5 polework exercises to try this summer!

Set it up

This layout requires very little effort to set it up – and all you need is four poles of the same length (ideally 3m). In the middle of your arena, create a square with the poles, making sure all the corners are touching. 

Riding a straight line over two parallel poles

The first line is a great intro to this layout because it will test straightness and also give your pony time to familiarise himself with what’s going on around him. 

Turn towards the poles from the end of the arena, then aim for the middle of the first pole and channel your pony straight by sitting evenly in the saddle, keeping an even rein contact and pressing with both legs to encourage your pony to stay active and in a good rhythm. Keep your upper body facing forwards and continue riding a straight line for at least six strides after the layout. 

You could also have a go at riding over different parts of the poles, such as the left-hand sides, to see if you can still maintain a straight line! 

Riding a straight line over two corners

You’ll want to ride this line in a similar way to the first one, but it’s much trickier because the points you’re aiming for are much narrower! Aim for your pony to step over the corner, rather than to the side – you’ve really got to focus on keeping his whole body super-straight throughout the line. 

Riding a curved line over two perpendicular poles

This line requires your pony to bend through his body around the turn. Ride it as part of a big circle and use your inside rein and leg to create the bend, then support your pony’s outside shoulder through the turn by pressing with your outside leg and closing your outside rein towards his wither. Make sure you keep looking up around the turn, not down at the poles, and see whether you can maintain the bend all the way around. 

This is a great exercise for encouraging your pony to step under with his inside hindleg, which will really boost his core strength!

Brilliant bends

Have a go at Nina Gill’s bending exercise!
Set it up

Using 10 3m poles, start by placing four poles in the centre of your riding area to create an X. Then, add six more poles around the X to make a hexagon – simple!

Maintain your bend

The first line to ride through focuses on maintaining the same bend, which might sound pretty simple but don’t forget that your pony will also be working hard to get over the poles. 

How to ride it…

1. In an active walk, bring your pony off the track and ride straight towards the middle of your first pole. A few strides before the pole, turn your upper body towards the direction you’ll be going. 

2. Keep your eyes up as your pony steps over the pole and ask him to bend by flexing your inside rein to show him the position you want his head and neck in, pressing your legs against his sides and closing your fingers around your outside rein. 

3. Ride a smooth curve towards the middle point of the layout and maintain the same soft bend until you’ve ridden over the final pole. 

4. Straighten up your pony and reward him
with a scratch on his wither, then have a go
on the other rein and progress to trot when you’re ready.

Change your bend

This line is slightly trickier because it involves a change of bend in the middle of the layout. It’s a good idea to practise changing bends without the poles first so you can perfect your aids and make sure your pony understands what you’re asking. 

How to ride it…

1. Approach the poles and ride over the first one as you did in exercise one. 

2. The stride before the middle X, straighten up your pony by sitting evenly in the saddle and levelling up your rein and leg contact. 

3. As your pony steps over the X, ask him to bend in the other direction. Remember to keep your eyes up and turn your upper body to guide him. 

4. Maintain the bend until you’ve exited the layout, straighten up again before rewarding him then try it on the other rein. 

You might find your pony’s more accepting of changing his bend in one direction than the other, especially if he favours one rein more. If this is the case, get him checked over by your vet, physio and saddler and, once you’ve got the all-clear, keep practising and try lots of suppling exercises.