10/09/2026
The poles aren’t actually the exercise. 👀
Or at least, getting over them isn’t the whole exercise.
It’s really easy to put poles on the ground and suddenly make the session about whether your horse clears them without touching anything.
Tap a pole = bad.
Clear them = good.
But that’s missing an awful lot of what pole work can actually tell you.
Instead, pay attention to:
→ Rhythm — does it stay consistent before, over and after the poles?
→ Balance — does your horse stay balanced or change as they approach?
→ Activity — are they genuinely moving forwards or shuffling towards them?
→ Your position — do you stay central or suddenly look down and tip forwards?
→ The other side — what has actually changed after the poles?
And remember: poles on the floor aren’t fences.
You don’t automatically need to change into a jumping position just because they’re there.
Ideally, I want the horse and rider to approach in a balanced, active rhythm, maintain that through the poles and come out the other side without everything changing.
The poles are there to help the exercise.
They’re not the only measure of whether it was successful.
So next time you set some out, try listening to the footfalls rather than watching the poles.
Can you keep the same rhythm before, during and after?
Better Rides — Episode 3 🤍
