KICK OFF THE COMPETITION SEASON

WITH POLEWORK EXERCISES

In the off-season most of us give our ponies a well-deserved break, but as we enter February and shows start again it’s definitely time to shake off the cobwebs and get back into the swing of things.

It can be a challenge to decide what to work on first, but these simple polework exercises should cover all the bases. Think about keeping your pony focused, straight and working over his back to get the full benefit of these exercises.

LENGTHEN AND COLLECT IN TROT AND CANTER

You’ll want to set up on the two long sides of your arena for this one. On one side, set up two sets of poles as far apart as possible on a straight line, leaving room for your pony to stay straight for at least two strides before and after. Ensure you use a minimum of three trotting poles per set.

The first set of trotting poles should be spaced slightly shorter than 1.1m, as you’ll be asking your pony to collect here. The second set should be slightly further apart than 1.1m. Create the same exercise with canter poles on the other long side. The ‘collected side’ should be just shorter than the average 2.8m, and the ‘lengthen side’ just slightly longer. You can adjust these poles to suit your pony’s stride and experience.

How to ride it

1. Once you’ve warmed your pony up, start with the trotting poles, collecting first and then opening up and swinging your hip to make the distance over the longer poles. Focus on staying straight and fiddling with your pony as little as possible. Let him figure out his own feet.

2. When you’re both comfortable, change things around and ride the longer poles first. The goal here is to get your pony calm and collected again before you reach the shorter poles. This should be a smooth transition from a longer trot to a more collected trot, pushing from behind and shifting the energy over the top of his back.

3. With the trotting poles completed, you can move on to the canter poles. Complete the exercises in the same order.

4. Now it’s time to put everything together. Start with a nice collected trot and trot straight over the shorter poles.

5. Lengthen the trot and complete the longer poles.

6. Use the short side to transition to canter and canter the longer poles.

7. Collect the canter and finish the exercise with the shorter set of canter poles.

8. Now you can play around with the exercise. Change rein, and start with the canter poles first. Keep as much variation in your schooling as you can to keep your pony focused on you and waiting for the next aid.

This exercise will help your pony to stay calm, focused, straight and off the aids from your leg and seat. He’ll work hard to get all the transitions and pay attention to where he puts his feet. This is an excellent exercise for dressage and jumping ponies.

THE BOUNCE BOX

This polework exercise is really fun and simple to build. It’s an excellent way to teach a young pony flying changes or practice them yourself without leaning or overcorrecting. You’ll be building a simple square with your poles. Each side of the square should measure roughly 3m. If your poles are a different length, adjust them, so the distance between all the poles in the square remains at around 3m. You’re ready to go.

How to ride it

1. This exercise is ridden in the canter, although young ponies and novice riders can attempt it in the trot first.

2. Choose any pole for your approach and canter in on the right rein. You’ll be changing rein over the first set of poles and encouraging the flying change, so start changing to your new bend as you approach the first pole.

3. Use your eyes, shoulders, legs and seat to ask for the change as you pop over the first bounce.

4. If you flub the change, don’t panic or get frustrated. Calmly come back to trot and ask for the correct canter lead. Loop around and approach the next set of poles. Ask for the change over the first one.

5. Continue to ride the bounce box in a figure of eight, asking for the change each time.

THE BOUNCE LINE

You’ll need at least four poles for this. The poles should be raised to around 40 cm. You can also choose to elevate alternate sides for young ponies and novice riders. Set them up at bounce distance (between 2.5 and 3.1m) on a straight line. The goal when riding this exercise is straightness and a nice bouncy canter from behind. The bounce line is an excellent way to get your pony fit for the upcoming season.

How to ride it

1. Start with getting an energetic, bouncy canter, holding an elastic contact and encouraging your pony to work from behind.

2. Get straight and approach the bounces. Don’t change your rhythm or rush him at the first one. You want to keep that bounciness all the way to the last pole.

3. Pop up into a light seat over the first pole and stay there down your line. Keep your eyes up, hands still, and your weight in your feet. Make corrections with your leg if your pony starts to drift.

4. Repeat on the other rein.

5. You can add more poles to make the bounce line longer or raise the poles for more of a challenge. Just remember, bounce lines are hard work, so build up your pony’s fitness slowly.

THE SPIRAL

This is an excellent exercise to encourage your pony to engage his inside hind and move away from your leg. Set up four poles in a cross shape so that the middle of each would be on a 20m circle. If you or your pony are less experienced, you can make the circle bigger. If you’re an experienced pony and rider combination and your pony is fit enough, you can make the circle smaller.

The goal of this exercise is to improve your pony’s suppleness and flexibility, while engaging his hindquarter and focusing him on your leg.

How to ride it

1. Start in an active trot around the outside of the circle. When your pony is focused and engaged, you can trot the poles on the biggest circle possible.

2. Start to spiral inwards, making the circle smaller and smaller by pushing with your outside leg. Don’t be tempted to pull with your inside hand. Your pony needs to maintain the same bend through his body throughout the exercise.

3. As the circle gets smaller, your pony will have to work harder with his inside hind leg, so keep your leg on.

4. When the circle is small enough, prepare to leg yield back out until you’re back at the starting position.

5. Repeat on the other rein.

POLEWORK EXERCISES

Polework exercises are fantastic for getting your pony fit, focused and supple. Build up the difficulty slowly and keep challenging yourself, and you’ll see the results in the ring. You’ll find you have a more athletic and responsive pony in no time, all with the help of some poles on the ground.