Gridwork, a show jumpers essential

Daniel Deusser with his horse showing an incredible style

Gridwork is incorporated into every top showjumpers training program and should be incorporated into those training programs of all showjumpers. Gridwork has huge benefits for all horses, young or experienced as well as riders. The level of technicality of the gridwork should be directly proportional to the level of the horse and rider combination.

What are the benefits?

• Improving balance of horse
• Improving confidence of horse, especially young horses
• Improving horses technique + style
• Improves areas which horse need correcting 
• Allows combination (horse and rider) to practice straightness and accuracy.
• Allows rider to improve balance 
• Allows rider to improve style - seat, hands ,leg etc. 

Gridwork should ideally be done under the eye of an instructor/ knowledgeable helper who can help with adjustments of poles, riders position, way about doing gridwork etc.

Things to note:
- distances must be correct
- amount of girdwork should not be overdone, very taxing on horse + rider
- better to start of slow and build up on technicality and height



Very useful Distance calculator

Gridwork exercise example 1

Gridwork exercise example 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1a8AdZvKvs

Brilliant further explanation of the demands of the sport.

What its about

What makes a top horse? Top rider?

What do we define this by? 

Many of the most successful riders are far from stylish while other paint the picture of perfection. We have a driving desire for success, so much so that in my country, and many others, professional riders, as hope to one day be, fly to Europe to purchase the most "suitable" horse for the demanding task the 1.50 + classes present. These top horses can fetch up to well over €1 000 000.

Roger Yves Bost "Bosty". One of the most successful show jumpers on the international circuit.

Steve Guerdat, another incredibly successful show jumper on the international circuit.

  However this comes at a serious price which is perhaps why majority of the successful competitors at the highest level of most classical disciplines have the financial support to make this all possible . The best rider is nothing without a capable horse. A capable horse will not perform its best without a good rider which works with it as a COMBINATION. 

The upbringing of young horses primarily define their future. The most "correctly"  and "well-produced" feature in the top classes along their superior bloodlines bred of generations to ensure success. There are always exceptions, however this is the general rule i have personally found.

 This is why one may see studs with outstanding bloodlines fail to produce horses which end up reaching the top. The sport is so demanding these days there is no or little room for error. An "incorrectly" brought up horse will never reach its full potential, it may turn out to be above average, but not reaching its full potential. 

However, i do believe there are many areas which one can improve to potentially bring out the optimal potential of a horse. These areas are close to perfection of professionals, the level of care and attention given to these areas has a dramatic effect on performance. A few areas being:

• Diet
• Upbringing- careful schooling etc.
• Exercise schedule
• Gridwork / training programmes
• Equine management - stabling, grazing, healthcare etc. 
• therapy: bemer, hydro, ozone etc. 

In this blog i aim to explore theres areas,especially methods used by the top riders therefore common between the successful.