How do you develop jumping technique for Working Hunter?

Jumping technique in Working Hunter is evaluated on the horse's style and efficiency over a fence — how it uses its body, folds its legs, and bascules through the arc of the jump. A horse that jumps with a correct bascule, folding its knees tightly, rounding through its back, and using its neck and head to balance through the arc, presents the picture of a genuine, correct jumper. A horse that is flat over fences, dangles its front legs, or jumps with a hollow back will lose technique marks regardless of how cleanly it goes around the course. Developing correct jumping technique begins on the ground before any under saddle jumping occurs. Trot poles and cavaletti used consistently teach the horse to look at its footing, develop rhythm, and begin to engage its back and use its body correctly. Grid work is the most effective tool for developing jumping technique under saddle. Grids — a series of related fences set at specific distances — require the horse to adjust its body, fold correctly, and use its hindquarters to push off cleanly from each element. Because the distances are set, the horse cannot avoid the correct jumping effort by leaving long or chipping in, and over many repetitions the correct body use becomes habitual. Cross rails in a grid encourage the horse to jump to the center of the fence and develop straightness. Placing poles set one stride in front of a fence encourage the horse to engage its hindquarters and round over the fence. Grid work should be done at a low height where the horse can focus on correct technique without the added challenge of significant height.