Flat-sided/squared trotting poles?

[ginatina]

Has anyone experience of using square trotting poles?

I like the idea that they wont roll when kicked, but wondered if they stand up to being trodden on?

Any other suggestions for better alternatives to ordinary poles?

Thanks so much

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I did a pole clinic on Sunday and we had square trotting poles. They were really good. Seem safer than round ones.

 

[ginatina]

I did a pole clinic on Sunday and we had square trotting poles. They were really good. Seem safer than round ones.

cool, thank you. Were they wood, or plastic?

 

[humblepie]

I looked for some a while back and it was difficult to find any. Could presumably buy normal wood and paint up.

 

[ihatework]

All the eventers round here use railway sleepers

 

[Rowreach]

Any wood yard should be able to make you some pressure treated 4x4 lengths for very little money. I think I paid about £8 each for mine a few years ago. Very handy if you're working by yourself and I think safer because if the horse does tread on them they just tip onto the next side rather than rolling forward under the foot.

 

[Polos Mum]

I use some old square ish fence posts that the OH cut the pointy end off. They are narrow so you can put two next to each other or practice accuracy.

I have stood on them to no ill effect (pony or pole)

Fence rails I think would be too thin and crack if stood on - the posts are 2 x as thick as rails.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I did a pole clinic on Sunday and we had square trotting poles. They were really good. Seem safer than round ones.

They were wood. She had them cut at a wood yard. They looked so much lighter to carry about in the school. She had painted them and they looked really good. She said she preferred them as an old horse of hers did a leg when standing on a round pole and it rolling.

 

[chaps89]

I used fence rails. One rail sawn in half gave me 2 quite short poles. But I had a sensible horse and wasn’t fussy, for the price I paid they did the job I needed perfectly. (The flat ones are the red and white - blue and white and fence posts with the spikey end sawn off)