Fancy Footwork

Gridwork not only improves elasticity and technique, but also builds a horse’s confidence and concentration. Olympian Gemma Tattersall shows us how

- Gemma Tattersall

IT’S a cool late-autumn morning as Gemma Tattersall brings out her first horse for the gridwork session. Wings are set up down the centre line of the 20x60m arena with hexagonal metal poles (see box, p30) on the ground.

Gemma is riding a bright bay mare, MGH Candy Girl, whom she describes as “the sassiest lady there is”.

Gemma credits Candy with encouraging her to branch more into showjumping.

“She would go over the wings at a 2ft jump,” Gemma says. “Right from the start she was an outstanding jumper and, although she has enough blood to event, she jumps too big.”

Gemma warms up briskly in walk, trot and canter for about 10 to 15 minutes.

“I’m making sure I’ve got all my controls, that the horse is listening to me, and that she is limbered up and elastic,” Gemma explains, and she asks Candy for a few flying changes.

The grid is set up to go away from the stables, so horses aren’t encouraged to rush down the line. Gemma canters Candy over the poles, which are all still on the ground, tofamiliarise her with the task in hand – Candy jumps every one in her typically scopey style.

“Now I’m going to build up the fences gradually according to the horse’s ability,” Gemma says. “Candy jumped at a show yesterday so I can build this up quite quickly – she doesn’t need the practice.”

Gemma has her head girl Charlotte Overton on the ground to raise the fences – “you always need a helper for gridwork” – and they add in one fence at a time. Gemma keeps moving, approaching the grid off both reins, with the fences being put up as she canters back round to the start.