Introduction to Polework: Improve Your Horse’s Training in 2025
Polework is often viewed merely as an introduction to jumping, but it offers much more. This versatile training method enhances both flatwork and jumping proficiency by improving the horse’s rhythm, accuracy and suppleness. Integrating poles into your daily schooling regime is a beneficial way to keep training varied and stimulating for both horse and rider.
Incorporating Poles into Flatwork
Using poles during flatwork sessions brings variety and numerous physical benefits for your horse, such as:
- Encouraging the hind legs to work harder, improving suppleness.
- Increasing agility and flexibility by promoting higher leg lifts.
- Promoting longitudinal and lateral suppleness as the horse stretches over its topline.
- Controlling stride length: spacing poles further encourages the horse to lengthen and stretch forward, while closer poles encourage collected, elevated strides.
- Regulating pace for horses that tend to rush.
- Enhancing rider precision, balance, and control, particularly for straightness.
- Helping riders develop forward focus and ride confidently without jumping.
Introduce poles progressively: start walking and trotting over a single pole, then gradually increase to three or more to prevent horses from attempting to jump over two poles, which they might misinterpret.
Correct spacing is crucial and usually benefits from assistance by an experienced person who can adjust pole distances based on your horse’s size and stride length, saving time and effort during sessions.
Effective Pole Exercises for Flatwork
- 20-Metre Circle with Four Poles: Set four poles evenly at quarter points around a 20m circle (12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions). Ride in trot aiming for the centre of each pole, maintaining consistent strides, rhythm and straightness. To increase difficulty, add a 10-metre circle around some poles on the same or opposite rein.
- Fan of Poles on a Circle: Place four poles fanned out on a circle with correct spacing for your horse. Riding towards the inside shortens the stride and encourages collection; riding the outside line encourages a longer, stretched stride. This helps develop trot suppleness with minimal need for adjustments.
- Stride Adjustment Canter Exercise: Place two poles far apart on a straight. Canter over them several times counting strides. Then ask your horse to add more, shorter strides between poles, followed by fewer, longer strides. This improves balance, rideability and responsiveness within the gait.
Advanced Exercises and Variations
Beyond these basics, experienced riders can use raised poles, grids, and patterns such as triangles, clovers, S-bends, and hexagons to target specific skills like balance, suppleness, and precision. Tools like low pole pods can increase difficulty safely.
Practical Polework Tips
- Always prioritise safety by ensuring poles are secure and the training area free from hazards.
- Start simple and progress gradually to avoid overwhelming your horse.
- Mix exercises to keep sessions interesting and address multiple training goals.
- Use poles regularly in warm-ups, main sessions and cool-downs for consistent benefits.
- Consider consulting professional coaches or participating in clinics for personalised guidance.
Conclusion
Polework remains one of the most accessible and effective training methods to enhance a horse’s fitness, agility and obedience. Whether for general schooling, competitive preparation or rehabilitation, incorporating pole exercises enriches your training and supports a happier, healthier equine partner. Embrace these techniques to refine your horsemanship and strengthen your horse in every stride.
