Walking over ground poles

Goal

Have the horse step calmly and in balance over ground poles in hand.

Before you start

• The horse leads calmly
• Level, non-slip footing

What you need

• Halter and lead rope
• A few ground poles
• Gloves

Step by step

1. Lay the poles flat on level, non-slip ground.
2. Start with a single pole and let the horse step over it calmly.
3. Walk beside the shoulder yourself and hold the rope in a figure-of-eight, not around your hand.
4. Add more poles only once the horse stays calm, about one walk step apart (a guideline of roughly 0.8 m at walk, shorter for ponies).
5. Keep the pace calm and reward a quiet pass.

The horse's body language

A horse that calmly looks where it goes and studies the poles is fine. Jumping, rushing or hesitating means go back to a single pole and give more time.

Common mistakes

• Laying out many poles at once
• Making the spacing too short or uneven
• Pulling ahead of the horse

Safety

• Use level, non-slip ground so the horse does not slip.
• Walk beside the shoulder, not in front, so you are not in the way.
• Hold the rope loosely in a figure-of-eight.

Stop at once if

• The horse jumps or rushes through the poles
• The horse becomes tense or trips repeatedly

Supervision

Young riders should do this with a calm horse and under supervision. The distances are guidelines; adjust them to the individual horse.

More about this

Ground poles help the horse step more consciously and in balance. Start small, with a single pole, and build up only once it stays calm. The distance given is a guideline, not a fixed rule.

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