony meet the fence on a good stride and makes sure he’s not rushing into it
• sit up It’s important to keep your balance central and not too far forward or back, as this could push your pony out of balance
• be prepared to slip your reins If your pony’s jump takes you by surprise, allowing the reins to slip through your fingers means you won’t catch him in the mouth

Glorious grass

There are loads of benefits to riding and jumping on grass, and it’s great practice to school in a grass arena. Benefits include…

• carefulness A grass arena is never perfect footing – this helps your pony think for himself and use his legs carefully
• competition preparation By schooling on grass at home, you’ll be more confident when it comes to competing and won’t worry about jumping a fence on a slope or how your pony will react in an open space
• riding with friends You normally have much more space jumping on grass than in an arena, which means you can get together with your friends easily and safely for a schooling sesh
• it’s fun! Jumping on grass is great fun, and both you and your pony will enjoy yourselves, helping to boost your confidence

Top tip – If you find your pony slipping on grass or losing confidence, consider using studs. These are small metal spikes that screw into your pony’s shoes to give him extra grip.