The easy way to a horse who is lighter on his feet, with four-star eventer Simon Grieve

Is your horse light on his feet? This advice from Simon Grieve will make sure he is

here’s a lot of value in using bounce exercises in your horse’s training. Bounce fences require your horse to go over one jump after another, with no stride in between. It means that as soon as he lands from one obstacle, he’s pushing off for the next, so bounces demand a lot of athleticism and energy from your horse. they’re a super way to improve his gymnastic ability too, as well as boost his stamina and build his strength. While you may not immediately associate bounces with a cross-country course, being able to jump bounce fences will set you up for more advanced competition work and will help your horse be quick on his feet and feel more confident about where he’s placing them. “Bounce fences might not seem like an obvious one to include in cross-country schooling, but they do appear on a course, especially as you go higher up the levels,” says four-star event rider simon Grieve. “It’s a useful skill to practise with your horse as you’ll need to learn how to stay in balance to give him the best chance of going clear.” like anything new, it’s easier to break it down into manageable chunks so that your horse doesn’t feel overwhelmed. “Never ask too much too soon, and always go back a step if needed,” adds simon. “remain positive and always remember that, especially if it’s something your horse hasn’t done before, he won’t necessarily understand what you’re asking immediately. Be patient.”