what's the correct striding for trotting poles??

[sophiebailey]

Afternoon everyone!

As per title ........ how many of my strides should be between each pole when setting up trotting poles? Hoping to get the young lady I help with her riding to do some on the floor and raised tomorrow but not sure how to stride it!

It's for a 14hh pony if that has any bearing?

Thank you everyone

 

[Mongoose11]

Pretty sure someone will be able to give you a more exact striding for your pony but my mare has 5.5 steps (toe to heel steps) between her trotting poles. She is a 15.1 cob. Perhaps try 5 steps for your pony?

 

[LaurenBay]

I do 1 large step between them. Have ridden a 15.3, 15.1 and 14.2 over them and all fine.

 

[Footlights]

I do 4 steps heel to toe (but I have big feet!) lol

 

[sophiebailey]

Great so 4-5 little steps or 1 big one thanks everyone!! Will see how he goes

 

[Pebbles]

Yes I do 4 heel to toe steps too!! but what about canter poles anyone??

 

[touchstone]

I work in 'old money' so trotting poles are 3.5 - 5 feet, bounce strides are 10 - 12 feet canter strides 18 -24 feet, so if one large (human) stride equals around three feet you can work it out from there.

 

[Queenbee]

4 1/2 heel toe for anything 14hh to 16hh an adjust up or down accordingly dependant on stride, I'd start at 4 steps, establish this stride and then add a half at a time working on lengthening, try to get to 5.5 perhaps? Telly good exercise

 

[PolarSkye]

Doesn't it depend a) on the horse/pony . . . some have really ground-covering, open strides and some are more short/choppy; and b) what you're trying to achieve . . . if I want Kal to really stretch then I put a good five and a half heel-to-toe steps between each one, but if I want to encourage him to put in more elevation and "pick up" then I shorten the distance between the poles . . . make sense?

P