Three horse exercises with one setup and 2 poles

Three horse exercises with one setup and 2 poles

Setup:

  1. In an open part of your arena, lay two poles on the ground, parallel to each other.

  2. Space them about 0.70–1 m apart (2.3–3.3 ft) — just enough for your horse to comfortably walk or trot between without drifting.

  3. This will be your corridor.

1. D-shaped circle

How to Ride It

  1. Choose your gait — walk, trot, or canter.

  2. Begin riding a D-shaped circle:

    • Straight section: Ride directly through the corridor. Keep your horse’s body straight, with even contact on both reins.

    • Curved section: As you leave the corridor, guide your horse into a smooth inward bend to follow the arc of the “D.”

  3. Focus on maintaining the same tempo and rhythm through both the straight and curved sections.

  4. Repeat several times in each direction to work both sides evenly. You can add halt in the corridor to increase the difficulty.

Training Tip: Think of the corridor as a “balance checkpoint.” If your horse drifts, loses straightness, or changes tempo in the corridor, adjust your aids and try again until the straight track feels as controlled as the bend.

 

2. Figure eight of D-shaped circles

How to Ride It

  1. Begin in trot on either rein.

  2. Approach the corridor in a straight line. Keep your horse’s body straight with even contact on both reins.

  3. Pass through the corridor and immediately guide your horse into a smooth inward bend to create the curved section of your D-shape.

  4. After completing the curve, circle back to approach the corridor again — this time from the opposite direction.

  5. Alternate each pass:

    • First time: Left rein curve.

    • Second time: Right rein curve.

    • Continue alternating to create a flowing figure-eight pattern, with the corridor as the “center line.”

  6. Maintain the same tempo and rhythm in both the straight and curved sections.

Training Tips

  • Think of the corridor as a “reset zone” for straightness — if your horse loses bend or tempo, correct it before entering.

  • On the curves, keep your inside leg active to maintain bend, and allow your outside rein to support the shape.

  • Use your eyes to guide the figure-eight — look ahead to where you want to be, not where you are.

 

3. Corridor lead change

 

How to Ride It

  1. Approach the corridor in canter on your current lead.

  2. Keep your horse straight through the approach, focusing on even contact and balance.

  3. In the middle of the corridor, change leads by either:

    • Flying change: Ask for the new lead in one smooth movement.

    • Simple change: Transition to walk for 2–3 steps, then ask for canter on the new lead.

  4. Continue straight out of the corridor for several strides before beginning any bend or turn.

Why the Corridor Helps

  • Straightness: The poles give you a visual boundary to keep your horse straight before, during, and after the change.

  • Precision: The fixed position of the corridor helps you place the change at the exact same spot each time.

  • Consistency: Repeating in the same location builds rhythm and confidence for both horse and rider.

 


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