I didn’t find anything in my search so I figured I’d ask. Does anyone have any gymnastics or grids that work well for low level hunters? I can find tons for jumpers but nothing for Hunters.
I know a lot of exercises are similar but my hunter doesn’t move or jump anything like my jumper.
Thanks
IMO gymnastics are gymnastics for whatever jumping discipline. What issue are you trying to resolve? Straightness? Engaging hind quarters at the base of the jump? Improve jumping form?
You can start with a placing rail to a “cross rail to small vertical in-and-out”. If that goes well then add an additional small vertical after the in-and-out placed as a bounce. Work on getting the horse to go through the simple gymnastic relaxed, listening, balanced, and with a good rhythm.
Once the horse is happy with that, get more creative, but the behavioral objectives will remain the same.
http://practicalhorsemanmag.com/article/build-bascule-peter-pletcher-25497
Good article, if that is what you are looking to improve with the gymnastics
I like to use this one for hunters and greener horses:
3 trot poles set at 4’6
9 feet from last pole to a good sized crossrail
18 feet from crossrail to a vertical
21 feet from vertical to a slightly ramped or square oxer
Thanks guys. The article is a big help. Plus what Spud&Saf posted.
I think this will help my Tb mare who is 16.2. I got so use to my mom’s arabian mare who had a natural bascule over jumps and was so easy that I never had to do grid work with her. My Tb mare needs some grid work and it’s hard to find stuff that will help a hunter. The jumper I had was easy to set up grids for and it didn’t take much to find stuff for him.
Thanks again guys.
