In hand pole work - how many do this?

[Breagha]

I got a lesson from my instructor last night to do in hand pole work with my 5 year old. I do pole work when I am riding but decided to get some exercises that I can do when short on time to ride. It was really good to see how the horse moves and when she wasnt engaging properly.

we did a few exercises and they were very simple but effective. I think i am now going to make sure I do this at least once a week, to help strengthen her.

Does anyone else do this?

 

[Ellietotz]

I do this, lunging and in hand. I think it's nice to change things about instead of always being ridden. I put trotting poles down, sometimes raised or in a zigzag pattern to make her concentrate and pick her way through them. Normally only do this with her in walk as it's more complicated but it makes her think and stretch her head down. Then I will build up to trotting them, flat and raised on one end etc. Keeps her concentrating and working on the top line too, she seems to enjoy it plus I like to see how she is moving.

 

[Breagha]

I do this, lunging and in hand. I think it's nice to change things about instead of always being ridden. I put trotting poles down, sometimes raised or in a zigzag pattern to make her concentrate and pick her way through them. Normally only do this with her in walk as it's more complicated but it makes her think and stretch her head down. Then I will build up to trotting them, flat and raised on one end etc. Keeps her concentrating and working on the top line too, she seems to enjoy it plus I like to see how she is moving.

I will be working up to lunging her over them but she has decided shes forgotten how to lunge but it was very interesting watching her stretch and engage. we did that exercise, few poles in a row and some raised in a zig zag.

 

[SEL]

About twice a week. Similar to Ellie above in terms of starting at walk and then moving to trotting over them. I often free school but if madam is having one of her 'can't do it', 'won't do it' or 'I'm going to do everything in gallop' moments then the lunge rope comes out.

My horse has muscular and hock problems which means she was struggling to carry my weight and needed to build up her core strength. We've been doing raised pole work since Jan and its made a huge difference. She still can't manage a rider on her back every single day so I alternate between riding and working on the ground - pole work makes her think, esp if you change the distances and heights around. Its quite hard work as a human as well moving all those poles around!

 

[Breagha]

About twice a week. Similar to Ellie above in terms of starting at walk and then moving to trotting over them. I often free school but if madam is having one of her 'can't do it', 'won't do it' or 'I'm going to do everything in gallop' moments then the lunge rope comes out.

My horse has muscular and hock problems which means she was struggling to carry my weight and needed to build up her core strength. We've been doing raised pole work since Jan and its made a huge difference. She still can't manage a rider on her back every single day so I alternate between riding and working on the ground - pole work makes her think, esp if you change the distances and heights around. Its quite hard work as a human as well moving all those poles around!

I am going to try and do it at least once or maybe twice a week to help her. She is only 5 so want to make sure she builds up correctly.

we did 5 exercises last night and it was 4 or 5 poles in a row, on the ground, then raised zig zag, then walking over a raised pole (she jumped it a few times) but got the hang of actually lifting her legs and then 3rd was 3 poles in a triangle and walking over the corners, then straight pole to corner etc. Then asking her to walk backwards and then getting her to step sideways over a pole. she was very good and we were only in walk but you could see she was mentally tired from thinking where to put her feet.

 

[Laika]

DEFINITELY! Brilliant exercise to help them stretch and engage their legs. Had the physio down for a routine check recently and I was recommended in hand pole work to get her stretching low in the front to help lift her back up. As my mare is a little bit long in the back, she doesn't have the best support throughout her spine, so this is a brilliant exercise to engage her back.

 

[Breagha]

My mare is slightly long in the back, so this might be good for that. I have the vet physio on Monday for a check over before we step up the workload a bit.

 

[Rupertthebear]

I have done this, it then progressed to logs in the woods, ditches, small x-country fences! Basically if I dont ride I take him for a fun 'walk', which we practice lateral work etc. in hand.

 

[Antw23uk]

I was lunging over two poles (12 and 6 o'clock) last night with my mare so I'd be interested in finding out more and having a go with her

 

[Breagha]

We will maybe have to build up to something like this.

 

[Breagha]

I was lunging over two poles (12 and 6 o'clock) last night with my mare so I'd be interested in finding out more and having a go with her

My instructor is very big on doing in hand pole work and she sells exercise sheets for anyone wanting to do this. She did it with her currently horse and what a transformation in him. Now that I am on the same yard as my instructor, I thought I would benefit from having her there to progress to more things like this and not just ridden.

 

[Goldenstar]

I do loads of this .

 

[SEL]

My instructor is very big on doing in hand pole work and she sells exercise sheets for anyone wanting to do this. She did it with her currently horse and what a transformation in him. Now that I am on the same yard as my instructor, I thought I would benefit from having her there to progress to more things like this and not just ridden.

Feel free to share some of her exercises! I'm always after some new ones for my mare. She was cheeky enough this morning to trot over the poles in one direction, do a quick turn around and trot back the other way then stood in front of me as if to say 'done. Now where's breakfast?'. Sorry fatty - 45 minutes of work needed before breakfast! Some new pole exercises would give her something new to think about.

 

[gunnergundog]

Even better is if you can get a load of telegraph poles and lay them out in a field to work over - they generally cause the horse to make more effort than most raised poles plus if the horse taps them they don't move! Also, as they are so long you can work down the length of the pole doing in-hand serpentines but not moving more than a metre away from the pole.

 

[Breagha]

Feel free to share some of her exercises! I'm always after some new ones for my mare. She was cheeky enough this morning to trot over the poles in one direction, do a quick turn around and trot back the other way then stood in front of me as if to say 'done. Now where's breakfast?'. Sorry fatty - 45 minutes of work needed before breakfast! Some new pole exercises would give her something new to think about.

I dont have one of her exercise book things yet as decided to get a lesson in it to make sure I knew what I was looking for etc and to make sure she could see she was doing it correctly.

The 3 poles in a triangle seems to be a good one as it can be done ridden or in hand and you can do various things with it. In hand, walking in on one bend and leaving on the other etc.

Even better is if you can get a load of telegraph poles and lay them out in a field to work over - they generally cause the horse to make more effort than most raised poles plus if the horse taps them they don't move! Also, as they are so long you can work down the length of the pole doing in-hand serpentines but not moving more than a metre away from the pole.

That would be excellent - not sure the YO would be keen on them in the jumping paddock. But know what you mean about the poles moving.