We know it feels like we’re stuck in the middle of winter and it’s never going to end, but the spring is right around the corner and with it comes the start of the 2026 British Eventing season. It might feel like a little way off yet, but it is only just a few weeks until you’ll be preparing to go down the centre line or leaving the start box once again. The fixtures list has been released and championship dates set, so now is the time to start getting yourself event season ready.

After a busy last season and a winter of rest and recuperation for you and your horse, it’s time to start getting back into gear and blowing off some of those holiday cobwebs! You might have spent a few weeks this winter brushing up on your flat work skills ready to take the dressage arena by storm but now is a good time to start focusing on the jumping phases to make sure your horse is fit, strong, and ready for action.

We wouldn’t be PolyJumps if we didn’t give you some jumping exercise inspiration! We love finding new ways and new exercises to put our products to the test and help you achieve your goals. So, to mark the start of successful pre-season training we wanted to give you a few of our favourite jumping exercises to get you set up for a successful season ahead.

Disclaimer: if your horse has had some time off this winter or has been out of action for a little while, we suggest that you take some time getting them jumping fit before you embark on these exercises! If you want to get your horse up to scratch, then why not check out some of our pole work exercises to get your horse fit to try these jumping exercises out.

Grid of Low Bounces

Bounces are an industry wide favourite when it comes to jumping exercises. They have so many benefits for a horse’s development and are a staple in most professional horses training routine.

A few bounces, whilst simple, help horses engage their hind end and use their backs effectively when jumping. They are also particularly useful when training event horses as they encourage them to be sharper and lighter in front, improving reaction times and staying in balance. For the rider, it pushes you to stay light and balanced above your horse whilst challenging you to ride with a stronger rhythm.

To set up your bounces you will need poles and wings for at least 3 bounces (the more you add the more challenging it gets!), or you can use your Cavaletti Blocks instead. A low bounce fence is just as taxing on your horse as a higher one, so we suggest keeping the fences low, particularly whilst you’re getting a feel for the exercise.

To set up your bounce fences, place your jumps at approximately 12 feet apart (you can adjust these slightly depending on the size of your horse).  You can even add a place pole in front of the first bounce to ensure you get a nice distance to start you off.

The beauty of low bounce fences is that you can come in a steady trot. This is a great idea if you’re aboard a young horse or one that can get a little excited jumping!

Low Wide Oxers

Low wide oxers are a fantastic training tool for developing a horse’s technique. They encourage horses to use their backs effectively and round themselves over a fence, whilst developing hind end strength at the same time. They are also a great tool to give your horse confidence jumping wide fences, such as wide tables or open ditches, on a cross -country course.

Start with a low oxer that is not overly wide, so your horse understands the assignment, and then gradually widen and raise the oxer. Remember, the goal is not to jump high so don’t get carried away with the height and focus more on the width. Use a place pole in front of the jump to guide your horse to a good distance.

Once you’re both comfortable jumping one low oxer, add a couple more into a grid one stride apart, so you have three low oxers in sequence. With a slightly shorter one stride distance (approximately 6-7 metres) in between, you are encouraging your horse to get to the base of the jump and push up and over, using their back and hind legs to improve their technique.

Grid of Low Verticals 

Setting up a grid of low verticals with place poles in between is a great training exercise for horses who tend to rush their jumps or for young horses to learn balance. The poles in between help to steady them up and get them in a good spot to jump the next fence. It’s also great for giving riders confidence and training their eye to find the best distance to jump from as the poles do a lot of the work for you!

To set up your grid, place your vertical fences at approximately 7 metres apart (one stride). In between each fence drop your place pole at about halfway between the two fences. This gives your horse room to land, take a step over the pole, and then take off for the next vertical. Have someone on the ground with you for safety and to tweak the distances if needs be.

V poles and tram lines

Whether you’re adding V poles or tram lines to individual fences or incorporating them into any of the grid work exercises above, they are a fantastic training tool to help horses stay straight and jump straight through the body.

V poles work to channel your horse over the fence, so they are jumping straight across the middle. They are also great at teaching your horse to use their shoulders and make a nice shape over a jump, often used to improve scope and jump technique as well as straightness. V poles are as simple as they sound, take 2 poles and place them against the fence so they are in a triangle pointing upwards, with the point resting on the top pole of the jump. Make sure you’ve picked up standard length poles (3 metres), as skinny poles will be too short for this exercise! The height of the fence is at your discretion, just be prepared for your horse to throw a big jump the first few times they pop over it!

Tram lines have a similar effect but are a little less intense for the horse and rider. Simply place 2 poles on either side of the jump, take-off or landing (or you can put them on both sides of the jump for ultimate straightness!). This will encourage your horse to stay within the guides and land in the spot you want them too. This is a good place to start for young horses or inexperienced riders before you progress to V poles!

Here at PolyJumps we love anything pole work or grid work related. Not only do we get to see our wings and poles put to the test, but we also enjoy watching our customers progress with their training and achieve their goals. Think we can help you? Make sure to contact us and we can set you up with all the equipment needed to put these exercises into practice.