Getting a horse to respect poles

[iknowmyvalue]

This isn’t a post about jumping, I’m talking polework poles, he just kicks them everywhere if he’s not in the mood. I almost dread polework sessions with him, because I just know I’m going to have to keep getting off to fix the poles.

Its not that he can’t do them, but it’s more that he doesn’t really make much effort not to kick them, and if he does kick them he doesn’t give a hoot. Raised poles are similar, he can practically fall over them and not really put in any more effort the next time. I don’t think it’s a physical problem, and sometimes he’s absolutely fine. Anything I can do to help? Or shall I just resign myself to getting off and on a million times every time we do polework?!

He is at heart an idle creature and doesn’t tend to put any more effort in than he thinks he needs to. I’ve watched him just walk through electric fencing with 3 fully charged batteries attached because he decided he wanted to be in the other field, no effort to go over or under, just straight through... ?

 

[ycbm]

This is why I don't do polework and sometimes wish I had a helper. I'll be looking forward to the answers. I feel your pain
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[doodle]

Robin is the same “pfft they just move so why bother”. My old boss bought square poles when she had a particularly “meh” horse.

 

[criso]

Are you using plastic or wooden poles. Tigger knows the difference and will kick plastic ones but never gets near to touching a wooden one.

 

[Fools Motto]

Wooden poles are best, equally planks as they don't roll around when kicked. If you want to do raised poles, get some cuts off a telegraph pole. Works amazingly well if you are building up their muscles. Obvious disadvantage is they are heavy to move - we've got 6 set away permanently from the arena and they are in regular use by most of the horses.

 

[Tihamandturkey]

Maybe lunge over poles to get him used to the idea and the hang of the striding? ?

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Wooden poles are best, equally planks as they don't roll around when kicked. If you want to do raised poles, get some cuts off a telegraph pole. Works amazingly well if you are building up their muscles. Obvious disadvantage is they are heavy to move - we've got 6 set away permanently from the arena and they are in regular use by most of the horses.

Can’t do this as livery yard and they need to be able to move them around easily. We have a field with a few little XC fences that have some in, but can only use in the summer! Have tried planks, and while they don’t go as far he still kicks them out of place sometimes, but I’ll try and get them out more often to encourage him to respect them a bit more.

Maybe lunge over poles to get him used to the idea and the hang of the striding? ?

He’s the same (if not worse) on the lunge, but to be fair, at least I’m on the ground already ?

 

[Upthecreek]

Is the horse in front of the leg? Does he carry himself or rely on you to hold him together? In my experience it’s not about teaching them to respect the poles but getting them really switched on and active in their work. If he is just lazily lolloping along he’s not going to pick his feet up. You said he’s an idle creature that doesn’t put any more effort in than he thinks he needs to - I’d be working on this to get him more forward thinking before doing any more pole work.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Is the horse in front of the leg? Does he carry himself or rely on you to hold him together? In my experience it’s not about teaching them to respect the poles but getting them really switched on and active in their work. If he is just lazily lolloping along he’s not going to pick his feet up. You said he’s an idle creature that doesn’t put any more effort in than he thinks he needs to - I’d be working on this to get him more forward thinking before doing any more pole work.

Yeah I appreciate that. But he is actually very forward thinking (or at least very responsive to my leg). He didn’t used to be, but now he definitely isn’t behind the leg, was doing some tonight and he was perfectly off the leg. And yes, he mostly carries himself. Both things we’ve worked on massively, and which hes made massive progress with, which is partly why it’s frustrating he still does this!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

My Draft horse used to do this "Who left that there, in my way?". She wasn't one for putting in more effort than absolutely necessary but I think part of the problem was that until we got a treeless saddle, every saddle she had ever worn interfered with her shoulders when she lifted her legs higher than usual

 

[iknowmyvalue]

My Draft horse used to do this "Who left that there, in my way?". She wasn't one for putting in more effort than absolutely necessary but I think part of the problem was that until we got a treeless saddle, every saddle she had ever worn interfered with her shoulders when she lifted her legs higher than usual

is it a draft horse thing?! I hope it’s not the saddle as he’s never had any issues with it otherwise. But I think since he does it on the lunge without a saddle it’s probably more just him...

Think I’ll just have to resign myself to getting off when he kicks them too far out of place! Hes frustrating because 70% of times he will go over perfectly, or just tap them (which irritates me because I know he’s being a bit lazy, but doesn’t move them too much), but sometimes he’ll just not bother.

 

[Upthecreek]

Yeah I appreciate that. But he is actually very forward thinking (or at least very responsive to my leg). He didn’t used to be, but now he definitely isn’t behind the leg, was doing some tonight and he was perfectly off the leg. And yes, he mostly carries himself. Both things we’ve worked on massively, and which hes made massive progress with, which is partly why it’s frustrating he still does this!

What is he like over jumps? Does he pick his feet up then or not really care whether or not he hits them?

 

[Roxylola]

I do poles at 4 points on a circle usually, or at a distance apart enough that it doesn't matter if they move.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

What is he like over jumps? Does he pick his feet up then or not really care whether or not he hits them?

Usually more than over poles, especially if I ride him properly. Again, he used to be awful for knocking them all the time but much better now, especially over a bigger fence or one with fillers. But if he does hit them that doesn’t bother him much either (example: stride is dodgy, he’ll practically stop then just walk through the fence) Not much bothers him...

 

[iknowmyvalue]

I do poles at 4 points on a circle usually, or at a distance apart enough that it doesn't matter if they move.

That’s a good idea! Might try that this weekend...

 

[atropa]

Are you sure the distance is right for him? I have a 16.1 WB who has to have trot poles set at a shorter distance than ideal as her trot is so bouncy. I can get her over the 'ideal distance but she needs to be going extremely forwards to make it

 

[neddy man]

Check your distances re size of horse/ pony, as R said put them on a curve then work your way inward/outwards till it matches his stride then check the distance and use that measurement down a long side of the arena.

 

[Auslander]

I have a line of logs in one of my paddoks, to use instead of poles. Alf cannot be bothered with poles, and flicks them everywhere

 

[be positive]

I would start on the ground, one pole to walk over and encourage him to look, praise if he gets a step correct, take time, give him time to work it out for himself and gradually start to put some more out that are unrelated distances to really get him thinking about placing his feet, lifting his whole limb not just his foot, I have had numerous horses that have not seemed to be bothered about how they go over poles but generally they improve rapidly once they understand what is required, there are always a few exceptions but I have had far more successes than fails, a few have ended up being really careful after just a few sessions of carefully targeted work.

 

[Breagha]

My husbands ID can trip over poles like he is not capable of picking his feet up and the last time he had a lesson the instructor told him to "kill his trot a little" as he was going to forward and not active, once he started doing this, he looked like he had done it all his life.

 

[LEC]

If its a heavier horse (cob/ID) I find they can take a long time to build the properception. We had an ID who was hopeless but with time got better and better. A lot of the time its because they are more on their front end than a sport horse so they need to learn to lift the front end a little more which takes time.

I find cavaletti help and pole raisers just to lift them a little bit higher and they cannot kick them around. I also use arena boards, they are brilliant at staying in place and I often lunge over them. Easy to put out and don't move too much.

Pole raisers are easy to make - local timber merchants often do them for a very good price as have the kit to cut them easily.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233649186963

I also set up exercises that make them think so a lot of raised diagonal poles so they have to stay straight and think about their feet. On 3 trotting poles the middle one is often raised so again they have to look down and think about their feet.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

1. Make sure the distances are correct so he's not just getting frustrated. You should be able to change distances and adjust the gait, but for now just the basics.

2. Forward or forward from the leg doesn't always equal in front of the leg. Make sure you're not being fooled here. It's not that they need a forward trot, but a forward and active trot.

3. I would possibly use my whip (dressage whip) on my approach to the poles as a signal to liven up a bit. Make sure you continue to use your leg. Some riders just get to the poles and dump the horse expecting them to carry them through. In the beginning or with a more lazy type, they need some assistance and assurance.

4. Reward when he goes over cleanly. Make it clear that was what he was supposed to do.

5. Go back to basics. Start with one pole then build.

I don't know your riding or your horse so please don't take offense to any of my suggestions if they simply don't apply. I'm just throwing out some "in general" suggestions.

But I really feel like most horses who don't respect poles aren't engaged enough or may need a bit more support from the rider at this stage in their training. I had a horse that didn't give an eff about no stinkin' poles, but now he almost never hits one. He became stronger, fitter, and more active in his hind end and in general. Instead of dumping himself on his forehand or going forward but not actually using himself. I also did other leg and body control exercises with him. Improved his awareness and control which came in handy for other things later on in his training.

 

[Annagain]

No advice on the respecting but maybe something to stop them moving could help?
Something like this - it's easy to make your own. You can use them with the open side down to hold poles on the floor, open side up to raise them slightly or slotted together to raise them more - or even stacked in crosses to male little jump stands. They're very verstatile.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cavalett...v=DefaultOrganic&_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Thanks everyone! Lots of good ideas here, definitely going to be trying some out!

Think part of it was me generally feeling a bit pants mentally and physically, which rubbed off on Henry. Tried again tonight, and while I did have to do a fair bit of getting off and on, it wasn’t actually that bad...