Using poles and pole work in general Quite a lot of people ask me about helping with horses rushing fences or using poles for rehab work after spinal injury/operations etc. Sometimes horses rush poles because of imbalance or fear under their feet. Rushing fences can be fear based or running away from bit/mouth pain. The basics of pole work is simple. Using poles at various distances or even elevations from the ground help horses learn rhythm, co ordination, confidence into fences and generally provide a really good gymnastic workout from the hocks up. In flat work I use a line of poles in different ways. 1- I will set up poles on the track to gain basic confidence in a nice easy stride according to the individual horse/pony....looking for rhythm, relaxed frame, forward movement, shoulder freedom and head lowering on a longer neck. Raise one end of every other pole and train elevation in movement.....it gets harder as you lift each one just a few inches off the ground. 2- I move poles in off the track so that you are really riding straight in a great hand/leg balance. ...with no drifting. With these poles you can start to ask for your horse to ride them diagonally both leaving the track or approaching it. try to ride just the last pole, then the last 2 poles , then 3 etc until you can manage 5 poles from one end of the first pole to the end of the last one.....its harder than you think!. This gives the rider more challenge in accurate riding skills and the horse more interest. 3- Take out every other one and you will have balanced canter poles! 4- Fan the poles.........with the middle one straight down the center line and the others narrower towards the middle and wider as they go out. This exercise is great for accurate riding on circles (both lunging and riding) and flexes the horse through the whole frame, extends the rib cage and lengthens the intercostal muscles between the ribs themselves. The narrowest may be perfect for walk strides or developing a shorter frame with more lift. The middle line should be straight forward and easy for your own particular horse. The outside lengthens the horse into more shoulder stretch and haunch engagement/push developing a medium trot. 5- Make a cross of poles at x in the center of your school...one or 2 poles in length. These are great for teaching circle work over each on or figures of 8 . You can ride a circle inside the poles which increase or decreases in width as you desire. You can ride a large circle round the outside to help shape your circle work in general.....loads of possibilities with this scenario. Ride these poles at an angle too in all directions. 6-. By using your straight line of 5 or 6 poles take out the second last pole and build a jump on the last pole...........the stride will be perfect to help a young horse learn to jump in the first place and helps a rider to see a stride too. .......................................................................................................................................................................................... Enjoy playing with poles.........they make the space inside a menage a different challenge and is only dependant on your imagination.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 06:58:45 +0000
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