Trotting pole question???

[el_Snowflakes]

Hi all,

As part of my mission to get my horse off the forehand, I am about to start including trotting poles in my schooling. Although im not sure how far apart should i space them? and also, if i raised them (like cavaletti, only using jumps) would i need to change the spacing? Ideally I would like to get her to shorten her stride but id like to be able to spread them out to get her stretching and thining about where shes placin her feet! My mare is a 16hhWB and is normally long striding.

thanks

 

[LouS]

I don't know the correct way but I just decide on a distance and see how they handle it. I would maybe set out some at a length you think is her natural stride, then another set short and another set longer and play about over them while you're schooling. I don't think there is an exact science to it as every horse is so different.

 

[Elbie]

I find it's really hard to have a definitive "how far apart" knowledge, especially as peoples stride lengths vary as well as horses!

I tend to start off pacing 4 normal sized steps (normal for me), placing poles 4 steps apart. Have a go and see how well this works and then you can adjust to suit. This pacing was fine for the 16.2hh TB I used to ride, but the 16.2hh shire x manages to bounce over them in canter (apparently he finds that much more fun).

When it comes to raising I don't alter the distance if your not going any bigger than the smallest height you can get on a jump block.

Trial and error. Once you know how a normal 4 steps suits, you can adjust to whatever task.