Cantering/jumping over trotting poles.....

[{97702}]

My 6YO decided it was amusing tonight to consistently try and canter/jump over a row of 5 trotting poles instead of trotting over them - he did that in our last lesson a bit but once I had established a shorter rein contact and kept my shoulders back he decided he would capitulate. Tonight I did all the same things and he carried on being a complete ****......

I went from having 2 raised trotting poles in the row of poles, to reducing the height of the raised poles, to having 5 poles on the ground... I walked over the poles numerous times in both directions, I started trotting halfway through the row of poles, nothing seemed to work

Any ideas would be really appreciated, I'm feeling a bit demoralised. He was so good in our last lesson, and the exercise was having just the right effect by encouraging to use himself more - not tonight however

 

[Rosesandhorses]

I wouldn't worry too much, it sounds like he's not quite understanding the question. I would reduce the number of poles and gradually increase them until he begins to understand. If it's all very exciting and he continues to do it I would scatter poles throughout your arena and every time you ride just go over them as you go about your normal schooling. It sounds like he's either super careful or super keen- both good signs!

 

[be positive]

I am not sure rushing/ jumping trotting poles is a sign of them being super careful or super keen or that it is ever a good sign when training a young horse, I agree that he may not be understanding what you want but as it should be a basic part of their training then it does need to be properly established now before he decides poles are exciting and refuses to settle down to use them in a beneficial way.

You said you walked over them numerous times which raises the first question did you have them the correct distance for trotting, it may be stating the obvious but if he could walk through easily then they were not right for trotting and may be the cause of your problems.
I tend to use 3 poles spaced at 2 strides apart, so a canter distance, they can canter over them without getting too muddled and it helps them relax but it also makes trotting easier as they only have to make half the effort, once they are really settled then fill in the 2 "gaps" so they have a pole every stride.
I would not raise any poles until he is really established in trot it is easy for them to rush and lose any benefit you may get, when you do raise them you may need to shorten the distance slightly to allow for the elevation and also let him go a little slower for the same reason, not all horses need these adjustments but many do and if you don't make them they flatten and start to rush rather than get in the air and use themselves more which is what we are trying to achieve, keep it simple, be very clear and ensure he has time to work it all out.

 

[{97702}]

I had the poles 4 feet apart (measured with a tape measure because I am so bad at estimating!) which was how my instructor had spaced them in our lesson; I absolutely take on board what you are saying BePositive (I had hoped you might reply!) but I think my frustration came from the fact that he has done all this before on a number of occasions. We have done the whole incremental moving on from 3 poles to then using 5 poles, then to raising them? I think I'll get my other half to video us this weekend so I can see what is going on, I cannot work out what I am doing wrong

 

[{97702}]

I wouldn't worry too much, it sounds like he's not quite understanding the question. I would reduce the number of poles and gradually increase them until he begins to understand. If it's all very exciting and he continues to do it I would scatter poles throughout your arena and every time you ride just go over them as you go about your normal schooling. It sounds like he's either super careful or super keen- both good signs!

He is a rather opinionated little cob type so I rather think he is super keen I like the idea of scattering them around, will give that a go, thanks

 

[be positive]

I had the poles 4 feet apart (measured with a tape measure because I am so bad at estimating!) which was how my instructor had spaced them in our lesson; I absolutely take on board what you are saying BePositive (I had hoped you might reply!) but I think my frustration came from the fact that he has done all this before on a number of occasions. We have done the whole incremental moving on from 3 poles to then using 5 poles, then to raising them? I think I'll get my other half to video us this weekend so I can see what is going on, I cannot work out what I am doing wrong

But are the 3 two strides apart or just 1, I find they get it more easily if they are spaced out further while they learn then put them together, also if you raise the poles you really do have to shorten the distance for some otherwise they just panic and rush over them or try and jump, I find polework fascinating and each horse can be so different initially in how much you have to move the distances or allow them to slow down to take it all in.

 

[Rosesandhorses]

No problem at all! I stand by what I have said, despite Be Positive's opinion, super careful and super keen is a good sign! Another exercise that works is to get them to think about something at the other end of the poles, e.g. a change of direction, a halt, a transition etc. With him being quite green try not to over complicate it and lots of praise when he does what you're after (so easy to forget this when you're so focused!). Basically keep it positive and fun!

 

[{97702}]

Ah ha, that is a very good description of what he was doing - panicking and rushing/trying to jump - so it sounds like the distances were wrong. I think in hindsight I was also probably asking too much too soon within the session, starting with raised poles as the question rather than incrementally introducing them as the session went on. I seemed to spend most of the session getting off to correct the poles etc, so I think I won't try pole work again without someone on the ground to help.

Thanks so much BePositive, you have really helped by making suggestions and also by making me think through properly what happened, I really appreciate it

 

[be positive]

No problem at all! I stand by what I have said, despite Be Positive's opinion, super careful and super keen is a good sign! Another exercise that works is to get them to think about something at the other end of the poles, e.g. a change of direction, a halt, a transition etc. With him being quite green try not to over complicate it and lots of praise when he does what you're after (so easy to forget this when you're so focused!). Basically keep it positive and fun!

I didn't say being super careful or keen is not good but that rushing is not desirable, serves no purpose in their training and needs careful handling in order to prevent it becoming a habit to rush every time poles are used, I have dealt with super careful horses and the last thing they need is to learn to rush at the early stages of training otherwise you risk them losing confidence before you even get jumping.

Getting the foundations in place correctly is so important, it is lovely to see them enjoying their work but they must listen and think otherwise they are not going to learn.

 

[be positive]

Ah ha, that is a very good description of what he was doing - panicking and rushing/trying to jump - so it sounds like the distances were wrong. I think in hindsight I was also probably asking too much too soon within the session, starting with raised poles as the question rather than incrementally introducing them as the session went on. I seemed to spend most of the session getting off to correct the poles etc, so I think I won't try pole work again without someone on the ground to help.

Thanks so much BePositive, you have really helped by making suggestions and also by making me think through properly what happened, I really appreciate it

Getting on and off is breaking the momentum, having someone on the ground in the early stages is almost essential as you need to be able to tweak things, sometimes I barely move a pole but it makes all the difference to how they work through them, you certainly cannot start with them raised I wouldn't even with a well established horse, with a green one every session goes back to stage 1 or 2 then builds up, it gets quicker but they still start with poles on the ground to get them looking and thinking.

 

[Rosesandhorses]

I agree that rushing is not desirable AND that it needs careful handling, however in the spirit of 'being positive' I think there are certain ways of thinking about it that effect how a rider handles the situation.

 

[{97702}]

I understand what you are saying Rosesandhorses Somewhat dispiriting that I am making such fundamental errors considering how long I have been riding, but hey ho every day is a learning day......

 

[Rosesandhorses]

Honestly don't be too hard on yourself. We all do it and only the one's that look at themselves and learn from it actually get better 😊