Discipline Focus: Show Jumping with Alex and Holly Grayton

As a bodyworker, we can see a variety of horses in any given day and we likely have worked on horses from many disciplines. However, it isn’t uncommon to get in involved with having more clients based in a certain discipline. Whether that be because it’s the discipline we ourselves compete in, or because it’s the barns we’ve been working in predominantly that have a specific focus.

Whatever it may be, we thought it would be fun to chat with individuals from a variety of different equine sports to discuss the ins and outs of their discipline as well as talk about what specifics we might find as bodyworkers in the horses that perform there.

Our next guests are Alex and Holly Grayton. Alex is a professional trainer and Holly, his wife, a competitor as well in the sport of show jumping.

Jumping is a natural movement for horses, and they are well suited for clearing obstacles with their power and speed. In combination with a rider, horses have been going over objects for centuries to simply get from one point to another, by way of sport (hunting and following prey over fence lines), and through wars.

Show Jumping became more popular in an arena setting for spectators, as opposed to watching the cross country events of steeplechasing and eventing through the country side. It’s history dates back to the late 1800’s and it’s a sport that is judged not only on the horse and riders ability to get around the course without knocking a jump, but also factors in time, on how quickly and effectively the course is completed. It is one of the oldest equestrian sports with it first appearing in the Olympic Games in 1900.

Alex has mentored and trained with some of the industries top trainers such as Ian Millar, Emile and Paul Hendrix, Kyle King, George Morris and more. He has developed, shown and trained horses for FEI, International and Grand Prix competitions. Holly, an avid competitor herself, shows at top level in FEI and Grand Prix rings. They operate Grayton Farms from Calgary, AB with their training and sales program. Holly also runs GraytDesigns which offers private photography at show, portrait and studio shoots, print media and website design.

For more information on Alex’s program, check out the website:

https://www.alexandergrayton.com/ or through Facebook @Grayton Farms Ltd or Instagram @grayton_farms. For more information on GraytDesign, check out https://www.graytdesigns.com/

My co-host, Tina Watkins EST, EEBW3, is the founder of InHand Equine Therapy which strives to improve the lives of horses through equine bodywork. She also has over a decade of experience teaching other bodyworkers and offers both mentorship and continuing education for professionals and owners alike.

For more information about our continuing education short courses for equine professionals and owners courses, please check out https://inhandequinetherapy.podia.com

Follow along with our social media sites on FB and instagram under @inhandequinetherapy.

Our goal with this podcast is to continually open the conversation around equine wellness and bodywork. It is through open conversation that we can grow this industry with knowledge and understanding of our equine partners. Ever evolving along with tried and true methods of horse husbandry, it’s by learning from one another that we will elevate the care of these amazing animals and partners.

So don’t be afraid to connect through social media, both Facebook and Instagram @equinebodytalks

#opentheconversation