Adding Ground Poles
As your horse begins responding to your cues to lengthen his stride, you can add drills and obstacles to your work. Today's trail classes have become a sea of poles, Lange points out, so her riders practice extending and collecting over ground poles at home. Even if you don't compete in trail classes, trotting and loping poles will also help you visualize the length of your horse's stride and test your ability to clearly communicate with your horse. Ground poles, especially, become an excellent gauge not only of the length of your horse's stride, but also of his responsiveness to your aids.
Before asking your horse to lengthen his stride over ground poles, get him used to simply walking, jogging and loping over a single pole on the ground. Some horses will find this exercise easy, while others may need some extra practice as they build confidence and figure out where to put their feet.
"Let the horse get comfortable with his stride," Lange emphasizes.
Once your horse is comfortable going over a single pole, Lange says to lay two poles out at intervals equal to your horse's natural trotting stride. Trot your horse over the poles, and let him find his natural rhythm.
"Usually we start out with the poles three feet apart, or just under three feet," she explains. "The horse should put just one step between the poles. You might find that if you have a short-strided horse, he'll shorten up and put two quick steps between or step on the pole. So, when you start out, you'll probably have to adjust the poles to fit your horse until he can jog through them in what I call the 'comfortable pace.'
"It's very important that they learn to only put one step between the poles: You want them to approach, go over, and depart the poles without their gait changing rhythm."
The next step is to lengthen the distance between the poles so your horse has to take a longer step. "Nothing drastic," Lange says. "Just four to six inches. As you approach, ask the horse to go a bit stronger. Because of the training you've done previously to teach the horse to take only one step between the poles, he should lengthen his stride and take a longer step in order to cover the extra distance."
Lange also uses ground poles for lengthening strides at the lope and canter.
"It's the same at the canter as it is at the trot," she says. "Start with one pole, canter it, and then add another pole. Start with the poles six feet apart, and then start widening the distance between them."
In addition to lengthening the stride on the flat, this exercise will also help a horse destined for jumping to learn to regulate his stride between fences later on.
For riding all three gaits over poles, the rider must prepare the horse before lengthening his stride. "You can't just crawl up there and expect the horse to make the distance," Lange says. "You've got to ask the horse for some momentum and length of stride prior to reaching that first pole. If you've done your job in getting him there, he can do his job and put just one step between the poles."
Once you've mastered going over two poles, try lengthening over three or more, Lange says. The more poles you add, the more strength and reach your horse will build while doing lengthening work.
You'll find with consistent practice that your horse's stride will get longer and stronger. And, next time you're on the trail, you might just get the chance to use his new, lengthened stride to break the jig, walk, repeat cycle.
