Uneven raised poles and lunging training aid

[Mule]

Hello, I'm wondering what the best training aid to use while lunging over alternately raised trotting poles.

The beast stretches long and low in a headcollar while lunging on the flat but drops his back while approaching the raised poles. He gets excited because he thinks he's going jumping.

I'm also unsure as to whether it's best for him to be in a long and low position while doing this exercise or should he hold himself higher? I want to strengthen his top line.

Would side reins be too restrictive for this exercise or would Vienna reins be more suitable?
Also, does anyone know how long I should lunge per session in this way?

 

[Shay]

I'm not a huge fan of strapping the horse's head down for raised poles - but I have no issue at all with lunging aids used correctly.

The horse will raise his head to assess the poles - with his head the outline they are harder to see and he will look up so he can judge what he is doing. The more so when they are alternate. That does have the impact of creating an inverted muscle development which is not what you want. But if you use an aid to keep his head down he may trip and loose confidence.

Vienna reins at least offer a range of head movement - when both ends are fixed to the roller. If I had to use an aid at all for this I would aim more toward he "lungee bungee" type or the soft cotton rope type (I call it an Waldhaus rope - but I think that is just the name of the manufacturer?). Longlining over the poles might be more effective for him (if a bit of a workout for you!). You need him to learn to do this softly for himself, not fight with an aid.

To strat with I would keep this type of exercise to only one or two goes through. He needs to develop his core musculature and his confidence. You also need to get a really good eye for placing him correctly so he goes through the poles easilty without needing to alter his stride. So that would be 2 - 3 minutes in a 15 - 20 minute session?

 

[Goldenstar]

For poles if I feel the need to use something I would choose very long side reins about the height of the bottom of the saddle .
But the horse needs to understand wants required and be able to bens round the circle and stretch forwards before the poles will help you need to establish this walking and then trotting over single poles dotted around the school then on two poles on either side of a circle , then four round a circle

 

[The-Bookworm]

I don't use any gadgets for lunging. It depends what you want to achieve.
I allow mine to carry herself and work out how best to do that without my interference.
If she's going forwards well, my job, approaches correctly, my job, she doesn't alter her head to do them.

 

[tallyho!]

Have you thought about having lessons on lungeing? It's worth it. Best thing I ever did, I have never used gadgets since (10 years ago now). I think lungeing is a much forgotten art form. Personally, I think that's why so many gadgets exist.

If your horse thinks he is jumping, then you have made him think he is. Why don't you strip it back a bit for him so he understands what you want like GS has suggested. Then, raise just ONE pole. Leave the rest on the ground. When he's going over that nice and calm, raise TWO etc and build on his confidence each time.

 

[gunnergundog]

If your horse is truly working correctly with good posture on the flat - lifting his back, coming up through the withers and extending his neck with his nose about elbow height and in front of the vertical - but changes posture with raised poles then you are moving too fast for him. I would go back to a single pole on the ground. Get him working correctly over that and then build up the number of poles, introduce fans, mazes etc etc. Then, when he can sustain a good posture doing those exercises, introduce raised poles.

If he works correctly without gadgets on the flat, he understands what is required and it is likely to be a lack of core strength that causes him to change over the poles. You need to build the strength, not force him by using gadgets as you need him to be relaxed so that he can swing over his back. Similarly, if it is just excitement that causes him to change, you need to get him bored/switched off with the exercise such that he is relaxed and the exercise is of benefit to him. Continuing to perform the exercise whilst inverted/back dropped will be only to his detriment, regardless of the cause.

Only you or an instructor watching in real life can advise as to how long to lunge/lunge over poles.....depending on fitness, age of horse. quality of surface etc etc. Don't underestimate how much effort pole work takes though, so start VERY slowly and build up even slower.

 

[flying_high]

If your horse is truly working correctly with good posture on the flat - lifting his back, coming up through the withers and extending his neck with his nose about elbow height and in front of the vertical - but changes posture with raised poles then you are moving too fast for him. I would go back to a single pole on the ground. Get him working correctly over that and then build up the number of poles, introduce fans, mazes etc etc. Then, when he can sustain a good posture doing those exercises, introduce raised poles.

If he works correctly without gadgets on the flat, he understands what is required and it is likely to be a lack of core strength that causes him to change over the poles. You need to build the strength, not force him by using gadgets as you need him to be relaxed so that he can swing over his back. Similarly, if it is just excitement that causes him to change, you need to get him bored/switched off with the exercise such that he is relaxed and the exercise is of benefit to him. Continuing to perform the exercise whilst inverted/back dropped will be only to his detriment, regardless of the cause.

Only you or an instructor watching in real life can advise as to how long to lunge/lunge over poles.....depending on fitness, age of horse. quality of surface etc etc. Don't underestimate how much effort pole work takes though, so start VERY slowly and build up even slower.

This

This, I do use a range of equi-ami, pessoa, kavalkade, equicore, de-gogue and side reins. (Not all at once, and depending what effect is needed, and might only use something once or twice ever with one horse, it depends on the effect are looking for at a point in time).

However I tend to think stages are, 1) horse moving well in gadget of choice, 2) horse doing one pole on the floor with no gadgets, 3) horse doing 3-5 poles on the floor, 4) horse doing 3 poles, 3) one raised and two on floor, 4) horse doing 3 poles alternate sides raised, 5) horse doing 5 poles alternate sides raised (still no gadgets).

Once these steps are all easy and done well, repeat steps 2-5) doing raised poles in gadget of choice, providing is correctly adjusted for balance and range of movement.

In terms of repeats, it is very tiring for some horses, you will see them tire / misbehave / kick poles. I would start with asking for 3 good repetitions on each rein, and build up repetitions, but not looking typically for more than 8 repetitions on each rein, each session once all poles are raised.

Good help and eyes of the ground, or videoing what you are doing, and sending it to more experienced eyes.

I am currently as part of rehab doing 7 asymetrically raised walk poles, each 3 feet apart, in just lunge cavesson, as 10 repetitions on each rein, as part of a progressive rehab programme.

 

[sbloom]

I see horses going badly in all sorts of gadgets, and going badly over poles with or without gadgets. It has its place, though I'm not going to say that for gadgets. I was very grateful to the classical trainer that taught me to lunge without, but I would now go the Straightness Training or Manolo Mendez route (as I recommend to my customers), it's hard to cause harm with either, but lunging a horse over poles with it inverted, or held down by a gadget, could well do.