As typical with grids, we started with a small, straight forward exercise with a cross rail bounce followed by some ground rails. Anne had also put in some ground pole rail road tracks to help keep straightens down the line (a constant effort for Deuce who tends to get a little crooked to make the distance) Then she added to the exercise until we were jumping series of 5 low bounces. A bounce set of fences does not not have non-jumping strides in between them - the horse lands with his front feet over one fence but then has to pick up to take off for the second fence, just as his hind feet touch the ground, having negotiated the first fence. Bounces are an exercise of quickness on feet and athleticism for the horse and helps the rider learn how to keep and maintain momentum through a combination of jumps.
Deuce is quite cleaver with his feet and pretty good at the exercises, I had to encourage him to stay lighter through the corner and to the base of the fist fence so he would hit the ground lighter after each jump. I also ended up needing to use my voice to rate his speed half way through the exercise, so he would not speed up too fast. We wanted him to work through it, as opposed to throwing himself through.
Another component we worked on was the right hand turn to the jumps. I had to keep a better bend (and prevent a falling to the inside) by pushing out with my inside leg and keeping my hand up off his neck.
So after we worked through the low 5 bounces, Anne stepped it up a bit and made 2 ones strides to a 3'+ oxer. After going through a few times with placing rails, Anne added v rails on the oxer to encourage Deuce to round over the top - I had to maintain lots of leg and remember to land in my heels. but man o man, he flew! Lots of power!
Pineapple express weather - wet and warm!
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