EXERCISES FOR THE FLAT

"Oh, for a horse with wings"
(William Shakespeare, Cymbeline II)
  EXERCISES for the FLAT
The following are some exercises which will not only help build confidence and rhythm for your horse but also helps to build up the "engine" of your horse; the rear-end muscles. These exercises also help your horse to be more aware of where its feet are and to become more balanced. The exercises may also be done on a slight incline; this will help build up the rear muscles even more so. Happy Exercising!


EXERCISE 1A:
  • Take 6 poles, approx. 4 - 6" in diameter and 10 - 12' long and place them parallel to one another about 3 ft. apart. (for walking)
  • | | | | | |
  • These should be place along the long side of your riding ring. Also can be place down the center of your ring or where ever there is an unobscured place to ride without distraction.
  • Can be executed under saddle or in hand.
  • Lead/ride your horse in a 20m circle, avoiding the poles, for a couple of times.
  • Reverse your direction and repeat.
  • Reverse your direction again and this time lead/ride your horse in the 20m circle but go directly down the center of the poles this time.
  • Repeat in the opposite direction
  • If you and your horse are comfortable with lunging, ask it to go over the poles while on the lunge.
  • Repeat the above at the trot.

Be sure that the poles are set for your horse's natural gaits. The hind foot should fall midpoint between the two poles. 

EXERCISE 1B:

  • Place the poles in the same manner | | | | | | but elevate one end of the poles alternately. In other words, raise the end of one pole about 6" on the left side; raise the end of the next one on the right side.
  • Repeat exercises 1A over these elevated poles.

EXERCISE 2A:

  • Place the 6 poles from Exercise 1A and B in a circle with the ends of the poles in the center and the opposite ends fanned: 
                              
                              

EXERCISE 3A:

  • Keeping the rthym steady, work figure eights over pole set as illustrated below:

                   

EXERCISE 4A:

                           

  • Trot around the edge of arena

  • Trot around and execute figure 8's over the poles

  • Serpentine over poles

  • Be creative!

  • This following paragraph is an answer to someone just recently (May 98) who asked about trouble with jumping. Try them out!! Way Kewl fun! *G*

-------Hi there. Have you ever practiced your position and feel over cavalettis? (ground poles) These are a wonderful way to get YOUR positioning right as well as helping your horse to become rhythmical and forward for the jump. Do them in the posting trot ... do them in 2-point ... do them in the sitting trot ... do them on the lunge with no stirrups and no reins ... try them on the lunge w/o stirrups, reins and with your eyes closed!! Try them in the 2-point with no reins, holding your arms out from your shoulders like airplane wings. Terrific balance exercises .. Oh, and don't forget to do them bareback at the trot while posting!! (with no reins! *g*) Good luck. You'll learn ... ya know what they say .. practice makes perfect! *G*

HOME

RIDING INTRO PAGE