Pole work (anyone any ideas please?)

[Sol]

Posted this in CR but no replies... so quickly...

Cut a long story short - my horse seems to love pole work. So far just stuck to very simple things - trotting poles in straight lines (varying distances a little to collect/extend stride too) and tonight we attempted canter poles on a circle. I say attempted - it went brilliantly on the right rein and not so well on the left rein (his worst rein) but that's what I expected

However, I need more ideas! He always settles much better if we do some pole work, though I haven't got many idea for how to do different things!
Also, how often is it ok to do work over poles? Usually only do it when I have someone to help shuffle the poles around anyway so maximum 3 times a week ish, but don't want to push it as it's reasonably hard work for him at times....

Any help appreciated

 

[DuckToller]

My daughter's instructor always warms her up over poles, either walking, trotting or cantering, even if she is having a flat lesson. He says it helps our horse to concentrate and also use himself better.

How about trot poles spread in a fan on a bend? When you say canter circle, do you mean the poles at 12, 3,6 and 9 o'clock? That is quite tricky to do in canter - always makes me and horse work hard!

You could just put random poles round the arena and ride around, sometimes over them and sometimes not. It's too late for my brain and I can't think of much else to do but will sleep on it!

 

[neverlate]

try trotting over raised trotting poles. in staight line or on curve. relly makes horse pick up. also try halting over a pole with front feet in front, and back feet behind, and then you could do it from trot. i find it helpd my horse get a square halt. try one pole over X and doing lead changes over the pole when riding a figure of 8, may be easier to start this with a wee jump tho, and bring it back to a pole.
Hope this helps?

 

[Stephen_Price]

I agree the the above as a RI myself pole work does help the horse to work better and to concentrate on the job in hand. Try they above as well as placing poles down the centre line so then you ride over them when doing 3 or 4 loop sirpontines etc sorry for the spelling LOL. There are lots of good things you can do with poles to help your horse in the school and with there schooling.

 

[Sol]

Thank you all! Do plan on trying to get hold of maybe a book that would give me ideas (have seen a few but can't remember titles xD) but might have to wait until my birthday... Will try out some of those ideas for now! Thanks!