Easy gridwork for newbies PART 1

MEET THE EXPERT

Having competed at the pinnacle of eventing, JOHN THELWALL now trains riders of all levels. His patient approach is backed up by an enormous amount of skill and knowledge, resulting in him being able to get the best from any horse and rider combination while increasing their confidence too.

IT’S EASY TO think that to jump successfully it’s essential to train regularly over a course of showjumps or on a cross-country course. This is true to some extent - horses need to know how to tackle a full course and deal with everything that throws up. However, when it comes to teaching your horse the technicalities of jumping, nothing beats gridwork. It builds trust in your partnership and develops control, and these two things combined mean that jumping a course clear should become easier.

Whether you’re