What’s in Your Arena? is an EN series sponsored by Attwood Equestrian Surfaces in which riders share their favorite jumping exercises. It’s easy to get stuck in a training rut, and we hope this will inspire you with fresh ideas that you can take home and incorporate into your own programs.
Posted by Lainey Ashker on Saturday, January 13, 2018
Lainey Ashker is back with another Grid of the Day. We love Lainey’s #GOTD series because not only does it give us some great exercises to practice at home but we also get a glimpse behind the scenes of a top professional’s program. Can you imagine the time and concentration it takes to create and set up these intricate grids and carefully designed courses week after week? Thanks, Lainey, for sharing them with us!
Lainey’s latest #GOTD has everything: bounces, combinations, bending lines and one of those super fun but slightly intimidating wide oxers.
“So the main focus here is the grid in the center with the X-vertical bounces but figured I would lay out the whole course for your added viewing/riding/entertainment pleasure,” Lainey said. “This grid focuses on straightness, teaching the horse to slowdown and to react off the rider’s leg to make the distance to the oxer all the while engaging the hind legs.
“The ride each direction over the grid gives a different feeling which makes it really fun and informative for both horse and rider. Remember the primary focus in influencing a horse’s speed/balance over jumps is not use of a hand, stronger bit or magic but correct rider position. The use of the wide oxer in the latter part of the course is to teach the horses to push from behind.”
Follow Lainey on Instagram at @laineyea for more great grids like this!
Go Eventing.
