Gridwork exercises for horses
Gridwork exercises for horses are a great way to add variety to your training.
Gridwork can help improve a horse’s jumping technique, as well as tackling specific problems, such as rushing or lacking confidence. They encourage the horse to come off the forehand and learn to process the questions in front of them more quickly.
Gridwork is also useful for riders to hone their jumping position, while allowing the horse to focus on the jumps in front of them.
If you need some inspiration for gridwork exercises for horses to try at home, check out the examples from top riders and trainers below. Not ready for a grid? Try these polework exercises instead.
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Ahead of the curve: train your horse to be soft yet strong with Alex Bragg’s jumping exercise on a turn
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Teach your horse the art of patience and power with Alex Bragg’s five-fence training exercise
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How Alex Bragg’s training exercise uses turns to master straightness while jumping
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Sharp and snappy: Gemma Stevens’ gridwork exercise that will teach your horse to be both careful and bold
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Improve your horse’s footwork while jumping and have fun with Gemma Stevens’ gridwork exercise
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Improve your horse’s rideability and straightness with Harry Meade’s three-fence jumping exercise
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Teaching a young horse to jump with Tina Fletcher
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Piggy March — the magic of using gridwork
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#SundaySchool: Imogen Murray on the bounce grid exercise
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#SundaySchool: Ben Way on improving a horse’s focus and rideability
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#SundaySchool: the showjumping ‘gym’ with Holly Smith
The international showjumper talks us through this multi-fence workout which she uses with both her younger and more experienced horses to help them jump a flowing round
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Improve your horse’s agility with Laura Collett’s simple grid exercise
The event rider’s simple test improves coordination, collection and sharpness in horses of all types and ages
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Sharp and snappy: gridwork with Gemma Tattersall *H&H Plus*
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#SundaySchool: Vittoria Panizzon — how to teach horse to bascule more effectively
The eventer provides an exercise she uses to help her horses make a better shape over a fence
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#SundaySchool: Alex Bragg on how to maintain a line through narrow or offset fences
The event rider provides his exercise for keeping your horse on a dead-straight line on the cross-country course
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#SundaySchool: William Whitaker on how to develop rhythm
Sharpen up your showjumping basics with this curved grid exercise
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Gemma Tattersall: how to make your horse focus on his footwork
The Olympic eventer takes us through a step-by-step guide to one of her favourite exercises — a bounce to a parallel to a bounce — which aims to stop your horse rushing, and think about where he's placing his feet instead
