SUCCESSFUL JUMPING: TRAINING YOUR HORSE WITH GRIDWORK. by Bush, Karen and Irving, Ross

Crowood, Marlborough, 1997, reprint. 157 pp, large 8vo (9 1/2" H), hard cover in dust jacket. ISBN 1852237635 "All horses and ponies have some aptitude for jumping, but it is up to the rider to develop the natural talent that a horse may possess in order for it to realize its full po tential. One of the most effective ways of doing this is through using gridwork, a logical system of training that increases the horse's confidence, encourages the development of good musculature, and improves the horse's accuracy, agility a n d t e c h nique. It can be adapted to suit the individual needs of any horse and can be introduced at any stage of its jumping career. The benefits of gridwork are beyond dispute, but too often it is the subject of misunderstanding and, cons e qu en tl y , ab us e, which can lead to the onset of problems rather than to the resolution of them. In (this book), gridwork is demystified and explained in a way that will enable anyone to develop a safe and effective training programme. Ther e is pra cti ca l ins tru cti on and advice on prepatory work, choosing equipment, building fences, calculating distances, and developing gridwork exercises; there is also an invaluable trouble-shooting chapter, which aims to identify the causes of an y p robl ems and s ugge st r emed ies. At every stage, from the basics to the more advanced, the reader is encouraged to consolidate progress and move forward in a step-by-step, logical fashion towards improved performance and, ultimately, grea ter suc cess. Cl earl y w ritte n and prof usely illustrated with photographs and explanatory line-drawings, this book is the most up-to-date and comprehensive work on the subject of gridwork yet published." Dust jacket has minor edge wear/wrin klin g at top/bo ttom of sp ine and fl ap-fol ds, li ght rubbing, tiny scuff at top of spine. Fine/Very Good.