Polework – Starting Out Part 2 with Maddi Burchell The Dressage Coach
Part two of our “Starting Out with Poles”
Here`s the link to Part 1 if you missed this – PART ONE
I hope you enjoyed the last exercises and your horse is now doing them with ease!
So, lets take a look at how we can develop our Polework. The most effective way to get more “Gymnastic” training from your Polework is to do raised poles.
Personally I use a combination of Potties, blocks or even jump wings to raise my poles I also like to use Cavelletti, but only with my advanced horses once they are very experienced with raised poles.
However, we can create a pattern of poles that will give a greater gymnastic effect without raising them.
So after a good warm up, a couple of great exercises to try are:
Zig-Zag’s
You will need a minimum of 3 poles (preferably 5 or 7) and they should be placed end to end (see picture below).
Try to keep them the same angle apart to start with, but as you horse finds the exercise easier you can alter some or all of the angles (this will encourage the horse to focus more on coordination, foot placement and balance).
You should ride through the the centre of the poles as a straight line. The exercise is best done in walk and trot and it encourages straightness, coordination , balance, core engagement, rhythm and adding expression to paces.
You can raise some of the poles to add an extra degree of difficulty to this exercise.
You can also ride this exercise along the edges of the poles to encourage greater lengthening and shortening of the stride.
Pole Serpentine
This exercise does require a fair amount of poles!
Start by creating a large curve with the poles, followed by a straight line, into a curve in the opposite direction, followed by another straight line. Depending on the number of poles you have and the size arena you have you could add another curve and line.
This exercise really helps with balance, bend, coordination, impulsion, stamina and core. You could develop this exercise by raising or semi raising some or all of the poles.
You can raise or half raise poles on nearly every pole exercise you do to make them just a little more difficult.
But, please remember, you need to build your horse up to be being able to do this. A proper cool down is definitely needed after a hard raised pole session.
About the Author:
Training and coaching services are available at your own facility or at ours. Coaching is provided by a fully qualified and insured coach that also holds an enhanced DBS and First Aid and Safeguarding certificates providing you with the peace of mind that you are receiving the best instruction for you and your horse.
Professional Dressage Coach (BD UKCC 3)
Rider Biomechanics
NLP Master Practitioner
Nutrition & Fitness Specialist
For more information on Maddi Burchell Dressage visit the website
https://www.maddiburchelldressage.com/
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