Using poles in your training sessions can have huge benefits for you and your horse! It helps improve their strength, balance and co-ordination and makes them pay attention to where they are placing their feet.
Glas Equine has create a mini eBook with 5 pole work exercises for flexibility, strength & co-ordination for you to try with your horse!
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This is just a sneak peek of what's in store for the release of our complete eBook!
Exercise 1: Trotting Poles
A simple yet effective exercise, trotting poles help improve your horse's symmetry and stability by encouraging them to step under the hind legs more, while building their stability and topline.
Difficulty level: Easy
Instructions
- Place 5 poles on the ground 4 feet apart
- Approach your line of poles in a steady trot
- Maintain a steady rein contact with a softly closed fist over the poles, sit up and and avoid tipping forward
- Keep an even feel on both reins to help your horse stay centred and go straight over the middle of the poles
- Counteract your horse veering off centre of the poles by adding apply your left or right leg aid
- Repeat on both reins
TIP: Adjust the distance between poles to practice shortening or lengthening your horse's stride.
Exercise 2: Fan of Trotting Poles
Trotting poles on a curve allows you to practice controlling your horses length of stride and improve their awareness of their foot placement.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Instructions
- Set up 4-6 poles in a fan shape on a curve
- Ensure the distances on the inside and at the outside edge are the same (3ft - 5ft)
- Approach the line of poles in a steady trot, aiming for the center of each pole. Use your inside leg at the girth to ask for bend from the ribs. Your outside leg should be slightly behind the girth, supporting the haunches. Use the outside rein to prevent your horse from over-arching the circle and falling out through their shoulder. Maintain a soft contact with the inside rein while asking for bend from the ribs
- Reduce the size of your curve to aim for the shorter distance inside your poles
- Increase the size of your curve to aim for the longer distance towards the outside edge of your poles
- Repeat on both reins
TIP: Adjust the distance between poles to practice shortening or lengthening your horse's stride.
Exercise 3: Raised Trotting Poles
Strengthening exercise that teaches your horse to use their hocks, lift their shoulders, engage their back and use their neck correctly.
Difficulty level: Easy - Moderate
Instructions
- Place 5 poles on the ground 4ft-5ft apart with each alternating side raised using a block
- Approach the line of poles in a steady trot
- Maintain a steady rein contact with a softly closed fist over the poles, sit up and and avoid tipping forward
- Keep an even feel on both reins to help your horse stay centred and go straight over the middle of the poles
- Maintain a consistent rhythm so that you get regular trot steps between each pole
- Ride through the poles several times before changing the rein and repeating the exercise in the other direction.
TIP: Approach this exercise in walk first to get your horse used to the poles and start thinking about their feet.
Exercise 4: Trotting Pole Circle
Improve your horse's balance and bend while practicing shoulder control to prevent over-bending and maintaining a steady circle.
Difficulty level: Moderate - Difficult
Instructions
- Set up a 20m circle with poles. The circle inside the circle inside the poles should be approximately 10m.
- Start off in walk on the 20m circle outside of the poles to get used to it.
- Approach the the circle in a steady trot, aiming for the center of each pole. Use your inside leg at the girth to ask for bend from the ribs. Your outside leg should be slightly behind the girth, supporting the haunches. Use the outside rein to prevent your horse from over-arching the circle and falling out through their shoulder. Maintain a soft contact with the inside rein while asking for bend from the ribs.
- Repeat this exercise multiple times before changing direction, adjusting the size of your circle by making it larger and smaller.
TIP: Remember to look up and breath! Once you start looking down at the poles your weight tips onto the forehand, which can unbalance your horse. Trust your horse to fix their feet between each pole.
Exercise 5: Trotting Pole Serpentine
Improve your horse's rhythm, straightness, accuracy of bend, and balance with this versatile exercise.
Difficulty level: Moderate
Instructions
- Set up 2 - 3 poles 20m apart from the center of each pole.
- Begin your serpentine by approaching your first pole with a steady trot and even rein contact.
- Use your inside leg at the girth to ask for bend from the ribs. Your outside leg should be slightly behind the girth, supporting the haunches. Use the outside rein to prevent your horse from over-arching the the bend and falling out through their shoulder.
- Straighten your horse, maintain a steady contact and balance them before the next bend.
- Ride your serpentine several times before changing the rein and repeating the exercise.
TIP: Maintain a slight bend in your elbows, keeping them close to your sides. Use your body to turn at the waist, allowing your hands to follow naturally, to turn properly instead of relying solely on the reins.
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