Trotting pole distances for 16.2

[Ziggy_]

Can anyone suggest distances for a long striding 16.2hh horse to use on the lunge? She tends to take them 2 at a time, or jump the lot, but ideally I want her to shorten her stride to get over them. She will do one sensibly but finds it difficult to collect.

 

[kate081]

For my 16hh girls I do 4 of my feet (size 8) which is a medium length stride for them. I'd try 4 1/2 of my feet for a long striding 16.2hh & then adjust accordingly. Make sure you have at least 4 poles so it's impossible for him to jump them!

 

[cruiseline]

Put the trotting poles in a fan shape.

Where the poles lay closes to each other, the distance should be approximately 1 metre (which you can use for the horse to walk over). At the centre of the poles it should be 1.3 metres (normal horse trot stride) and at the widest point it should be around 1.5.

You can work your horse up and down the fan to teach it to lengthen and shorten over the poles.

I would start your horse on the wider end of the fan, which will be furthest ways from where you are lunging and once it has gained confidence and understanding, you can ask it to go more through the middle of the poles.

Hope that helps.