Now that you and your horse have mastered walking through a series of poles, it is time to continue building your skills by trotting through them. Trotting poles brings your control, timing, and rhythm to a new level.
Pole Position
The set up for this lesson is mostly the same as it was for the previous one at the walk. However, now that you are traveling through the poles at a trot each pole needs to be spaced three feet apart. Place the cone marking where your horse’s foot should land in between and to the side of each pole. Before riding through the trot poles for the first time work on establishing a rhythmic stride on a circle. If you are having a hard time figuring out what type of rhythm your horse should be in count “One, two.” “One, two.” to establish a good pace.
Once your horse is traveling at an even pace, aim him straight to the center of the poles. Look ahead over the horse’s ears and where you want to go. When you arrive at the poles loosen your reins and let your horse put his head down to look at the obstacle. You can choose if you want to post over the poles or not. I find it best if you mix up posting, sitting, and standing to make your position more secure.
Start by posting to the trot your first few times over the grid. When you decide to work at the sitting the trot over the poles allow your body to be flexible to absorb your horse’s motion. If you are having trouble sitting the trot over the grid hold onto the pommel or saddle horn on a western saddle. Once you get through the poles continue looking ahead, keeping your horse straight. Make a circle while still keeping the same trot rhythm, then turn back and trot through from the other direction.
Just Keep Trotting
If your horse tends to get a little quick going through the poles immediately stop him, as backing him up won’t be possible. If at any time your horse rushes toward the poles to a point where he is charging to them, halt him completely and back him up a few steps before asking him to walk through.
Is your horse’s stride the correct length? After you have ridden through the grid dismount to check where your horse’s hoof prints have landed. They should be right between the two poles and where your cones will be placed. Adjust your horse’s stride as necessary. To shorten the stride, sit back a bit or sit the trot if you are posting and apply slight pressure on the reins. You will know your horse’s stride is too long if your horse’s hoof prints are too close to the second pole.
Lengthen the stride by squeezing with your legs and giving the horse plenty of rein. Get him moving at the correct speed on a circle first then keep that rhythm to and through the poles. You will know your horse’s stride is too short if he is hitting the poles and his hoof prints are closer to the first pole than evenly centered between the poles.
Once you feel comfortable trotting through the grid, practice collecting your horse over the poles. Collect your horse by taking the slack out of your reins to make contact with his mouth while adding soft leg pressure at the same time. These aids will add more energy to his step and really ask him to lift his knees and hocks.