Distances for polework

[gingerarab]

Can anyone in here tell me what distance poles should be placed for walk and trot for a 16.2 horse ?

 

[sandi_84]

According to "Poles and Gridwork" Trotting poles between 4-5ft depending on your horses stride. I couldn't remember this either the other day for a girl in the school so I did a bit of trial and error and figured it out that way - took me two goes to get it right - and then again for canter poles. Bless the horse I was moving poles for, he didn't freak out he just adjusted his stride till I got it right

 

[gingerarab]

Thanks Sandi, my problem is I dont have a helper on the ground so I am trying to set them up right before i start

 

[Grumpy Jewel]

Mine is 5 pidgen steps for trot and 10 for canter. If there's ever anyone to grab, I either lengthen or shorten them by 2 feet roughly depending on what I'm doing with the pace.

 

[sandi_84]

Thanks Sandi, my problem is I dont have a helper on the ground so I am trying to set them up right before i start

Ah I see... you could try setting them up and doing a bit of walk/trot over them in hand to see if you've got it right? Either that or use my old favourite of hijack the nearest person!

 

[summerguest]

you could check by lunging over trotting poles, you want his feet to land half way between the poles. If his feet land nearer to the next pole you need bigger distance, nearer to the last pole..you need to put them closer together. One human stride plus length of your foot is a good guide to start with.

For canter I use 3 big human strides between poles.