Only have four poles? No problem – there are still plenty of exercises you can do to break up that at-home schooling routine. You don’t have to jump whole courses or big fences to train your horse for the upcoming season – and dressage horses will also benefit from working over poles or even little fences. Working over poles and cavalletti helps suppleness, rhythm, impulsion and concentration in horses, as well as providing a welcome break in routine.
All of these exercises are designed to be done at the canter, but you can also walk or trot over them. All you need is a flat area, and four poles!
#1. The circle of death
AIM: improving balance and bend
It’s a great exercise, with a terrible name, and a special favourite of Andrew Nicholson. You can put the poles around a 20m diameter circle to start with, and decrease the size once your horse becomes stronger and more balanced. The inside edge of each pole should be about 16.5m apart.
You ‘should’ get four strides between each pole, but don’t focus on the striding. Instead, focus on the rhythm and bend, cantering from the centre of each pole to the next centre. You (and your horse) will soon work out the optimal number of strides to jump smoothly in the same rhythm. If you run past one, you’re either going too fast or not keeping the appropriate bend.
#2. The rollback line
AIM: improving suppleness and planning
Place your poles end to end at right angles, leaving enough room at the sides so you can do the rollback turn. Plan your rollback before you get to each pole; create the new bend and ask for a change of lead over the pole. Don’t forget to turn your head and use your eyes! Keep a quiet, steady rhythm, try to keep the turns symmetrical, and decrease the size of the rollbacks as you get more organised.
#3 Bending lines
AIM: improving strength and communication
You can change these distances depending on how much room you have, but a bending five-stride line of poles will be about 20m on the curve, and four strides around 16.5m. Remember to ride the turns so you get to the pole straight, and then plan your bending line. This is a great way to practice flying lead changes. Stay smooth and use your eyes; this exercise is all about planning ahead.
#4. Bouncy house
AIM: improving lead changes and straightness
This is a great way to start to teach flying changes, or to practice them without leaning over. It gives the horse two chances to change; green horses might change in front over the first pole and behind over the second pole. The poles need to be about 3.3 to 3.6m apart, which will make a perfect square if you have 3.6m poles; if not you will have a small gap between the ends. Start changing the bend as you approach the first pole, and ask for the change with your legs and seat as you pop over it. Don’t speed up; let the poles do the work and the horse think about what is happening. Canter straight through the square, and don’t cut the corners.
#5. Lead finder
AIM: improving reaction time, and feeling your leads
This one’s a great one for riders who struggle to know which lead they are on without looking. It works better using cavalletti rather than poles on the ground. The distance can be a quiet three or four strides between the first two poles (12.8-13.4m or 16.5-17m). When you land after the second cavalletti, go to the left if you land on the left lead, and the right if you land on the right lead.
Allow three to four strides in the curving distances to the cavalletti (or small jumps) on either side.
#6. Across the centre
AIM: improving balance and straightness
You don’t need any particular distance for this exercise, which will help you improve your eye. You’re aiming for a smooth rhythm, to get nice, balanced corners, aiming for the middle of each pole, and staying straight afterwards. No falling in!
#7. Serpentine
AIM: improving lead changes and balance
The serpentine can be placed at a variety of distances; 20m between the centre of each pole is a good starting point. Look ahead to the next pole to use your eyes to help get your body in the correct position before each pole, and have your horse focused and bending in the direction you are about to turn. Practice until you are smooth in each direction.
#8. The bending bounce challenge
This one is tough, so it’s not for green horses or riders. You need plenty of preparation, and don’t lean in. The distance between the centre of each pole is 2.7-3m. Start with a slow, energetic and engaged canter.
TOP TIP
Most of these exercises will clearly show up your horse’s stiff side (the side they are reluctant to bend) and their hollow side (the side they prefer to bend) so will highlight where you need to counteract this with more inside leg, or straightening with the outside rein and leg.
- This article was first published in the August 2018 issue of NZ Horse & Pony. To subscribe, click here
