Gymnastic exercises are fantastic to implement into the weekly routine for your horses. Not only do pole exercises help to strengthen your horses core, but they also keep you as a rider entertained and focussed in the arena (especially if it is the off-season). There is nothing better than a good pole session to prevent rider and horse form becoming arena 'sour!' Scroll on for our gymnastic exercises for horses.
What you will need:
All you will need is 4-10 showjumping poles.
Spacing
Spacing between poles varies between horses and must account for their size/ length of pace. However, this is the standard measurements.
(If you measure the length of your steps before hand, you can space out distances without needing a tape)
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Walk Poles: 0.8-1m (1 'big' step)
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Trot Poles: 1.2-1.5, (1 and 1 foot length step)
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Canter Poles: 2.7-3.3, (3 'big' steps)
Exercise 1: TROT FAN
This exercise is great for balance, planning and engagement of your horse's hind end. Complete on both reins, and once confident, it can be completed at a canter with a bounce between poles.
Exercise 2: BENDING TROT POLES
This is a more difficult trot exercise requiring accurate planning and execution. You can change the distance between poles, noting the closer they are together, the more difficult the exercise will be.
Exercise 3: CANTER SQUARE
The first of our canter exercises is our canter fan. This may look easy, but it is incredibly difficult to maintain even 4 strides between the poles the longer you go on. To begin, you can start by having just 2 poles and build up to 4. Again, this can be completed on both reins!
Exercise 4 - Lead Finder
This is a great exercise for both advance riders and intermediate.
Variation 1 – Trot the first pole, pick up the canter and then go left or right depending on which lead is picked up
Variation 2 – Canter first pole, and complete a lead change over the second pole, going left or right depending on new lead
Pair your Gymnastic Pole Exercises With a Barn Camera
A barn camera gives you the ability to remotely observe your horse’s pole gymnastics exercises, helping you verify that they are being performed correctly. By reviewing the footage, you can track progress, make necessary adjustments to the exercises, and identify any subtle movement issues that might be missed during live observation.
Pinpoint patterns or areas in need of improvement, which allows for more targeted development. This ongoing assessment makes certain that your muscle building gymnastic exercise sessions are always a step forward in refining your horse’s skills.
Discover the Equine Eye barn cameras, a valuable asset for trainers and horse owners alike. With reliable monitoring, you can review your horse’s movements, track progress, and identify areas for improvement, making every training session more productive and insightful.
FAQ:
How can I make grid gymnastics more challenging for my horse?
To make grid gymnastics more challenging for your horse, you can adjust the distance between the poles to vary the stride length, increase the height of the jumps, or incorporate combinations that include oxers or water trays. You can also change the pattern or layout of the grid to introduce new angles and complexities. Adding elements like bending lines or multiple strides between jumps can improve your horse’s focus and ability to adapt to different situations, while helping with coordination and jumping technique.
Are gymnastic pole exercises suitable for all levels of horses and riders?
Yes! Gymnastic pole exercises can be adapted for horses and riders of all levels. For beginners, poles can be laid on the ground to help with balance, rhythm, and coordination, while more advanced riders can increase the difficulty with raised poles and jumps. These exercises can build a solid foundation of skills for young horses or improve the performance of seasoned competitors by enhancing stride length, jumping form, and overall fitness.
How often should I incorporate grid jumping exercises into my horse’s training?
The frequency of grid jumping exercises should be tailored to your horse’s fitness and training plan. For most horses, incorporating grid exercises once or twice a week is beneficial, allowing adequate recovery time between sessions. Overdoing it can lead to fatigue or strain, especially in younger horses or those with less experience.
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